Sara Kloepfer
A&E Editor

I learned the true meaning of jealousy one day in freshman year English when I learned my friend Tiana had the same name as the next Disney princess.

Ever since I was a little girl collecting the white plastic video cases emblazoned with that iconic castle, I have idolized the Disney princesses. Maybe it was the tiaras, or the romantic princes, or the magical fantasies — some enchanting allure made these the defining movies of my childhood.

I thought the era of my cartoon heroines was over until Disney announced the release of its newest movie: The Princess and the Frog, starring Princess Tiana.
Of course I was there opening weekend.

Disney recalls its glory days with old-school 2D animation, not seen since 2004’s Home on the Range. Set in jazz-era New Orleans, the film’s retro aesthetic is tempered by new twists to the classic formula. For starters, Tiana is Disney’s first African American princess. And she is no damsel in distress. Her motto is “You can’t just wish on a star” — you have to work hard to make your dreams to come true.

Tiana’s dream to open a restaurant is waylaid by the arrival of Prince Naveen of Maldonia, a handsome party-boy shopping for a wealthy bride. Transformed by an evil voodoo doctor into a frog, Naveen mistakes Tiana for a princess and kisses her, turning her into a frog as well.

Spending most of the movie in amphibious form, Naveen and Tiana’s romance ends with the expected happily ever after, but the classic journey never grows weary. The supporting characters nearly steal the show. Tiana’s spoiled childhood friend Charlotte La Bouff is a hilarious Daddy’s girl, with a trumpet-playing alligator named Lou and a hopelessly romantic Cajun firefly named Ray adding originality.

Although directed by Ron Clements and Jon Musker of Aladdin and The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Frog does not offer such timeless tunes as “A Whole New World” or “Under the Sea.” Not to say I did not find the soundtrack enjoyable — Randy Newman’s New Orleans-inspired score features catchy Cajun beats and beautiful ballads.

Disney’s entertaining return to its roots will resonate with both old-school admirers and new viewers alike as it fuses sparkling animation with witty storytelling to create a clever throwback. The Mouse has not lost its magic, nor this diehard princess fan.