A welcome kiss for Disney

Over 70 years ago, "Snow White" broke the boundaries of film. Not only was it the first full-length color feature in motion picture history, but it also created a magical legacy that would capture hearts around the world. Unfortunately, there has been over a decade's hiatus in Disney's magic, with the last Disney Princess movie, "Mulan," released in 1998. Nevertheless, on Dec. 11, "The Princess and the Frog" is sure to continue the Disney lineage, as well as cross some lines of its own.

This enchanting animation will be the first of the Disney Princess franchises to feature a black leading lady. The writers at Disney created the right character at the right time - a Disney film starring a dark-skinned princess has been long overdue. The Disney Princess movies of the 1990s paved the way to increased diversity, with Middle Eastern Princess Jasmine in "Aladdin," a Native American Pochahontas and a Chinese Mulan. However, there was never a black Disney Princess. With the inauguration of President Obama and the confirmation of Supreme Judge Sotomayer this year, the nation is obviously eager for change. The new millennium is the perfect period for a new princess to take the crown.

The positive aspects of the Disney tradition are also thankfully here to stay. In a culture accustomed to gimmicky 3D films, "The Princess and the Frog" is a true gem. These days, Disney's traditional formula has been replaced by ostentatious special effects in films such as "G-Force and "Chicken Little." The classic 2D animation in the "Princess and the Frog" is refreshing, and relies entirely on the director's competence in creating entertainment instead of the manipulation of effects. The artists working on "The Princess and the Frog" even went back to basics. They utilized pencil and paper to hand draw the scenes before scanning the sketches into computers, according to the Animation World Network.

In "The Princess and the Frog," Disney also wisely returns to the musical style that prompted successful Disney Princess classics. The light-hearted, catchy songs have been sorely missed by film watchers who lived through Disney's golden age in the '80s and '90s. The new film is sure to bring back old memories.

"The Princess and the Frog" shows that aged traditions will never die. Following in the footsteps of the great films before, "The Princess and the Frog" will soon take its rightful place on the Walt Classics throne.