THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG: Disney animators Mark Henn and Mike Surrey talk to Andrea Chase
Series: Behind the Scenes
From: Andrea Chase
Length: 00:15:03
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Piece Description
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG is Disney's first hand-drawn animated feature since 2004, and the first to feature an African-American princess. Animators Mark Henn and Mike Surrey talk to Andrea Chase about bringing the characters to life, the pleasures and perils of returning to a strictly hand-drawn animation process, and the intrinsic value of hand-drawn animation as an art form in and of itself.
Timing and Cues
Intro and first question 1:05
Intro and Outro
INTRO:Andrea Chase talks with Mark Henn and Mike Surrey about THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, the latest animated Disney film and the first one since 2004 to be completely hand-drawn. It’s also the first to feature an African-american princess and the first to feature a princess who is left-handed. The story, set in 1920s New Orleans, is about Tiana, a waitress who dreams of owning her own restaurant and the foreign prince who complicates things for her when he’s turned into a frog and Tiana’s attempt to turn him back into a human with a kiss backfires. Henn animated Tiana in her human form, and Surrey is responsible for bringing Ray, a romantic firefly to life. Tiana is voiced by Anika Noni Rose, and Ray by Jim Cummings, who is not a native Louisianan, but lived there long enough to become a Mardi Gras float designer and pick up a pitch perfect accent. Their previous work includes for Surrey animating Aladdin in the film of the same name, and Timon in THE LION KING. Henn’s work includes Jasmine in Aladdin and Ariel in THE LITTLE MERMAID. He also worked on a short “How to hook up your home theater” featuring Goofy.
OUTRO: