MovieChat Forums > The Princess and the Frog (2009) Discussion > Tiana's quest was too adult

Tiana's quest was too adult

posted 11 years ago by breaforum2012
14 replies | jump to latest

In Disney Princess films, the princess is on a quest to save family (Mulan and Belle) or make things better (Pocahontas) or trying to find family (Tangled) and in the process finds herself and true love. Tiana found herself in search of the money to open up her own business (save her father's dream). Although, it had an emotional element to the quest (save her father's dream), the pursuit owning one's own business is a little too sophisticated for the little girls. Now had she been on quest to save her people, or rescue her family or father, then that's something the little one's can understand.

There is new movie called Belle (about a black girl being raised by her British relatives (her white father's family) after her black slave mother dies. In the movie Belle under goes a lot of difficulties due to the fact that she is black living in England during the time of slavery. Belle uses her influence with her uncle to eventually cause him to release some slaves. I have not seen the movie, however, her uncles actions eventually lead England to outlawing slavery. During her journey she finds true love and learns a lot about herself. Now that would have been a great Disney movie.

[–] neelay123 11 years ago

I agree to a certain extent. But sometimes it's good to challenge children's understanding. With TPATF I don't think it paid off initially but I think it will stand the test of time. People will go back to it when they are older and appreciate Tiana's dreams goals. Thats how I feel about Mulan.

And Belle would have been a lovely animated film but Disney are always too surrounded by racial controversy to even consider it. They couldn't even keep Tiana's original name and job.

[–] letsgotothemovies84 10 years ago

Children are smarter than you think.

I have two classes of pupils who enjoyed it and they where all able to articulate why.

[–] neelay123 10 years ago

My son and daughters enjoyed the film too. But unfortunately that doesn't change box office numbers. PATF is a bit of a mess but it has one of the best disney role models imo.

[–] letsgotothemovies84 10 years ago

The box office numbers don't mean that the children who saw it din't enjoy it. The problem with box office numbers is that people didn't go...once you've paid your ticket enjoy it or don't but it still contributes. People didn't not go because of the waitress storyline.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] neelay123 10 years ago

But it does mean that children (and parents) will generally go for a story line that is easier to follow. That doesn't mean that children aren't as smart as I think they are it just means that this film did not appeal to the masses in the same way that Frozen and Tangled did.

Correct me if i'm wrong but compared to other female characters Tiana and Mulan challenge the standard Disney female Ideals. That is what I meant and it has nothing to do with a child's intelligence. Mulan was not popular initially but now she is widely respected as one of the best disney role models and I feel the same will happen with Tiana.

[–] letsgotothemovies84 10 years ago

Fair enough it may not appeal to the masses but I dont think that Tiana's storyline/quest has anything to do with the box office figures. It was advertised in the traditional Disney sense, they did not use the 'owning ones own business' theme in the bulk of the trailers...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQBy6jqbmlU

It didn't make money because it didn't appeal in general.

[–] neelay123 10 years ago

That is true. They learned with Frozen and Tangled to down play the princess aspect. But it is not just owning a business, it was the motives of Dr Facilier and Prince Naveen also. In the little little Mermaid it is clear what each character wants and why they want it. Princess and the Frog had a good opening and went down quickly. And I believe it was because of those reasons as well as the ones you listed.

[–] dejuanp 10 years ago

The movie did well, but an African-American Princess doesn't have mass appeal, yet. Little black girls, for the most part don't view themselves as princesses, they see that working til you drop environment, as Tiana portrayed. They picked up on that storyline with great accuracy. If Tiana would have been in the woods talking to animals and not cooking gumbo, it may have been a little inaccurate. lol Mulan and the traditional Princess have more viewing numbers. Mulan reached an Asian population that is huge in numbers. In America, white people would have had to make this movie a huge success, which is came right over budget. Don't know how it did internationally, though. Nothing is wrong with how it turned out, but they didn't push the Princess aspect of it as well. It was more about her owning her own business. Image is everything.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson
R.I.P. Heath Ledger

[–] president-bush-2004 10 years ago

I feel like they could have made Tiana a bit more vulnerable. She doesn't even seem to mind working and sacrificing so much for what she wants.

One thing I liked about an otherwise bland protagonist was that Tiana had it together. Most Disney protags before her tended to be more bumbling, awkward, with an "I Want" song on the tip of their tongues. On the flipside, that doesn't give Tiana a lot room to develop as a character... and she already has a more grown-up dream than your average Disney heroine, so she ends up kind of static. Not saying a character like Tiana can't be enjoyable, but if PTaF is anything to show it's a struggle.

[–] TutuAnimationPrincess 10 years ago

I'm neither sophisticated or really that adult and I found Tiana's quest very easy to understand. Kids are smarter than you think too, give them some credit will ya!

The other movie you mentioned sounds nice enough, but that may have been a little too much for kids.

"Unless you're an alien, time traveler, or esper, your opinion doesn't matter."

[–] furienna 9 years ago

The other movie you mentioned sounds nice enough, but that may have been a little too much for kids.

Yeah, "Belle" is PG-rated. So in theory, a young kid could watch that movie. But I still think that a lot of the plot would go over a child's head, so I don't see the point in showing it to anybody, who is younger than 10 years old. I guess that someone could make an animated version of it though at some point, but I doubt that it will happen.

Intelligence and purity.

[–] leejean21 9 years ago

Why shouldn't little girls be encouraged to open up their own businesses? This isn't too sophisticated at all. Actually it's a great message.

[–] kentry-28530 9 years ago

I did love Tiana's ambition to open her own restaurant. She was driven and passionate. :) She reminds me of a young Martha Stewart at around age 9 who bought a cookie recipe from her friend and turned that cookie recipe into a blooming business. Now, that's novel. A 9 year old with the tenacity to buy a recipe. :)