Showing posts with label Princess and the Frog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Princess and the Frog. Show all posts

Friday, May 5, 2017

Freeform's Weekend Fairy Tale Programming To Celebrate Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings Premiere (on May 7)

Press release:
In anticipation of the premiere of "Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings," FreeForm (part of the Disney/ABC Television Group) invites you to relive all of your favorite love stories during the network's weekend programming event starting SATURDAY, MAY 6 and continuing through SUNDAY, MAY 7. Follow along as Tiana kisses a few frogs to find her prince while Snow White patiently waits for true love's kiss, then cheer on Cinderella as she gets ready for the ball.

The highlights are:
Saturday, May 6
(8:00 - 10:00a.m. EDT) A CINDERELLA STORY: IF THE SHOE FITS (live action movie with Sofia Carson)
(10:00a.m. - 12:35p.m. EDT) THE PRINCE & ME (live action movie with Julia Stiles)
(12:35 - 2:40p.m. EDT) DISNEY'S SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (feature animation)
(2:40 - 4:45p.m. EDT) DISNEY'S THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (feature animation) - repeats on Sunday, May 7, at 9:05a.m. EDT.
(4:45 - 6:50 p.m. EDT) DISNEY/PIXAR'S BRAVE (feature animation) - repeats on Sunday, May 7, at 11:10 a.m. EDT.
(6:50 - 9:00 p.m. EDT) DISNEY'S TANGLED (feature animation) - repeats on Sunday, May 7, at 3:20p.m. EDT.
(9:00 - 11:30 p.m. EDT) DISNEY'S FROZEN (feature animation) -  repeats on Sunday, May 7, at 5:30p.m. EDT.
(11:30p.m. - 1:30 a.m. EDT) DISNEY'S ALADDIN (feature animation) - repeats on Sunday, May 7, at 1:15 p.m. EDT.
Sunday, May 7
(8:00 - 9:30 p.m. EDT) DISNEY'S FAIRY TALE WEDDINGS - FreeForm PREMIERE
Getting married is one of the most special days of your life and one you will never forget. For three exceptional couples, their weddings will include some Disney magic and elegance, as well as a few surprises thrown in, to give them the wedding they always dreamed of and more. And while three couples are entering wedded bliss, one lucky couple is just about to start their wedding journey with a proposal of a lifetime. Hosted by "The Bachelor" alums Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell, "Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings" will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the one-of-a-kind weddings, including a surprise performance by the multiplatinum-selling a cappella group Pentatonix and magical engagements that take place at Disney Destinations around the globe.
* All dresses pictured are from Disney Bridal

Note: we're not sure why Frozen is being featured - there's no wedding in that movie!

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Guest Post: 'Five Fairy Tale Films & Their Forgotten Beginnings' by Diamond Grant

Every year we find ourselves watching feature films based on classic tales throughout the seasons, some of which relate better to winter, others more fitting for summer. It's inevitable we'll discover new fairy tale films as part of our culture.


By the time most people hear about fairy tales, they've been turned into huge cinematic films, but we often forget their humble beginnings. Some of the most popular and loved films that have made their way into most families’ favorite collections all started as lesser-known fairy tales.


Some stories were adapted or loosely based upon original tales and characters from writings, while others stayed truer to the story that not. It's worth paying homage to where these beloved films originated, and to possibly learn some lesser known facts of how they made it to the big screen.

Let's start with one you probably know well, both as film and tale. Will we still be able to surprise true fairy tale fans here with some forgotten facts? Let's find out!


The Little Mermaid
Disney's 'The Little Mermaid' development art

We're all familiar with the feature Disney film The Little Mermaid. Not so many know it started out as a lengthy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen. A master storyteller, Andersen's stories are the source for many of the household fairy tale films we've all come to adore today. The film stays true to the written story in many of the main parts; however, there are some differences between the tale and movie that are startling.


The comedic characters Sebastian, Scuttle and Flounder, while great additions to the film, do not appear in the original, although the little mermaid is described as being so friendly with the fish of the sea that they would eat out of her hand, much like stereotypical land princesses who are friendly with forest creatures. Less well known is that in Andersen's tale the little mermaid ultimately discovers she needs a soul (apparently merpeople aren't gifted with them) so she can avoid a foamy death after living for 300 years in the sea. To win the love of a human is the only way she's able to gain an immortal soul. In the film, she spots Eric, whom she falls for after seeing him for the first time but there's no complication of needing a soul. She'd be happy just to have legs - and Eric, of course. Ursula, who tempts Ariel with this possibility, is portrayed in the film as a witch who has her own agenda and actively wants to make life difficult for the mermaid. In the fairy tale the sea witch is the conduit of fate.
Disney's 'The Little Mermaid', Triton's Kingdom development art
Aladdin
Disney's 'Aladdin' development art

This well-known film and character originate from a lesser-known book of tales entitled One Thousand and One Nights, later referred to as Arabian Nights. Oddly, the story of Aladdin only appeared in the editions after the first European translation was made by Antoine Galland between 1704 and 1717, which has led some to believe he created the character and his story.


In the original works, a woman named Shahrazhad (or Scheherazade) used her wits and creativity to delay her inevitable execution as she told the tale of Aladdin, and many others, to King Shahriyar. Each night, she told him part of the story, and because he wanted to hear more, he kept her alive.


The Disney film uses character traits and ideas from popular movies such as Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Thief of Baghdad, for their version and, reinforcing these tropes is set in Arabia, while the original was set in China. Whether or not Aladdin was Chinese remains a mystery!
Disney's 'Aladdin' development art
Chicken Little
Disney's Chicken Little (2005) concept art

In the original tale of Henny Penny, the main character, more commonly known in the US as Chicken Little, expresses and justifies her fears. The most popular Disney adaptation of Chicken Little is a science-fiction sequel that came out in 2005. Foxy Loxy becomes a bully instead of a rival and both Chicken Little and Foxy Loxy switched genders. Chicken Little is now a little boy and Foxy Loxy is a girl.


Not many know that before this quirky CG retelling, that there was a 1943 Disney adaptation which was manufactured at the request of the United States government to disgrace, and discourage Nazism and what it stood for.

(If you weren't aware of this before it will make watching Chicken Little again quite a different experience, won't it?)

The Princess and the Frog
Disney's 'The Princess and the Frog' development art
The Princess and the Frog was derived from the book The Frog Princess, a middle school novel written by E.D. Baker, who used ideas from the original Frog King (better known as The Frog Prince) fairy tale. The film caught the attention of many because it was the first Disney movie to include a black princess.


The moral of the story differs between tale and film. The fairy tale can be seen to suggest that you can get what you want in life even if you don't deserve it. The movie altered this to be a more suitable and uplifting for todays viewers, showing you can get what you want if you work for it.

The prince transformation differs greatly too. In the tale, the frog is thrown violently at a wall, which releases him from his enchantment, whereas in the movie, the frog turns into a prince when he is kissed. A nice little nod is given to this story's origins in the form of a fairy tale book that's read aloud in the film, retelling a more modern and familiar version where the frog must be kissed - giving the frog his reason for seeking a princess in the first place.
Disney's 'The Princess and the Frog' development art
Frozen
Disney's 'Frozen' character development and design
Now a part of mainstream Western culture, the film Frozen is a family favorite. But where did it really come from? Most fans know by now that Frozen originates from the Hans Christian Andersen tale The Snow Queen. What's less well known is that The Snow Queen is a segmented story, with seven unique 'episodes', each illustrating problems and solutions the heroine must face on her journey to save her friend. Differing from the movie, the tales' main characters are Gerda and Kay, who are like brother and sister though not blood-related.


It's also worth mentioning that in the original material, there are no trolls. The only similarity is the goblin (also described as the devil) who created the evil mirror that shatters, a sliver of which pierces Kay's eye and freezes his mind and heart. In an interesting parallel between movie and tale, in the fourth section of The Snow Queen, Gerda is told a story of marriage by a raven, about a princess who was fixated on getting hitched. In the film, Anna is very keen to marry Hans, so it's possible to see similarities in morals and lessons of the two versions.


Disney's 'Frozen' development art
Watch or Read?


Has dipping into the details on these classics given you a thirst for binge-watching these films? You can watch them on Netflix or use a U.S. connection if you're outside the country and desperately want access. Keep an eye out for the similarities and differences mentioned in this article; you can see where Hollywood has been creative or strayed from the original works and decide whether you like it or not.


It's also great fun reading the tales to see just how differently you interpret the stories. What your mind creates from the creativity of words will be different to what you see on screen. It also gives you an insight of how film manufacturers would have gone about deciding what to put in their movies and how to take the most entertaining and essential parts out to animate them.


Have knowledge on some differences between original works in fairy tales and movies? Or some cool information on where fairy tales were born? Leave a comment below.

Diamond Grant is a fairy tale enthusiast who enjoys reading original works and watching feature films. She also likes uncovering differences between versions of fairy tales, opening up a discussion as to which are more entertaining.

Thank you for being our guest writer today Diamond!

Would you like to write a fairy tale focused guest post for Once Upon A Blog? We'd love to hear from you!
Contact us at fairytalenews AT gmail DOT com. 
While we cannot always guarantee being able to post your writing, and usually schedule our posts well in advance, we are open to ideas and, depending on available time, are happy to work with you.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Disney Fairy Tale Movie Marathon (aka Princess Movies) on ABC Family This Weekend

HIstorical Cinderella Edit by Camile Eusse
something different - just for fun)
Need to catch up on your Disney (princess) fairy tales? There's a bunch showing on ABC Family this weekend:

Saturday, March 21, 2015:
The Princess and the Frog    - 5pm ET/PT 
The Little Mermaid                - 7pm ET/PT 
Sleeping Beauty                    - 8:45pm ET/PT 
Cinderella                              - 10:30pm ET/PT 

Sunday, March 22, 2015:
Pocahontas                           - 12:15am ET/PT (yes, VERY early/late!)
The Princess & the Frog       - 3pm ET/PT
The Little Mermaid                - 5pm ET/PT
Sleeping Beauty                    - 8:45pm ET/PT
Cinderella                              - 8:30p ET/PT
Pocahontas (again)               - 10:15pm ET/PT

(So we wouldn't expect Anna & Elsa - too soon - but where the heck are Snow White, Jasmine and Rapunzel - three princesses that had their status right from the beginning of the movie?)

Here's the programming pitch:
"Beginning this Saturday, March 21, at 5 p.m. ET/PT, ABC Family will be presenting “Princess Funday.” Princesses of all ages are encouraged to don their tiaras, raise their goblets, and celebrate “girl power” with a princess-packed viewing schedule of animated Disney classics. "
For Saturday that's not a "Funday". That's a sleepover at best. Not sure who in programming plans on having their "princess" up past midnight to watch Pocahontas, (or starting to watch a movie after 10pm on a school-the-next-day night!) but... if you need to catch up on those movies (or want to take the opportunity to DVR them) this is a good opportunity.

And there's a new Disney "Imagicadamy" that's promoting family fun play ideas on the Cinderella theme that have nothing to do with watching - or buying - anything. 

The activities suggested are:

  • Find the Shoe - treasure hunt
  • Wait for Midnight Noon - clothes change dash
  • Scrub the Floor (unless it's already part of their chores!)

You can read the game details HERE.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Jennifer Hudson as Tiana by Annie Leibovitz

Just revealed about an hour ago, here's the latest pic in the celebrity Disney Dream Portrait campaign for Disney Parks: Jennifer Hudson as Tiana from The Princess and the Frog.

You can see a little from behind the scenes of the photoshoot below:
The image will be seen in issues of Vanity FairO – The Oprah Magazine, and People.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

When You Wish Upon A Character... (How Design in Disney Movies Affects the Way Fairy Tales Are Perceived & Why We Should Care)

Tangled Concept Art with earlier versions of Mother Gothel & Rapunzel
Note: This post is very image heavy and I've had a devil of a time trying to get the images to stick where I put them. As I'm now out of time, I want to apologize in advance if there are any weird formatting issues through the post!

For me, I know I just have to catch a glimpse of certain H.J. Ford drawings and I'm in love with that tale all over again. The same goes for Rackham and many other illustrator's fairy tale work.

Disney images, however, aren't as subtle as sitting in a book waiting for us to open it again. They tend to work their way into our everyday lives via toys, marketing, spreading through pop culture and social media, and, as a result, tend to be a little more insidious in making their impressions on people (especially people who have no basis for comparison because they don't read/were never read many tales). Because of this, it's a good idea to take a hard look at the difference between the characters we love in fairy tales and how Disney (and other popular entertainment - movies & TV in particular) portray them to see just how big the gap is between.

What is the pop culture impression and what's missing? Because for a lot of people that "is" the tale. Though that is never the real intent of the creators of these films, the effect can be to (almost) erase any lingering non-Disney ideas and associations, rather than the effect illustrated books used to have, which was open the world of imagination further than ever beyond the text (ie. the complete opposite).
Can you tell who these characters are from their early concept drawings?
Click
 HERE to take the quiz...
It's one of the reasons I think it's important for concept art to get out there - to show people what could have been and, if the information is available, why these alternate/early designs were created in the first place and why they were ultimately replaced with something else.
Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty) 1
Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty) 2
The fairy aspect is a lot clearer here with the antennae
  ✒ ✒ ✒  ✒ (click the "Read more" link below this line) ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ 

Friday, January 27, 2012

Tiana Makes A Nice Thumbelina


I came across a small set of re-envisioned Disney Princesses recently painting recently and particularly like this one. If you're at all familiar with Disney's The Princess and the Frog you'll know one of the (many) outfits designed for Tiana was based on lilies and lily pads to echo the frog theme. What it reminds me of, of course, is of another teeny fairy tale heroine* who is often illustrated dressed in petals or seated on lily pads: HCA's Thumbelina.

Tommelise Very Desolate on the Water Lily Leaf, in "Thumbkinetta" by Eleanor Vere Boyle

Yes, the illustration at the head of the post is a little provocative, but then, so is dressing in petals, when you think about it.

The digital illustration is by Jace Wallace and you can see the other three princesses (Snow White, Jasmine and Ariel) HERE, close-ups included, along with this rest of his deviantArt gallery.  Mr. Wallace also has a very large professional portfolio and gallery HERE filled with many beautiful and strange girls (some NSFW). After looking through quite a number of works it's clear that this piece is rather unusual for the artist in that it's quite conservative (at least compared to his regular approach). I think it's rather beautiful (check the detail below) and is one of my favorite artist renditions of Tiana showing her froggy (and perhaps also "tiny heroine") influences to date.

Illustrations originally found HERE.

Bonus: For Disney fans, here's a link to see a fan art illustration of Tiana in a completely different outfit: Tiana (Bad) Voodoo Slayer. It certainly tugged a smile out of me - mainly because I would have liked to have seen Tiana get her "Whuppie" on in the film to some extent (as in fairy tale heroine Molly Whuppie) but I think it would have worked better if they'd kept to a 1920's-esque style.

* I say "another" because Tiana-as-frog is definitely on the diminutive side for much of the Disney movie.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Alfredo Angelo Launches 2012 Disney Princess Bridal Collection

 
In October, Designer Alfredo Angelo released the 2012 Disney bridal collection, his second 'princess' collaboration, with an additional gown inspired by Rapunzel.









I was hoping for a more inspired photo shoot for these gowns to show you but at least the Disney-tale connection is made clear.

In case you missed it, here is the 1st collection from early this year and a short promotional video to go with it.










You can find the details for the most recent collection HERE.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Fairy Tales Going To 82nd Oscars!

The Oscar nominations have been announced and you'll be glad to hear... *drum roll*
.. fairy tales are going to the Oscars!

So here are the movies that are fairy tale or fairy tale/myth based and which category they're nominated for:

Best Animated Feature Film:

Coraline
(I know it's not a fairy tale exactly but it has a lot of fairy tale tropes and is often likened to Hansel & Gretel)

The Princess and the Frog

The Secret of Kells
(myth based and making much use of European/Celtic myths/tales - see HERE for interesting article written today about the film)

Also of interest is The Fantastic Mr. Fox - based on the Roald Dahl book, it has a definite Beatrix Potter feel to it.


Art Direction:

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
(see The Fairy Tale Cupboard's review for reasons why you should be aware of this film as a fairy tale enthusiast)

Costume Design:

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Music (Original Song):

The Princess and the Frog - twice

Short Film (Animated):

Granny O' Grimm's Sleeping Beauty

The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)
(not officially a fairy tale adaptation but if you watch it - or an available excerpt, you'll see why I include it here)

You may also want to note that Up in the Air, nominated for Best Picture, gives The Velveteen Rabbit a little cameo too. Just a lovely extra for fairy tale people.

Congratulations to our friends at Brown Bag Films! Can't wait to see what Granny will be wearing. ;)