315. The Princess and the Frog

Title: The Princess and the Frog
Genre: Animation, Family, Fantasy
Year: 2009

Summary: Tiana, is a young child who being told the story of the Frog Prince by her mother with her best friend Charlotte La Bouff. After Charlotte's father returns for her, Tiana and her mother leave. At home Tiana and her father make gumbo and her father tells her how he loves how good food brings people together and about his dream owning his own restaurant. Some years later Tiana is a young waitress living in New Orleans, Louisiana with a passion for the culinary arts. Tiana works at two different diners in order to raise money to buy an old sugar mill, which she plans to turn into the restaurant. When Eli "Big Daddy" La Bouff who is Charlotte's father and the mayor of the town, invites Prince Naveen to his masquerade ball Charlotte hires Tiana for catering services. Eli seeks to welcome the recently arrived Prince Naveen of Maldonia as an eligible suitor to his daughter. Tiana is thrilled to finally have enough to purchase and renovate the old sugar mill into her restaurant.

The disinherited Prince Naveen, penniless and unskilled, is intent on marrying a wealthy woman rather than learning a trade. He and his valet Lawrence encounter Dr. Facilier, a witch doctor who convinces the pair that he can improve both their lives. Instead, Facilier transforms Naveen into a frog and gives Lawrence a voodoo charm that transforms his appearance to that of Naveen's when worn. Facilier intends for Lawrence, under the guise of Naveen, to marry Charlotte in order to gain access to her father’s fortune; Lawrence will get 40% of it as payment for his help.

At the ball, Tiana discovers she may lose the mill to a higher bidder. Tiana then meets Naveen, who, believing her to be a princess because of her costume, asks her to kiss him and break Facilier's curse. Tiana reluctantly agrees, in exchange for the money needed to outbid the other buyer. However, instead of Naveen turning back into a human, Tiana is turned into a frog herself. A chase ensues, and Naveen and Tiana escape to a bayou.

Lawrence later proposes to Charlotte, who agrees, but the magic in Facilier's charm wears off and Lawrence reverts to his original form. Another sample of the prince's blood is needed in order to prolong the spell, but Facilier finds that Lawrence foolishly released him. Facilier turns to the voodoo spirits for help, with the promise that once Lawrence marries Charlotte, he will have total control over New Orleans and will be able to offer the citizens' souls as payment. The voodoo spirits provide shadow demons, who are dispatched to locate Naveen.

At the bayou, Tiana and Naveen meet Louis, a trumpet-playing alligator, who offers to lead them to Mama Odie, an ancient and good-hearted voodoo priestess who they believe can undo the curse. Later, they meet Ray, a Cajun firefly, who joins them on their journey. Ray is in love with the Evening Star, who he calls Evangeline, believing it to be a distant firefly.

When the four find Mama Odie, she tells the frogs that Naveen must kiss a true princess for them to become human, and that since Eli La Bouff is King of Mardi Gras, Charlotte is a princess, but only until the stroke of midnight, when Mardi Gras is over. Naveen soon realizes that he loves Tiana, but before he can admit his feelings, he is captured by the shadow demons and brought to Facilier.

Before Lawrence and Charlotte can marry, Ray helps Naveen escape and steals the charm. Ray gives the charm to Tiana to hold back Facilier's minions, but Facilier kills him. Facilier then confronts Tiana and transforms her back to her human form. He then offers to make her restaurant dream come true in exchange for the charm, but Tiana refuses and tries to destroys the talisman, realising that even if she doesn't have what she wants, she still has what she needs. Facilier turns her into a frog again, but she manages to destroy it this time. The angered voodoo spirits appear and, using Facilier himself as payment for his debts, trap him in the underworld.

While Lawrence is arrested, Tiana and Naveen reveal their love to each other. Charlotte, after listening to their explanation of the situation, agrees to kiss Naveen so he and Tiana can be together. The clock strikes midnight before she can kiss him, but the two decide they are content to live together as frogs. Ray is mourned by the other swamp creatures, but his soul becomes a star shining next to "Evangeline".

Later, Tiana and Naveen are married by Mama Odie; because Tiana has married a prince, she has become a princess, and their kiss breaks the spell. After a second wedding at St. Louis Cathedral, the couple return to New Orleans. Months later, Tiana and Naveen have transformed the sugar mill into the long awaited restaurant, called Tiana's Palace, after winning the bid with the help of Louis. Tiana and Naveen celebrate their opening with their family and friends while she sings Down in New Orleans.