Ne-Yo's New Video Shows Off Footage Of Disney's THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

By Simon Gallagher / July 6, 2011

I wouldn't usually offer the release of a new music video from a pop sensation as newsworthy, but Ne-Yo's latest "heart-felt ballad" Never Knew I Needed is also the theme to Disney's forthcoming The Princess and The Frog, which for me is a welcome return for the toon giants to a more classical narrative paradigm. The reason it's even more newsworthy in this case is that the new video in question also features footage from the film, and it looks a lot better than the last 2D offering- 2004's Home on the Range, which was unfortunately forgettable at best, and for some, including myself, looked like the beginnings of an ominous black cloud for the future of Disney's 2D projects. So, without further ado, here's the video... I'm a major fan of Disney's works (that's not to mention the new stable of work put out as a result of the Disney/Pixar marriage), and have always preferred those films which take their origins from recognisable folklore (a particular favourite has always been The Sword in the Stone), as they tend to lend themselves to a richer narrative. So I heartily welcome the decision to base the newest offering (albeit loosely) upon E.D. Baker's novel The Frog Princess and the Brothers Grimm'sThe Frog Prince; the reason I say loosely is that it's not strictly a classic reimagining, as the press release below suggests...

When the free-spirited, jazz-loving Prince Naveen of Maldonia (Bruno Campos) comes to town, a deal with a shady voodoo doctor (Keith David) goes bad and the once suave royal is turned into a frog. In a desperate attempt to be human again, a favor in exchange for a fateful kiss on the lips from the beautiful girl, Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), takes an unexpected turn and leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana to the banks of the almighty Mississippi and back in time for Mardi Gras in New Orleans. An unforgettable tale filled with music, humor and heart where two frogs€”along with the help of a 197-year-old voodoo priestess, a love-sick Cajun firefly, and a trumpet-playing alligator€”discover that what they want isn€™t as important as what they need.

The complete soundtrack, which you just know will have an Oscar contender for Best Song in amongst it somewhere, is available to buy from November 23rd (or you can pre-order it if you cant wait), and from the snippets I've heard so far it's a welcome return to better form after the relatively mediocre Disney offerings of late (Phil Collins has a lot to answer for), chiefly because it's been put back in the more than capable hands of award-winner Randy Newman. Listen to snippets of Disney's The Princess and The FrogOriginal Soundtrackhere, and look out for a complete review of it in the coming weeks. The Princess and The Frog opens on limited release in New York and Los Angeles on November 25th, and then on wider release on December 11th.