On March 16th, The Princess & the Frog releases on Blu-ray & DVD! Disney’s triumphant return to hand-drawn animation features the talented Anika Noni Rose as the voice of Tiana, the first African American princess!

Release Date: March 16, 2010
Feature Running Time: 97 minutes
Rated: G

Disney celebrates a modern-day classic from the directors of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. Discover what really happened after the princess kissed the frog in an inspired twist on the world’s most famous kiss. This hilarious adventure leaps off the screen with stunning animation, irresistible music and an unforgettable cast of characters. Enter Princess Tiana’s world of talking frogs, singing alligators and lovesick fireflies as she embarks on an incredible journey through the mystical bayous of Louisiana. Spurred on by a little bit of courage and a great big dream, these new friends come to realize what’s truly important in life…love, family and friendship. Overflowing with humor and heart, The Princess and the Frog is an incredible motion picture experience your whole family will want to enjoy again and again!

The Princess and the Frog’s colorful cast of one-of-a-kind new characters joyfully raises the roof, with voice performances from stars including Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose (Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, 2004,“Caroline, or Change”), Keith David (Crash), Jenifer Lewis (“Strong Medicine”), Jim Cummings (“Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”), Michael- Leon Wooley (Ghost Town), Bruno Campos (“Nip/Tuck”), Peter Bartlett (The Producers), Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow), Jennifer Cody (Broadway’s “Shrek: The Musical”), Oprah Winfrey and John Goodman (Monsters, Inc.).

The Princess & the Frog is a breath of fresh air as it has been far too long since a classic Disney animated film has released. There are such captivating and memorable characters that have been created for this film, performed by a very lively cast. I will say that it is quite odd that the first African American Disney Princess is (SPOILER ALERT) a frog for the majority of the film and isn’t even a princess until the very end. That aside…if you have only seen the previews for this film and feared the characters and story would have a heavy influence on stereotypes, fear not. The script is very well written and viewers will be engaged from start to finish. There is humor, action, a nice twist, and of course a lesson to be learned. That lesson…you can accomplish your goals with hard work, determination, and taking appreciation for the little things first and foremost. There are quite a few lessons to learn from Disney though that is the main one for the film. As for the setting…I was unaware before tuning in that the film was based in New Orleans and what a fabulous job at portraying the spirit of the French Quarter. The New Orleans setting really brings the tone of the film to a whole new light, life. The visuals are stunning. Great work! Also great work is the music. Though the score and songs are catchy and fun, there doesn’t seem to be any standout, memorable song. Perhaps after a few viewings one will stick? Overall, great film and you will not be disappointed after viewing The Princess & the Frog. Make room on your shelf for this must have item in your Disney collection.

Bonus Features:

Commentary – The commentary is conducted by co-writers/directors John Musker & Ron Clements, and producer Peter Del Vecho. There is discussion on everything from pitching the film to cast member, Oprah Winfrey, inspiration for the setting, the score, their experiences that influenced the film, and so much more. The guys share fun facts, such as how Tiana is left and why she is left handed. There is also lots of thought provoking discussion including how Tiana is the first Disney Princess with a job and career path. There is an abundant amount of information shared in this commentary…if you have never considered listening to a commentary and would like to know all about the making of this film and lots more background information on this film, this is a must see/must listen feature. There’s light comedy but for the most part, it’s straight forward and something that will make you appreciate this film all the more.

Deleted Scenes – Co-writers/directors John Musker & Ron Clements introduce the 4 deleted scenes that viewers are about to see. They explain that the scenes are in rough storyboard form with scratch dialogue and provide a brief explanation of why the scenes were cut from the final product. Each scene is introduced by either Musker or Clements who provide information as to where the scene would have been seen if it had made it and why it did not make the cut. The scenes are “Advice From Mama,” “Stop & Smell the Roses,” and “Naveen Confides in Ray,” and the “Alternate Louis Introduction” is shown as well. It’s quite incredible and fascinating to see these scenes since it gives such a rough and raw look at the beginning stages of a Disney classic animation film.

Games & Activities: What Do You See: Princess Portraits – Mama leads this guessing game where pictures are made in the sky through fireflies of Disney princesses and viewers have to guess which princess is being shown. This game is fun for a few moments, but with not many choices to choose from, it gets old quick.

Music & More: “Never Knew I Needed” Music Video by Neyo – This full length music video is not animation but features singer, Neyo in a New Orleans setting…reminiscent of what places are seen in The Princess of the Frog. It’s something for music fans but since it’s not a classic musical scene from the film, there’s nothing to see here for the younger audience.

Blu-ray Combo Pack Bonus Features comes with additional bonus features, including:

Backstage Disney
• Magic In The Bayou: The Making of A Princess — Co-writers and directors John Musker and Ron Clements take a freewheeling, behind-the-scenes look at the making of Disney’s newest animated film as it grows from an initial concept to a lavish animated film set in the enchanting world of New Orleans and the surrounding bayous.

• The Return To Hand Drawn Animation
• The Disney Legacy
• Disney’s Newest Princess
• The Princess and the Animator
• Conjuring The Villain
• A Return To The Animated Musical
• Bringing Life to Animation
• Deleted Scenes
• Art Galleries — A collection of storyboard art traces the visual development of The Princess and the Frog’s rich gallery of characters and settings.

The Princess & the Frog becomes available on Blu-ray & DVD March 16, 2010.