It is necessary to remember the rules of fairy tales. First, to kiss a frog you may find your prince charming - but not any frog - the frog must be a prince already. Why? Because a wicked witch has cast a spell and turned a handsome prince into an amphibian. Your love for this slimy creature of greasy waters and the night will transform him back into human form. But look out! Read the small print before you kiss a frog. You will find there that to turn a frog into a prince you must be a princess. Therein lurks the danger that fuels this film, because if you are not a princess and you kiss a pretender you will be transformed into a frog too. Ah, you must expect the unexpected, with this delightful movie. It is all about, can two frogs find love together in the swamps?

The wonder of The Princess and the Frog is that Tiana (voice of Anika Noni Rose) brings a bit of Botswana to the world's screens. Did you get to know our own true assistant detective, Grace Makutsi, played so delightfully by Anika Noni Rose, when The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency arrived on March 28, 2008? Or have you seen her in the TV series launched between March 15 and April 19, 2009, where she still played Grace Makutsi - shown later in the year in Botswana. She is "A real Botswana diamond". Or you might have known Anika Noni Rose when she was a Dreamgirl? Another landmark is that The Princess and the Frog is the first Walt Disney cartoon feature with a Black princess.

The Princess and the Frog opens with little Tiana (voice of Elizabeth Dampier) and small Charlotte LaBouff (voice of Breanna Brooks) being read the classic fairy tale by Tiana's mother, Eudora (voice of Oprah Winfrey) who works making dresses for the aspiring princess, in her father's Southern mansion. Charlotte, the opportunist, declares she'd always kiss a frog while Tiana declares never for her. At Tiana's simple home in the African-American community in New Orleans her father, James (voice of Terrence Howard), shares a dream with his daughter - having their own restaurant. He was full of sound, earthy advices, like wishes are fine, but it is work that produces results. Her dream song is Almost There.

The tale flips forward a decade. Now luscious late adolescents, Tiana works hard as a waitress in someone else's cafeteria, but always saving for her dream. Father James has died, but she is still committed to his vision. The newspapers announce the arrival in Louisiana of Prince Naveen of Malvonia (voice of Bruno Campos). But the Prince is quickly captured by charlatans, pretenders and Shadowman, Dr Facilier (voice of Keith David), who has, using voodoo, turned him into a frog to allow for an impostor, Lawrence (voice of Peter Bartlett), to take his place. Dr Facilier's great theme song is "Friends on the Other Side".

Charlotte LaBouff (voice of Jennifer Cody), still the opportunist, aspires to win the Prince of Malvonia as hers. Charlotte's father, Big Daddy LaBouff (voice of John Goodman) is in a different world. Dr Facilier and his evil conspirators have plans of their own. When asked if she is coming to the Prince's ball, Tiana says she has to work, and then sings, "This old town can slow me down//people taking the easy way.//But I know exactly where I'm going,//I'm getting closer and closer every day".

Tiana has double shifts to work as a waitress so she can achieve her dream. No time out for that lass. It is the work ethic that separates Tiana from Charlotte (not seemingly race and class, as they are issues that Disney prefers to skate over-this is New Orleans over 70 years ago). But whoa ... the unexpected is going to happen, and it will plunge her out of the city and into the swamps.

It is in the Bayou that most of this film occurs, and there that we meet a trio of great Disney characters, ones that help sustain this flick and make it enjoyable. First there is an alligator named Louis (voice of Michael-Leon Wooley) who is in love with his trumpet (roll over Louis Armstrong). He would like to be human so that other jazz musicians would accept his jamming with them. Our duo's unlikely guide is a wonderful, friendly toothy Cajun firefly, Ray (voice of Jim Cummings), who has fallen in love with the wishing star - he calls her Evangeline - she is very, very real to him.

He guides the hero and heroine off to see a 197-year-old-blind sangoma, Mama Odie (voice of Jenifer Lewis), who should have a solution to their problems and the power to counteract Dr Facilier's voodoo magic. Mama's theme song is Dig a Little Deeper. Altogether there are nine songs, by Randy Newman. See how many you remember? Perhaps you'll better remember how to mince swamp mushrooms?

The Princess and the Frog is one hour and 35 minutes long. It is in southern frog drawl, with limited subtitles. It is rated 10+. The directors are Ron Clements and John Musker who wrote the script with Rob Edwards based on a story they did with Greg Erb and Jason Oremland.

The music is by Randy Newman. The artwork is attributed to all the artists in the credits at the end, character by character. Stay on to be amazed.
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