What makes a great animated film, according to you? Ron Clements Good characters, great story with a happy ending, and an interesting world in which you would want to spend an hour and a half. And finally, we must present all of the most funny and entertaining as possible.
What is the hardest part in creating a character?
Ron Clements Good characters are the heart and soul of these movies. It is important that they are real for the audience, that people identify with them, they remind them of people they know. This is also true for the human characters as alligators and fireflies. We want our characters have depth and relief, and we work hard to achieve this goal. This happens mainly when writing the script and storyboard development. Finding the right voice is also extremely important. And finally, finding the right leaders, themselves good players at their level, is essential to create the character.
Who have you inspired to create your characters?
Ron Clements Many characters were inspired by people we met during our research trips to New Orleans. Tiana is strongly inspired by Leigh Chase, a famous restaurateur in New Orleans, which started as a waitress and eventually opened the famous restaurant Dookie Chase. Mama Odie is partly inspired Ava Kay Jones, a voodoo priestess who dances with her snake, and Colleen Salley, a storyteller from New Orleans. Dr. Facilier is based on "Bokur" of New Orleans. They are solitary figures who have broken away from the Voodoo religion to make pacts with the spirits of black voodoo magic and sell them to make money. But as Ava Kay said: "These magic spells are often a backlash because easy solutions are not real solutions."
How collaboration Clements / Musker happens it?
John Musker; When we started the film we first see a number materials that were written during the years when the studios planned to adapt "The Frog Prince" in animated version. One of them was a version of Dean and Chris Welin Ure, two artists who had imagined a firefly who fell in love with the evening star. We loved the idea and we thought it would fit with the concept of a love so strong that it kills all obstacles, even the impossible. We thought it looked like a Cajun. When we were in New Orleans to prepare the film, we visited the bayou, and our guide was a toothless Cajun who harbored alligators from his boat. His name was Reggie, and we thought of him when writing the script. We imagined that he could sing a melancholy song for his star adored. Evangeline name comes from a poem by Nathanial Hawthorne, who speaks with a Cajun woman named Evangeline, who was looking for his lost love.
Have you had any complaints from colleagues who have been caricatured?
John Musker; Lorry Shea, the bold red, was too small, but it is small and it's part of his character. In any case it's like what I see, and I got into.
The Princess and the Frog marks the creation of the first African American Disney princess.
Ron Clements With hindsight, we realize that it was indeed time. But we have not made the film for this purpose. John Lasseter suggested to adapt "The Frog Prince" at New Orleans. The idea that African-American heroine silk resulted from this choice, and that was the case from the version we have presented to John in March 2006. We all thought it was a good idea. But we have realized the importance of this election for the African American community that later.
About the African American community, what kind of impact have you noticed?
Ron Clements We were personally thanked by many African-American mothers who were thrilled to see a princess who looks like their daughters to them on the big screen. Sometimes it was extremely touching, and very rewarding.
I heard that Princess Tiana will be the first African American Disney had impact on the movie title and character names. How much truth?
Ron Clements The original title of the film was The Frog Princess, and that was the title of a children's book by ED Baker which Disney bought the rights in 2003. A little later, we decided to change the name to The Princess and the Frog. It is not unusual. Many of our films have undergone title changes as and when they are developed. Tiana named Madelyn (Maddy nickname) in the first version. But we chose Tiana, meaning "princess" in Greek. Name changes are also common. But we did feel that this movie was eagerly awaited, and this has led to some pressure. Our goal was to adapt to people's expectations while staying true to the story we wanted to tell.
By breaking with the tradition of the girl in distress rescued by the brilliant hero, did you want to Tiana, the incarnation of the strength of young women today?
Ron Clements We've always liked the idea that Disney Princess Tiana is a like no other. This is the first to have a job and a career plan. We create the character of Charlotte to a little fun of the stereotype of the princess, and contrast with Tiana. We see a bit like a modern princess Tiana.
I love the character of Mama Odie. It is somewhat the opposite of Facilier, a bit like a fairy light from the dark lord. Have you ever considered confronting them directly? John Musker; We considered a direct confrontation between these two characters at the climax of the film, where light would triumph over darkness. But we have not managed to run the scene. We even planned to make a scene music. It could be fun.
How did you get the idea to life in the shadow of Facilier?
Ron Clements From the beginning, we called Dr. Facilier "man of the shadows." But it is a concept designed by Sue Nichols, who gave us the idea of giving life to his shadow.
John Musker; Soon enough, Ron Facilier called the "shadow man" after the "Bokur" of New Orleans, fortune tellers and practitioners of Voodoo who sell charms to help you find love or get revenge of your enemies. Sue Nichols Maciorowski, a great visual artist, is originally the idea of giving a life in the shadow of Facilier. She made drawings where we saw the shadow react independently of the wicked. She also made a drawing of Facilier dancing with his shadow. These two images were very attractive and fun to animate.
What Dr. Facilier is it different from other Disney villains?
John Musker; It does not seek to conquer the world as other villains. He has no real chance. One of its features is that it interacts with its own shadow. He is very charismatic, is a showman and he was very nice to animate.
How Tiana and Charlotte can be best friends with characters so opposite?
John Musker; I think it is possible for two best friends to be different. Though Tiana is repelled by the idea of kissing a frog, fairy tales are intriguing. As seen in the beginning, they are both interested in the story by Eudora. They are both crown princess. Life harder Tiana makes him lose a bit of fun she had in her life as a child. Tiana enjoys the exuberance of Charlotte, although she nature is more reserved. Sometimes we are friends with very different people, doing things they dare not do it yourself.
The film really takes off when the animals become stars. Was this intentional?
John Musker; It was not intentional, but the level of entertainment seems to actually take off when Tiana turns into a frog. There are more opportunities for visual comedy, cartoon and entertainment related to the situation of persons in a situation that is unfamiliar. The challenge from the beginning of the film was to engage the public in the situation of the character Tiana and Naveen, they remember it for later in the story.
How did you get the idea of an alligator musician?
John Musker; The alligators come from Louisiana and we have seen a few in our study tours. Their large size gives a funny contrast compared to the small size of frogs. The person who inspired the great trumpeter is a native of New Orleans Louis Armstrong. The original concept was that the alligator was a human who had consulted Dr. Facilier to become the greatest jazz musicians, so he did not leave a note. Facilier made him a good jazz musician, but he turned also alligator. The story had to be simplified because the film was too long.
Louis Armstrong influenced The Jungle Book (which he should even be included), The Aristocats (Scat Cat), and now you create the alligator Louis. How do you explain the success of the famous trumpet player in the animation?
John Musker; is one of the greatest artists of American entertainment. It stirred passions. And it caused a sensation with his trumpet playing very rich, jazzy phrasing, her singing techniques, this kind of distinctive rumble ... but also with his look, his sweat, his handkerchief, his smile and squint. It was an icon, by his aura and style.
A big thank you to Lauriane and Caroline for their help on this interview!
And always our gratitude for his translation Angeline!
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