The Princess And The Frog holds a special place in the heart of Disney lovers who celebrate the House of Mouse's iconic animated films. It was the final film made in the traditional 2D animated style, combining hand-drawn animation with CGI to create a magical story about overcoming adversity and manifesting destiny.
Set amidst the dazzling backdrop of New Orleans' French Quarter in the early 20th century, the film focuses on the hard-working Tiana, who wants nothing more than to open the finest restaurant in the city. When she accidentally kisses Prince Naveen, a handsome royal turned into a frog by the sinister Dr. Facilier and his voodoo magic, she becomes affected by the spell as well. Their adventures, which take them from the streets of New Orleans, to the lush realm of the bayou, feature some of the most beautiful art ever produced by Disney.
THE FRENCH QUARTER
Even today, the French Quarter is renowned for its beautiful colonial architecture, its vibrant jazz music, and its mouth-watering world-class cuisine. Any day of the week it's crowded with throngs of people enjoying coffee and a beignet, or a bowl of gumbo and a live band playing songs from a hundred years ago.
One of the major characters in The Princess and the Frog was the city of New Orleans, which came to life in the hands of the animators thanks to a kaleidoscopic palate of colors and a sense of vibrant energy in the animation. Prince Naveen's arrival causes quite a commotion, and the spontaneous royal takes an immediate liking to the pace of the city.
MILL TRANSFORMATION
When Tiana agrees to cater her friend Charlotte's masquerade ball, she does so under the condition that Charlotte's sugar baron father will give her enough money to buy an old sugar mill and convert it into the restaurant of her dreams. When she visits the saw mill it's worn down and dilapidated, but she knows with hard work it could become the jewel of New Orleans.
During a particularly empowering montage, the film shows what Tiana's dream restaurant might look like if her ambitions become reality. With its vaulted ceilings, hanging wisteria, and soft lighting, it looks like a perfectly enchanting space to have some fabulous Creole food and hear some amazing jazz music.
CHARLOTTE LA BOUFF'S SOIREE
When Charlotte La Bouff holds a welcome soiree for Prince Naveen, she implores Tiana to bake her "man catching beignets". Held at her father Eli "Big Daddy" La Bouff's mansion, the affair is a beautiful masquerade ball, allowing the working class Tiana to blend in with her affluent childhood friend by wearing a beautiful gown.
Big Daddy's mansion, which he owes to his success in the sugar trade, is a fine example of the colonial architecture to be found in New Orlean's Garden District. Row after row of beautiful manor houses line either side of the neighborhood, renowned for the equally stunning gardens around them.
DR. FACILIER'S LAIR
While Prince Naveen is gallivanting around New Orleans to the chagrin of his manservant Lawrence, he comes into contact with Dr. Facilier, who cajoles him into thinking he can facilitate all his dreams coming true. Facilier is based in part on Papa Legba, a shadowy intermediary who can communicate with the dead in Haitian Voodoo circles.
Their meeting, in Dr. Facilier's impressive emporium, doesn't go as planned. Naveen gets turned into a frog, and Lawrence gains Naveen's handsome appearance. Facilier hopes to pull the strings during Lawrence's marriage to Charlotte La Bouff and eventually get his hands on her fortune.
MAMA ODIE'S TREE HOUSE
One of the most intriguing locations in the entire film is Mama Odie's treehouse. Mama Odie deals in magic and spells, but of the friendly variety, unlike Dr. Facilier and his shadow magic. Tiana and Naveen attempt to find her to reverse their curse, but find the journey difficult as her abode is a ship stuck in the branches of an ancient tree in the deepest recesses of the bayou.
It shares its mood and aesthetics with Tia Dalma's swamp lair in another Disney production, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Not only are these mysterious women difficult to reach, but they also mistrust outsiders who might manipulate them for their gifts. Mama Odie's house even looks to be settled in a graveyard of ships!
TIANA'S GOWNS
As a hard-working waitress working both day and night shifts, Tiana doesn't have a lot of time for frivolous pursuits. Everything she does is to realize her dreams of being a restaurateur. When Charlotte insists on dressing her in a costume for her masquerade ball, she can hardly refuse her friend, but she isn't wholly comfortable in such gaudy clothing.
At the conclusion of the film, after going through a spiritual and physical journey that put her life goals in perspective, Tiana is able to wear a dazzling gown that reflects how much she's changed. She finally accepts that sometimes hard work needs to be postponed so that she can take a moment to appreciate the fruits of her labor, even if it means dancing the night away in a pretty dress.
RIVER BOAT CRUISE
One of the ways in which Tiana and Naveen are able to return to New Orleans, despite only being able to slowly travel as frogs, is via riverboat. While floating down the bayou they encounter Louis, an alligator who only wants to play in a real band and be appreciated for his skills with the trumpet.
He joins their crusade to return to New Orleans and stop Dr. Facilier from harming Big Daddy as he's crowned King of Mardi Gras, even if it means there's no hope in reverse the spell that made them frogs. Riverboats are a staple of New Orleans iconography and are still frequently used today to tour the bayou.
MARDI GRAS PARADE
Every year at the end of February on the day before Ash Wednesday, New Orleans erupts into celebration for Mardi Gras, a carnival day where citizens eat, drink, and dance their fill. In The Princess and the Frog, Tiana, Naveen, and Louis use the revelry to their advantage, hiding from Dr. Facilier among the party-goers.
Mardi Gras is known for its extensive parade and prodigious floats, all of which are decorated to depict a variety of subjects, from current pop culture to historical events. Revelers throw beads, gifts, and small toys from the floats, and everyone is encouraged to dress up in costumes and masks.
TIANA'S PLACE
When Tiana is finally able to open her restaurant at the end of the film, it looks a little different than what she imagined. It's equal parts impressively grand and family-oriented, with a mixture of patrons from every aspect of her life. Every person who has impacted her journey shows up for the grand opening, including the pair of bankers who originally denied her a loan.
True to her word, she gives Louis the trumpet-playing alligator a gig playing for the house band, where his musical talents are appreciated. If fans look closely, they can spot Big Daddy and Charlotte at the center table, and Tiana getting her photo taken with the head chef.
DOCTOR FACILIER
Similar to other Disney villains who deal in magic like Jafar and Maleficent, Dr. Facilier became an iconic part of the Disney rogue gallery thanks to his signature sense of style and superb voice acting by Keith David. Dr. Facilier proved to be both sinister and seductive as he made pacts with shallow individuals, offering them their dreams in exchange for their souls.
Not only does Doctor Facilier get to have a great villain's song, but he also receives quite the comeuppance at the end of the film. This piece of concept art by Chris Appelhans shows the transformation Facilier went through on his way to becoming the memorable villain he is in the film.