The Princess and the Frog

There are some things in life you can’t avoid. Death, taxes, and Disney are the first that spring to mind. Someone warned me when my daughter was born that we wouldn’t be able to withstand the inevitable branded onslaught, and despite my very best efforts a few things have slipped though my radar. A Tinkerbell costume, for one. Several packets of trademarked Band-aids, for another. And just recently, a fully-blown musical animation on DVD, otherwise known as The Princess and the Frog. My daughter is obsessed with it. There hasn’t been this much reverse-and-replay action since Shrek, and for a kid who wore headband Shrek ears non-stop for 6 months, that’s saying something.

So, in the interests of research, and also to put visuals to all the catchy tunes that have been emanating from the telly for the last few days, we sat down together to watch the whole thing. And I was pleasantly surprised. The Princess and the Frog is based on the classic Frog Princess story by E.D. Baker, and like all Disney flicks, there’s lots of singing, stereotypes and wide-eyed beauties. But in a good way, though – set in the French Quarter of New Orleans at the beginning of the Jazz age, the tunes are really pretty cool, and the beautiful heroine, Tiana, has a whole lot of what I believe Southerners call, “gumption”. The Prince is a charming foreigner with a lust for life, and the villain is a spooky voodoo man with a nifty dress sense. Plus, Oprah is in it, so it gets extra cool points right there.

You can probably guess the basic storyline and ending, but there’s nothing wrong with a classic, is there? Particularly when a trumpet-playing alligator is involved.

Even though the DVD gets a thumbs-up, I don’t really want to purchase all the merchandise that goes with it. But it’s easy to indulge their latest obsession with finds that are along the same lines – in true cartoon form, you just need to use your imagination!

1. The Frog Princess, by E.D. Baker, $7.25 from Book Depository

2. Big by Fiona Scanlan Clara Headband, $22.95 from Babysgotstyle

3. Ellie Bellie Kid’s Reversible Tutu, $79.99 from Metromum

4. Toy Trumpet, $37.95 from Rhythmic Kids

5. Cool Jazz for Kids CD, $14.99 from theabcshop

6. Gator Golf, US$14.99 from Amazon

7. Scruffy Dog Silver Ballet Shoes, $39.95 from Scarlettjadeandjett

8. Froggy Bow Hairclips, US$4 from Etsy

9. Prince Crown, $5.95 from thepartypeople