Moviefan12: Hello & welcome back to Power of The Princesses and today, we take a look at Tiana. And joining me is T-kun. Now, I cannot understate how important Tiana is bringing back the princesses. Yes, she's also important for being the last hand-drawn princess as Disney had given up on hand-drawn until her film came along but perhaps, it is just me over thinking but I feel like without Tiana, we may not have gotten Rapunzel, Elsa or Anna but those are future articles. Now just as a reminder, we will be looking at Tiana's Original Voice Actress, First Appearance, Favorite Moments, Later Appearances, and finally, answer the question, Is Tiana a Good Character? T-kun, it's a pleasure to have you here again.
T-kun: Same here, and I'll just say it now, love Tiana in the top best . . . okay, let's get this show on the road, yes?
Moviefan12: So, Tiana is your favorite. not a bad choice. Now, let's begin.
Original voice Actress
Anika Noni Rose
Moviefan12: Tiana being the first African-American Disney princess created a lot of buzz and some of the early plans for this film were not the best idea because at one point, the mani character going to be a chamber maid named Maddy but she eventually morphed into Tiana and a lot of big names were interested in playing Tiana such as Dream Girls stars, Jennifer Hudson but it was decided not to go with a big name star as they did not want the actress to overshadow Tiana as a character. Which was a smart move and another reason, Anika Noni Rose is so important to the princess line-up. Anika Noni Rose was the first voice actress to do her character's singing since Paige O' Hara as Belle. That is a big deal to have a voice actress, who was also the singing voice of this character. I do have one minor quibble with Anika Noni Rose. Well, more with Disney giving her the honor of Disney Legend in 2011 alongside Jodi Benson, Paige O' Hara, Linda Larkin, and Lea Salonga. What's my issue with that? No hit on Anika Noni Rose and yes, her role as Tiana is more important to Disney for being the first and so far only African-American Disney Princess and that is important and I'm not trying to diminish that but... I'm sorry, her name seems out of place, when you see some of the other Legends that have been given this honor such as Ed Wynn, Sterling Holloway, or the ladies I mentioned up above. I mean her film had not been out for one year at this point. Not only were there contributions important to the company but they'd been around the company for a long time and they had made multiple contributions to Disney over the years and look, again Tiana is important to the history of Disney but it feels kind of cheap to give her the honor of Disney Legend, one year after The Princess and The Frog came out and yet, others like Paige O' Hara, Linda Larkin, and Lea Salonga had been playing their respective characters longer or that Ed Wynn wasn't given the honor until 2013, long after he died. Just a little tangent but I don't agree with this decision. But let's now look at how Anika Noni Rose did as Tiana. She was good in the role, made the character come across as a mature young woman that had her head on her shoulders and knew that she wanted in life and wasn't afraid to work to get it. As this movie was one of the first to subvert classic Disney tropes by saying wishing on a star will only get you so far, you've got to work to make your dream come true and that was a great message to send to the audience.
T-kun: Top Best! But going back to what you were saying, yeah a lot of Buzz was going for this movie, and it seem with Disney . . . there was a lot of pleasing for it as it going into other areas of the film, viewers would say it was a touchy subject and they-the movie makers-were pulling all the stops to make not just the movie but those, such as a the actress ahead of game . . . again coming off as overdue of pleasing really.
Anika Noni Rose really does a fine job, no doubt about it. But all this pushing may be all fine and dandy, there is a much needed moment for breathing, too much pushing and it tends to lose that charm the movie was aiming for.
It could be just one person's point of view of seeing, but cut some slack on here. And the actress grown on her own and earn it, just as the rest. That's all I got on this.
Moviefan12: Now, let's first move onto to First Appearance.
First Appearance
Moviefan12 : We first see Tiana as a little girl in the film's prologue and even, then you get the idea that she is a bit stubborn and hot headed.
And the prologue here is really important as it explore the relationship that Tiana has her with her father and even though, he dies before the movie actually begins. Their relationship is important as he is what drives Tiana to better herself and work hard and perhaps grow up faster than she should have. I think this is evidenced, when we see the adult Tiana at the start of the film. She is worn out and tired and you can see that all the work, she is putting in for her dream has been dragging her down.
And finally, we also need to take a look at her transformation into a frog. Some people complained about having the first African American princess spend most of her movie as a frog and I do get that but she still had the same personality.
T-kun: People should also know, if this was tale was going to be told, one was bound to be a frog, even both. Two tales around the mid-1900's had both the female leads black, The Princess Frog when kissed by the prince after helping earned the crown, she was black. And not long after it, the princess that found a frog that saved from flood, was too. No nip-pick there, as I have a feeling, those where the tales the movie are most likely based on, well I hope so anyway.
But going back to the movie, that bond Tiana and her father had, really does drive her. Into a hard working woman. I'm very much impress that with her kind heart, smart whits, and passion stays through and through, even turned into a frog, doesn't change it, but only deepens her personality.
And child Tiana is too much not to adore. Also adding that she's got spunk and is very head-on getting what she wants. As her famous quote is-“You can't get what you want just by wishing for it.” ―Tiana. Love her for that!
Personality
Moviefan12: Going by the Disney Wiki, Tiana is passionate, hardworking , stern and loving. That fits the bill and in that she reminds me of Belle , in that she has a good head on her shoulders and knows what she wants out of life. Now, I've often described Tiana as someone that is a bit of a workaholic and while her dream, is the most important thing in her life. She doesn't put it above family but she does get lost in her dream.
T-kun: That is does and makes her feel more human, when it happens. Coming down that she love others, but making her dreams come true as well.
Belle is a fine choice to compare her with, but for some reason or another, Tiana is more compare to Ariel than all the rest. I can see it in some places, but when it comes down to it.
Tiana is a fine role model, without a doubt, her personality is something many can find soothing when in need.
Moviefan12: All right, it's time to look at our favorite moments.
Favorite Moment
Moviefan12: For me, this was pretty easy, I had to go with , when Tiana stood up to Dr. Facilier.
"My daddy never did get what he wanted. But he had what he needed! He had love! He never lost sight of what was really important, and neither will I!"
I went this as my favorite moment because here, it clicks with Tiana that she can still have her dream without losing sight of what's truly important in life and it's also a clash of two different types of ethics. You have Tiana, the hard worker, who has always try to climb the ladder to make her dreams come true and puts work into what she wants done going up against, Dr. Facilier, a con man that tries to weasel his way out of things and looks for the easy path.
T-kun: That is a good choice, I will agree with you on that. For me . . . hmm . . . Oh!
The moment I adore is a simple one. Taking during the party, after the small mess up with the Realastate men went sour, Tiana is help out by her good friend, left soon later for her to have head cleared up. As she heads out on the balcony and is looking to the sky seeing the star. Holding onto that dream as a child, and as a child would do, make a wish to the star in hopes.
I love this moment very much. Showing she's still a child at heart of wanting things to happen in a simple matter. It's a rare moment to see her not as adult who works and goes for, but still dreams, in keeping her grounded.
For in moments of life . . . there is a time and plce for being adult and a child at heart. This moment makes her flushed out as a human being, at best than what the rest of film has to give. And it was made her the best fave out of all the rest.
Moviefan12: Now let's move onto Later Appearances.
Later Appearances
Moviefan12: Now Tiana hasn't had too many appearances outside of her film. She has been confirmed to appear in a season 2 episode of Sofia The First and she might make an appearance on Once Upon A Time but don't expect her next season. However, she has appeared in some books and video games that are usually set after the events of the movie.
She also appeared in Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion.
And according to the Disney Wiki, Port Orleans was re themed to The Princess and The Frog because of the New Orleans tie and I'll just let the Disney Wiki explain it.
In this Walt Disney World resort hotel, Tiana is the central character because of its ties to New Orleans between her film and the resort. A story was given to the resort after its refurbishment. Disney princesses Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine and Rapunzel gathered together to grant gifts to Tiana. Some include carpets resembling the Magic Carpet from Jasmine, shower curtains with artwork of "dinglehoppers" and "snarfbalts" from Ariel, mirror frames with woodcarvings of woodland creatures from Snow White and much more.
She also appears in World of Color and Mickey's Magical Map.
What I've noticed is that Tiana's appearances outside the film seem to be sporadic and that Disney doesn't seem to know what to do with her. I don't know why Disney has such a hard time with her because she is a good character but out of all the new princesses, you hear the least about her. T-kun, thoughts on this and why Tiana hasn't been used more than some of the other princesses.
T-Kun: Going to take a shot in the dark and say, it's money reasons. With all the movies Disney has done, Tiana's movie was one of the lowest. Along with adding with how long it took for changes and such to happen.
It could be Disney's subtle way of saying: "There . . . look! We did it. Now can we all move onto something that has a bit more profit."
Again, it's just a thought. But to me, as someone who really loves this princess, it's sad of how some things never change, even if others won't admit it, it comes off that way and it really hurts.
What has been given thus far is fine, but not good enough. I hope sometime soon, Disney puts more effort into this and stop going for the popular vote all the time. If they might not be knowing it, it's killing them.
That's all I got to say so far from this.
Moviefan12: I think that you hit on something saying that it's money reasons. There is a certain film that we need to consider about this because Frog was released a couple weeks before a certain sci-fi film that became a juggernaut and will soon have it's own land at Animal Kingdom.
I do think that the success of this film may have hurt The Princess and The Frog at the box office and now I find it ironic that Disney is making a land based on this film and yet, Frog still gets ignored.
T-kun: *Sighs* Disney . . . *Face Palm and huff a cry*
Moviefan12: Uh well.... I think it's time to move onto answer the question of...
Is Tiana A Good Character
Moviefan12: In my opinion, Tiana is a good character that brought back many of the old traditions that we saw earlier with the likes of Belle. She is a strong minded character that has a set goal, that knows what she wants and has determination to get what she wants. Even, if it distracts her from also having fun but at the same time, I think that among the newer princesses, she is one of the best role models out there.
T-kun: Very much agree, granted there are some things that make her fall back into the classic-ness of past Disney Princesses, but it doesn't take away from what makes her great.
In a way, I do see why Tiana and Belle are very much alike, but one key difference; their passions.
Belle is a dreamer who loves to see things beyond what they are and the only way to get a hint of it in her way is to read.
As with Tiana is a hard worker who knows of how the world works for her and aims to surpass it all.
If we were to add another Princess in, she would have to be known as the one who is golden hearted . . . I would Ariel would be the best bet or Snow White.
As those princesses would be the stages many would go through. The Golden Heart becomes the Dreamer that soon forms the Hard Worker.
In which Tiana becomes a good role model that in later years to the viewers, are going to be doing or already doing to get that dream all want.
At the end of the day, Tiana on a scale get's a solid 7 through it all. She might be my favorite, but I know when to see the flaws, but at least she doesn't overuse them.
If anyone get's the chance, read the children's book that Moviefan12 pointed out before, they show it well.
Moviefan12: T-kun, thank you for joining me at this rather extensive look of a princess that does not get the respect that she deserves.
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