This Friday marks a great day in cinematic history. A day when theaters will be packed with wide-eyed little girls, clutching their popcorn, waiting for their soon-to-be favorite movie to begin…
No, there isn’t another Twilight coming out.
Friday is the wide release of Disney’s new animated feature, The Princess and the Frog. Please note the emphasis on animated.
Yes, that’s right, my beloved Disney is returning to its roots and putting out its first animated feature film since 2004’s Home on the Range (missed that one? Yeah, so did I). No computer-animated cowboys or fish, no live-action scenes starring Patrick Dempsey, this one is pure hand-drawn genius. Plus, the directors are the same guys that brought us The Little Mermaid and Aladdin (!).
The Princess and the Frog puts a new twist on the classic tale of… er, the princess and the frog. This time around, when the princess kisses her frog prince, she turns into an amphibian as well. Chaos ensues. But that’s not the only update. The film also takes place in 1920s New Orleans (my second favorite city on the planet), and features Disney’s first ever African-American heroine, Tiana.
I am obviously more than psyched about this movie. I have desperately missed the Disney classics, and was getting sick of the only animated movies to come out be straight-to-DVD sequels (or three-quels) of my old favorites. Everyone has a favorite Disney movie (and if you don’t, you seriously have no soul), and I decided this would be a perfect time to share my top five faves with you all…
5. Aladdin
(My sister will kill me for this, but) As kids, we used to put on ‘shows’ all the time. Once, we reenacted ‘A Whole New World.’ We threw a blanket over a piano bench, I was Jasmine, one of our friends was Aladdin, another (the youngest) was Abu, and my sister? She sat underneath the bench, flapping the blanket to make it look like a magic carpet.
4. Robin Hood
Remaking the classic hero into a fox? Genius. Plus, it taught us some valuable lessons, like how to steal rings when you kiss someone’s hand. Thanks, Disney.
3. Mulan
You know the opening scene when her stupid little dog runs into the wall? One time, my cousin made us watch that scene over and over and over. I don’t think we even made it to the end of the movie that night.
2. Pocahontas
In fifth grade, I was so enamored with this movie that I whined and schemed my way into playing Pocahontas in our grade school’s ‘living museum.’ (It was worth it).
1. The Little Mermaid
Yes, I am 22-years-old and yes, I do have a Little Mermaid poster on my wall. Also, I used to sit at the bottom of my stairs singing, ‘Part of Your World,’ imagining I was Ariel in her grotto. Oh yeah, and one time, I brushed my hair with a fork at a restaurant.
So there you have it. These movies obviously had a huge impact on me. Will kids that are used to the computer-animated Pixar films take to this ‘new’ Disney style? I sure hope so! Nemo is great and all, but nothing compares to hand-drawn animation.
What’s your favorite?
Danielle is the Television and movies Editor for Girls Guide. You can check out her personal blog, Addicted to Television, where she talks about her television obsession. If you want to give her free movie passes she wouldn’t be shy in taking them, so you can email them to her at danielle [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @daniellesmyname.
The Little Mermaid is my all time favorite Disney movie too! But it’s closely followed by The Lion King, which didn’t even make your top 5?? Guess you didn’t “Feel the Love” for that one.
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I have to agree with your choices, and also add Snow White to the list. For a 70+year old movie, it has held up quite well. And as far as I can remember that was the first movie I saw in a theater, so it has a special place in my heart.
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I agree on the Little Mermaid. I still have my Ariel Halloween costume from when I was 3, maybe 4 years old! Too cute! I cannot believe you brushed your hair with a fork! Weirdo…Hahaha! AND, I read an article last week that Tiana has sold more merchandise than any other princess in Disney history! WHOA!
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Kim,
Snow White is definitely a classic! However, there is this whole block of Disney movies I refer to as ’scary’ Disney (like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, for example) that I tend to steer clear from. The 5-year-old in me still freaks out in any scenes that involve evil witches and lightning!
Carlie,
Lion King was tough competition for my number 5 pick Aladdin. Especially since I recently found out that One Tree Hill (and the Cutting Edge) star Moira Kelly is the voice of Nala. But if I had picked Lion King, I wouldn’t have had the chance to immortilize my sister on the web!
and Monica,
I brushed my hair with the fork at a restaurant after my cousin’s high school graduation. She liked Little Mermaid too and I was trying to get her attention. Then my mom yelled at me. Sweet life.
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[...] getting animated with The Princess and the Frog: If you read this blog, you know how happy I am about this. Up was great and all, but nothing beats [...]
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[...] The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney movie. But Pocahontas’ soundtrack is way better for belting out in your car. Can you sing with all the [...]
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