The Princess and the Frog

You know you've grown up when you start thinking Disney princes are hot.

I suppose I'm what you would consider a late bloomer. Back when my friends in first grade were fighting over which of the Backstreet Boys they would marry, I was watching Sailor Moon wishing I could vanquish enemies with Moon Tiara Magic. With the Disney movies that were released during my childhood -- Pocahontas, Mulan, Tarzan -- my favorite characters were always the heroines. Think Pocahontas, Mulan, and Jane. The Disney heroes did nothing for me. Shang's topknot reminded me too much of the Chinese soap operas my parents would watch on TV where the characters would bow around bellowing at each other in loud archaic Mandarin before slashing each other to pieces. I was always too distracted by my mind's wandering thoughts about Tarzan's hygiene to be smitten by his gloriously exhibited muscles. (Then again, an elementary schoolgirl typically has no interest in that kind of thing... but I digress.)

In fact, now that I think about it, I can't think of any Disney princes I particular liked in my childhood. The only animated male character I recall being fond of was Dimitri from Anastasia -- and I feel like much of it had to do with his hair.

And then, as we all know, Disney went through a drought of animated princess films, conveniently during my adolescent teenage years. Pixar was charming but not at all a replacement for the emotional porn Disney romance movies offered -- toys, monsters, fish, superheroes, cars... mmm, where's the happily ever-after kiss in the sunset? I wouldn't say I'm a particularly girly girl, nor am I a needy girl desperate for a boyfriend -- but there's something about fairytales that make me happy in a sheepish, embarrassed sort of way.

So, now we have Sophelia at 18 years of age -- watching her first newly released Disney animated feature film as a legal adult. The Princess and the Frog isn't my favorite Disney film -- I'd still say some of the classics take the top spots -- but it still pretty damn good.

To set the record straight, I do like Tiana a lot. She's hardworking and ambitious -- not all ditzy or bimbo-headed. I've shredded Snow White to pieces in the past, and I'm happy to say Tiana is much more multi-dimensioned than the woman-child who always seemed to be singing about waiting for her prince to come. IN fact, it's quite refreshing to have a Disney princess who, on the contrary, actually has a GOAL in life other than marrying a prince.

Having said that, Naveen stole the show for me and has claimed the title for Sophelia's Favorite Disney Prince. (Maybe I should make him a certificate or something to make it all official.)

So why him, of all the dashing princes lined up on Disney's mantel of heroes? Well...

1. Two things -- hair and voice. With animated characters, that's what makes or breaks whether or not I like them. Hair is usually the deal breaker. Dimitri from Anastasia? Bingo. Haku from Spirited Away? When I mistake you for a blue-haired lady the first time I see you, you're off to a bad start. But voice can easily compensate for a less-than-swoon-worthy hairstyle -- though the only real instance I can think of is Howl of Howl's Moving Castle and his husky Christian-Bale-voice. (Christian Bale could probably make a pig-headed minotaur sound dashing.) I wouldn't say I'm particularly fond of Prince Naveen's accent (though it's charming to an extent)... but his curly hair? Bingo. Not to mention, the gorgeously ethnic look is a pretty nice departure from all the boring white Prince Charmings.

2. I know I've whined in a lengthy post about Disney's cardboard princes who don't have anything better to do than to marry poor persecuted girls. Naveen starts off as a hedonistic playboy who wants nothing more than to live the good life and hang out with pretty girls. By the end, he's done some growing up that would make any parents proud. I'm starting to think I have a thing for those stories where the flawed hero is transformed for the better by the story's end. Beauty and the Beast is an obvious one. Dimitri, who I have to keep reminding myself is not a Disney character, has a change of heart about money. Naveen? The arrogant playboy learns a lot from the stick-in-the-mud Tiana. It's the classic fictionpress cliche, and in this case -- it works.

3. My goodness, who doesn't like a character who seems to be just so happy all the time? From the very beginning, he's jamming around with the New Orleans jazz musicians, strumming on his little ukulele and dancing around with anybody. He and his froggie smile seemed pretty sleazy the first time around (to be honest, I didn't think I would like him at all when I first watched the trailer), but that wide smile certainly becomes Naveen's trademark feature. He just seems like the kind of guy you'd love to meet in person.

So basically... I've spent far too much time writing about the wonders of an animated character. In other ways, maybe I haven't grown up at all. Not that I have a problem with it at all.