Toon Talk: Princess and the Frog Blu-Ray / DVD
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Like the work print, another rare backstage peek is available in �Bringing Life to Animation� (Blu-ray only). Here we see the live action reference footage shot to assist the animators bringing the �Dig a Little Deeper� musical number and the Lawrence/Charlotte proposal scene to life. Disney fans are used to seeing such footage for the older films, but this is a first for a contemporary feature.
Additional bonus material, on both the Blu-ray and standard DVD, includes four deleted scenes (including an alternate introduction to Louis), the Ne-Yo music video for the end title pop song �Never Knew I Needed� and the guessing game �What Do You See: Princess Portraits�. Other Blu-ray exclusive bonuses include four art galleries (Visual Development, Character Designs, Layout and Backgrounds, Storyboard Art) and six promotional shorts (�The Return to Hand Drawn Animation�, �The Disney Legacy�, �Disney�s Newest Princess�, �The Princess and the Animator�, �Conspiring the Villain� and �A Return to the Animated Musical�) that were previously (and still are) available online.
Curiously missing is Dreams Come True: A Celebration of Disney Animation, the ABC special (hosted by Ugly Betty�s Vanessa Williams) that aired prior to the film�s theatrical release. Not only would the addition of this helped flesh out the bonuses included, it also would have provided a more well-rounded context of how The Princess and the Frog fits into the legacy of Disney animation. Perhaps for its next video release, Disney will �dig a little deeper� to include it.
Toon Talk Rating: A-
Coming Soon:
- Buzz, Woody and the gang make their high def home debuts with the March 23 release of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 on Disney Blu-ray.
- Go back down the rabbit hole once more with the Alice in Wonderland: Special Un-Anniversary Edition on Disney DVD March 30.
- Another trip back to the vaults with The Great Mouse Detective: Mystery in the Mist Edition on Disney DVD April 13.
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-- Kirby C. Holt
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Kirby is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ... In addition to his Toon Talk reviews, Kirby is the creator of Movie Dearest, a blog for movie fans.
Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.
The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted March 18, 2010