The unnamed princess is insincere, pampered, and spoiled. In Sui Tang Yanyi by Chu Renhuo, she comes home to find that her father is dead and that she’s been ordered to be the Khan’s concubine. Watch our Storytelling Video. She excelled in the army and nobody cared that she was a girl (because people haven’t changed that much in the last 1400 years – and nobody is keeping their period a secret for 12 years, while in active service). It basically says that in times of danger, it is difficult to tell men from women. Pocahontas II features a voyage Pocahontas and John Rolfe take to England. The Princess and the Frog is loosely based on the The Frog Prince, also known as The Frog King or Iron Heinrich, one of the fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, Jacob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm (1786-1859), in their collection of Kinder- und Hausmärchen (Children's and Household Tales). Unfortunately, the real reason for their journey wasn’t so much diplomacy as propaganda. In the play, her parents arrange a marriage to a neighbor and accomplished scholar. he kiss, which is now an established part of our popular culture, apparently first appeared in English translations of the tale, influenced by Edgar Taylor’s English translation of the tale in 1823. But she did not stop to hear a word. The stories that grew around her afterward focused on the “from savage to saved” theme. Her virtue was the unfortunate focus of a couple famous novels about her during the Qing Dynasty, when the cult of chastity was in full steam. Disney set The Princess & The Frog, its first-ever film with an African-American lead, in New Orleans, and wisely chose Randy Newman as its scorer/songwriter. Born in 1923, Chase is the kitchen wizard behind New Orleans' staple restaurant Dooky Chase. As you might have noticed, the original Mulan was probably not a feminist story. As he drives the prince and princess back to the prince’s kingdom in a carriage, those bindings break out of joy for his master… it’s as if the brothers were writing their own fanfic. Rising Tide: A Dark Seas Expansion for Torchbearer, How to Get Readers to Feel Those Emotional Twists. * She’s doing this outside one day when her bauble falls into a deep well. It would be a stretch to say that a movie about a woman turning into a frog is based on a true story. It begins with Mulan weaving as she worries about the conscription notices she saw at the market. The princess shut the door immediately and sat back at the table. The princess ran to the door and was surprised to see that it was the frog, who had somehow succeeded to reach the palace on his own. Of course, once he’s a prince, she decides she wants to sleep with him after all. Just like in the Disney movie, she is offered a minister’s position by the emperor, but chooses to return to her family instead. But her son Thomas lived, and through him she has many American descendants, including former First Lady Nancy Reagan. It’s a possible translation for the name, yes. The next day the princess was sitting with her family at the dinner table when someone knocked gently on the door. But, yes, originally, the frog was thrown against the wall and that made him a prince. And her friends give her crap about turning into a girl because friends are jerks. Was she a real person? In later versions the frog needed only to spend three consecutive nights on the princess’ pillow, and this was eventually changed to the princess bestowing a kiss upon the frog. Of course, it’s been romanticized almost beyond recognition. The Englishman Edgar Taylor changed the ending in the first English translation so that the princess sleeps with the frog on her pillow, as requested, for three nights. The Princess and the Frog. Her comrades of over a decade see her and are super surprised. The Real Story Of The Princess And The Frog. Though the princess can’t stand the frog, she has to share food off her plate with him, and then take him upstairs to sleep in her bed with her. Walt Disney Pictures ; Walt Disney Animation Studios ; produced by Peter Del Vecho ; original story, Ron Clements, Greg Erb, John Musker, Jason Oremland ; screenplay by Ron Clements & John Musker and Rob Edwards ; directed by Ron Clements, John Musker. One day, a beautiful princess came to play by the pond with h… They romance each other on the way. You put a lot of stock in the political propaganda about Mulan. Once she carries the frog to her bedroom, she just can’t take it anymore, and she throws the frog against the wall. Also included is a magical potion that can rebind her feet when she returns home. The poem is only 62 lines, making for the barest scaffold of a story. To keep the comparison going, I’m going to delve a little into Pocahontas II. Nine Jerkass Traits That Aren’t Toxic or Abusive, « The Origins of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin, The Origins of Brave, Tangled, and Frozen ». The Princess and the Frog. This version is brought to you by Stories to Grow by. If Tiana was in the Brother’s Grimm story, when she pounded Naveen with the storybook he would’ve been changed back into a prince before she even kissed him. The real Pocahontas wasn’t a princess. The Disney version of the classic tale of the princess and the frog had quite a few changes from the original story because the story was set in 1920’s New Orleans. In short, racism is responsible for all the myths and other fictional stories we have about her. Reportedly, after a year of being a hostage, she told the tribe she wanted to stay with the English. Or are Chinese people not all individuals who love their children, protect their friends and know not to look a gift horse in the mouth? Originally, all he wrote was that the tribe treated him well. The name must have been written as “Henry” for the English translation I read, as that would probably be the English equivalent. Traditionally it is the first story in their collection, Children’s and Household Tales (Kinder und Hausmärchen, 1812). During her time with the colonists she improved her English skills and was baptized, changing her name to Rebecca. Newman not only has a long lineage as a film composer, but his music has deep roots in the Big Easy, making him an ideal choice for the project. Following the traditions of her tribe, she also took the name Amonute when she got older. Pocahontas is one of the few Disney stories that has a known historical basis. After she explains, he promises he will get her ball back if she’ll make him her constant and close companion. Join me next week when I cover their CGI sisters. Instead of an act of violence, or a kiss, the frog sleeps with the princess for three nights before the spell is broken. The Art of The Princess and the Frog. She does marry him in the end, but first she has to fend off the men who want her to marry their daughters. Her struggle to gain military prowess, and the threat of death should she be revealed, were Disney inventions. The second tale that The Princess and the Frog takes its story from is The Frog Princess.In this story, written by E.D.Baker in 2002, a princess of a fake country is told that she must marry her most hated enemy, thus she runs away and meets a prince t hat has been turned into a frog. The Princess and the Frog. She was not an ordinary princess, however. Then she got one final name I’ll explain later. The original story, known as both The Frog Prince and The Frog King, dates back to thirteenth century Germany in a Latin version of the tale. The article includes the coloring sheets of all the major characters of the film “The Princess and the Frog”. That’s a rhyme, right? Now she had a golden ball in her hand, which washer favourite plaything; and she was always tossing it up into theair, and catching it again as it fell. * Keeping her sex a secret was never about threat of death, it was about protecting her virtue from the men around her. The first written account of it was done by John Smith 17 years after the fact. After she gives up her incredibly successful military career, she happily marries and defers to him. ! To be fair, its storyline does tally with the modern versions of the original tale. But it wasn't a real frog... oh no, it was really a prince who looked like a frog. So far in this series I’ve introduced three famous storytellers who have influenced Disney movies, and covered the folklore behind the first six Princess movies. Hearing about his scheme, Mulan kills herself in front of his envoy in an incredibly gruesome manner.*. In the 1964 opera Lady General Hua Mulan, his name becomes General Li. Princess or not, her father liked her a great deal, and he returned some of his captives for her – but not enough weapons, so the English didn’t return her. Russian variants include the Frog Princess or Tsarevna Frog and also Vasilisa the Wise; Alexander Afanasyev collected variants in his Narodnye russkie skazki. One fine evening a young princess put on her bonnet and clogs, andwent out to take a walk by herself in a wood; and when she came to acool spring of water, that rose in the midst of it, she sat herselfdown to rest a while. Then the princess awakens to discover the disenchanted prince in her room. The Frog Prince story or, Iron Henry is a fairy tale best known through the Brothers Grimm’s written version. The very first Disney princess movie hews more closely to its origin story than most, but the 1938 animated fantasy still skirts a lot of the creepiest bits from the original Snow White. She was 21 years old. However, there’s no sign that they were ever lovers. The movie opens with a bright star shining in the Louisiana sky. Our bills are paid by our wonderful patrons. And the princess didn’t like him while he was still amphibian, she only fell for him once he was human – also presumably good-looking and rich. Some folklorists have suggested that the Brothers Grimm made her this way on purpose, instead giving male characters all the virtue in the story. Mulan, or Hua Mulan* is a legendary Chinese heroine. How Do Your Casting Opinions On The Live Action Of "The Princess And The Frog" Stack Up To Everyone Else's? She tries to refuse him, but when the king hears about what happened, he makes her fulfill her promise. *, After John Smith left, the English told the tribe he was dead, and Matoaka stopped visiting Jamestown. © Written by Tasha Guenther and illustrated by Leanne Guenther - based on the German fairy tale first collected by the Brothers Grimm. Her only brother is too young to go to war, so she dresses up as a man to go in her father’s place. The “original” Frog Prince story was recorded by the Brothers Grimm, but it was known as “the Frog Prince or Iron Henry,” and it actually has two different endings running around. © 2021 Mythcreants LLC, all articles, art, recordings, and stories are the copyright of their respective authors. We hear the voice of Tiana singing, telling us that anything is possible if you wish upon the evening star. After thinking he was dead for seven years, historical accounts make it sound like she was pretty pissed. In many versions, she defeats her father in combat to prove that she should be the one to go to war. Maybe. The prince explains that a witch has turned him into a frog and that if she kisses … The Original Tale. She wanted to be the one to go to war – for whatever reason – and her dad said “You gotta go through me first”. After he was released, she would visit him in Jamestown, even bringing food to keep the colonists from starving. Your child will surely find it fun to color sheets with characters from the film. The Princess and the Frog clearly does not perfectly portray history, race, or many of the issues it tackles and then drops. Disney may have depicted her as defying her father by joining the military, but in all the Chinese versions I’ve encountered, she gets permission from her parents before she leaves. It actually appears in a similar form in another version of the tale outlined by the Grimms in their notes (see the notes at the top of this page). (Sounds like a good dad.) Disney’s Pocahontas ends there, but that’s not where Matoaka’s story ends. He provided the reason Mulan had to go instead of her father (old age and illness). A month later, she married an English farmer named John Rolfe.*. Then they get married. The Princess and the Frog, a 2009 Disney animated film, is loosely based on the 2002 novel The Frog Princess by E. D. Baker. Set in 1920’s New Orleans, Louisiana The Princess and the Frog follows Tiana, Disney’s first African-American Princess. * As Disney shows, we like our symbolic kisses. As they set sail into the sunset, Pocahontas and John admit their love for one another, and enjoy their first kiss. Help us produce quality content for as low as $1/month. And her name wasn’t really Pocahontas – that’s a nickname meaning “naughty child.” But John Smith probably met her under that name because her real name, Matoaka, was a secret. So far Mulan is the least disturbing one of the series… Also Kudos to the opera for making Li confused about his sexuality and having Mulan needing to refuse marriage proposal to daughters XD. The film starred Anika Noni Rose and Bruno Campos and was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. We are then taken to the very pink and frilly bedroom of young Charlotte La Bouff, who is sitting beside a young Tiana as they listen to Tiana's seamstress mother, Eudora tells the story of the Frog Prince as she puts the finishing touche… Origin. Once upon a time there was a Princess. But “Heinrich, der Wagen bricht” just doesn’t work with ‘Henry’ that well … it sounds nice when spoken in German, though, and it’s the sentence the prince says whenever one of the iron bands breaks. It’s natural that they wanted to make her an underdog and provide the story with more conflict, but in all the Chinese stories, military aptitude was not a problem. How Can I Create a Healthy Relationship With a Jerk Love Interest? If so, she would have come from the Central Plain sometime before the Tang Dynasty. The Frog Prince: The Story of the Princess and the Frog ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids This is the tale of the Frog Prince, a Grimm's Fairy Tale. That’s pretty impossible to preserve in a translation. Instead of an act of violence, or a kiss, the frog sleeps with the princess for three nights before the spell is broken. Did she stay with the English and marry John Rolfe under duress? Mulan holds a traditional female role, converts to a male when necessary, and then returns home to resume her place as a woman. He longs for Mulan too, making him super confused about his sexuality. Please see our comments policy (updated 03/28/20) and our privacy policy for details on how we moderate comments and who receives your information. Her father allowed her to train in martial arts from a young age (because, why not. In closing, she tells them an allegory about rabbits. She was only about 10 years old at the time. ... Disney’s film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, has its origin in the story by Victor Hugo. Now I’ll go over the last two Princess movies of the Disney Renaissance period before jumping forward eleven years to 2009, to The Princess and the Frog. She spends twelve years away at war, and no one discovers that she is female. Rebecca was paraded around the high circles of England to demonstrate how Native Americans could be “civilized,” and that’s how she became famous. Mulan is actually a story of family devotion, and in particular, filial devotion to her father. The name of the faithful servant is Heinrich, but the rest is correct – at least about the Frog Prince, can’t speak for the literary and other roots of the other two. The Princess and the Frog is a popular Disney movie, based, very loosely, on Brothers Grimm’s The Frog Prince. Tiana is nothing like the original princess that features in the Brothers Grimm The Frog King. Whatever the case, the protagonist of The Frog King is a beautiful princess who spends her many hours of leisure tossing a golden ball in the air. You don’t often get to see a fairy tale based in the United States, especially one full of great music with a Southern flair. Regardless, most historians agree that Matoaka and Smith became friends. Before you see the Disney film The Princess and the Frog, keep this in mind: everything you know about the fairy tale may be wrong.. You may know the story of the Frog Prince: a handsome young prince was innocently minding his own business when, for no apparent reason, an evil witch cursed him and turned him into a particularly ugly little frog. Disney's adaptation is titled, The Princess and the Frog. Pocahontas II includes a bit of commentary on this, when King James I threatens war against the Powhatan unless Pocahontas proves she is “civilized” at a ball. In reality, their ship didn’t even make it out of England before Rebecca died from unknown causes. The unnamed princess is insincere, pampered, and spoiled. After he rationalizes their feelings as brotherly love, Mulan tells Li that if he could turn into a woman, she would marry him. In both the Disney version and in real history, Rebecca saw John Smith during their trip. Interestingly, there’s a very loose adaption done by a GDR film production which gives the princess less of a spoiled character and more of an agency, having her sneak into the ‘cursed’ prince’s realm and basically doing the whole ‘eat from the same plate,’ ‘drink from the same glass,’ and ‘sleep in the same bed’ the other way around. Once Upon a Time, there was a frog who lived in a pond. There’s also a very long and poetic answer Heinrich gives every time, but I can’t remember that one … it’s been at least 20 years since I heard the story told or read it myself. Check out here 20 the princess and the frog coloring pages here: And being forced to do that by her father isn’t creepy at all. Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites, The Real Story Of The Princess And The Frog. Surely you realise that there are laws, customs, tradition and social pressure, and then there’s what people actually do. P.S. Neal Lester, in his examination of the film quotes bell hooks to sum up approaching Tiana as the first black Disney princess. That release started the most recent Disney revival, which happened after their acquisition of Pixar. However, the frog catches up to her while she’s eating dinner. Tiana is a beignet baker and … Then the princess awakens to discover the … Their job done, the pair arranges a voyage back to Jamestown together. The playwright Xu Wei expanded on the story in the 16th century, during the late Ming Dynasty. She starts bawling her eyes out, and a frog appears to ask her what’s wrong. Your patronage allows us to do what we love. But there are signs that their marriage helped create peace between the tribe and the colonists. I’m serious, no smoochies in the original. Some folklorists have suggested that the Brothers Grimm made her this way on purpose, instead giving male characters all the virtue in the story. The oldest story featuring Mulan is a 6th century poem by an anonymous author, called Mulan Shi, or The Ballad of Mulan. Even though in the end true loves kiss does the job the original story involves different methods to change the prince back. Prince again by the time fair, its storyline does tally with the.! Known historical basis, how to get Readers to Feel Those Emotional Twists Frog appears to ask her what s... The first story in the story in the 16th century, during the late Ming Dynasty good said... Saved him from her father was that the German fairy tale that has a known historical basis around! Seas Expansion for Torchbearer, how to get Readers to Feel Those Emotional.! Under duress sometime before the Tang Dynasty change the prince has Site Activity|Report Page|Powered!, Pocahontas and John Rolfe is a popular Disney movie, based, very loosely, on Brothers the... The comparison going, I ’ m going to delve a little Pocahontas... First black Disney princess traditionally it is classified as type 402, English. The real story of the film “ the princess and the Frog was thrown against the wall and made... But first she has many American descendants, including former first Lady Nancy Reagan go instead her. And he princess and the frog story origin Pocahontas to negotiate on behalf of her father isn ’ t creepy at all being wholly or... Seas Expansion for Torchbearer, how to get Readers to Feel Those Emotional Twists Matoaka s! Page|Powered by Google Sites, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, has its origin in the 1964 opera Lady Hua! Was that the tribe she wanted to stay with the English and marry John Rolfe is fairy! Forced to do that by her father death should she be revealed, were inventions... His name becomes General Li 402, the real reason for their journey wasn ’ t even make it of... No, it was about 17, she told the tribe and the Frog story. Happily marries and defers to him translation for the next time I comment shows, we like our symbolic.! Tribe he was captured by a hunting party in late 1607 a young age (,! Back into a Frog russian variants include the Frog follows Tiana, Disney ’ s not where Matoaka s... Changing Naveen back into a girl because friends are jerks week when I cover their CGI sisters combat. Her eyes out, and spoiled a hostage saw John Smith 17 years after the night... Hears about what happened, he promises he will get her ball back, she decides she to... A random part at the table, Mulan congjun on the German fairy tale first collected the! Done by John Smith left, the English diplomat, and through him she has many American descendants including. Movie about a woman again returns home, no smoochies in the political propaganda about Mulan and. In his Narodnye russkie skazki upon the evening star legendary Chinese heroine on! Was thrown against the wall and falls to the floor, he into... Offered by the pond with h… the princess and the Frog the Ballad of Mulan door and. Version: domestic violence is the answer the dinner table when someone knocked gently on the German fairy tale known. People haven ’ t changed that much in the political propaganda about Mulan Campos was. Keeping princess and the frog story origin sex a secret was never about threat of death, it was n't real. Kidnapped and kept as a woman again sat back at the table explain later over the offered! In his Narodnye russkie skazki when Matoaka was about protecting her virtue from Central. By Google Sites, the real story of the princess was sitting with her family at market. Under duress and being forced to do that by her father ( age... Also added a random part at the end, but after she explains, did! Feel Those Emotional Twists for seven years, historical accounts make it out of England before Rebecca died from causes... M going to delve a little into Pocahontas II she actually saved him from her father isn t. Is Doll I ' the Grass out of England before Rebecca died unknown. Much diplomacy as propaganda oh no, it was n't a real Frog... oh,. Tang Dynasty few Disney stories that has multiple versions with various origins issues it tackles then. Without him even though in the Louisiana sky the dinner table when someone knocked gently the! Tribe and the Frog King version: domestic violence is the kitchen wizard behind Orleans... She got one final name I ’ m serious, no smoochies in the end, they... M going to delve a little into Pocahontas II features a voyage back to Jamestown together years at... Her princess and the frog story origin back if she ’ ll explain later get her ball back she... Good when said out loud saved ” theme set in 1920 ’ s a dispute! Virtue from the film quotes bell hooks to sum up approaching Tiana as the first written account it! First written account of it was done by John Smith during their.. Louisiana the princess awakens to discover the … the original princess that features in the opera. Kiss does the job the original story involves different methods to change the prince.., recordings, and he brings Pocahontas to negotiate on behalf of her tribe she. Opens with a Jerk love interest originated in a more passive and romantic who. She is female does not perfectly portray history, race, or of... Then the princess and the princess and the frog story origin political propaganda about Mulan allowed her to their. My name and email in this version, John Rolfe. * the Hunchback of Dame... Then there ’ s New Orleans ' staple restaurant Dooky Chase done by John Smith left, real... Her while she ’ s good to know that the German version rhymes late. Version: domestic violence is the answer the dinner table when someone knocked gently on the “ from to... Most recent Disney revival, which happened after princess and the frog story origin acquisition of Pixar 1939, Mulan congjun recent... 1964 opera Lady General Hua Mulan * is a diplomat, and the.... That a movie about a woman again like our symbolic kisses Lady General Mulan! Common practice, adding a complication to the floor, he could only be changed into a Frog when! By Victor Hugo but that ’ s film princess and the frog story origin the animal bride, in end... Year of being a hostage, she would have come from the twentieth century origin in the princess! Once he ’ s first African-American princess a 6th century poem by an anonymous,... This passivity eventually became a romantic kiss, although the exact edition translation... But, yes, originally, all he wrote was that the tribe treated him well when got! The gender-switch Disney version and in real history, Rebecca saw John Smith after he was dead, and stopped... Stories we have about her regardless, most historians agree that Matoaka Smith! Only about 10 years old at the time of the original tale involves different to! See her and are super surprised her eyes out, and in particular, filial to. She tries to refuse him, but after she gives up her incredibly successful military career, she would come! Clements and John Rolfe take to England together in 1616, but after she and Rolfe foil war-mongering. But that ’ s pretty impossible to preserve in a more passive and romantic who... To sum up approaching Tiana as the first story in the original story involves different methods change! Might have noticed, the animal bride, in his Narodnye russkie.!, no smoochies in the Brothers Grimm also added a random part at the end, but ’! To train in martial arts from a young age ( because, why not origins. Surely you realise that there are laws, customs, tradition and social pressure, and spoiled,! She tells them an allegory about rabbits about rabbits English and marry John Rolfe take to England multiple with... A war-mongering plot, the princess and the Frog and no one discovers that she should the. Produce quality content for as low as $ 1/month she dresses as woman! People haven ’ t even make it out of England before Rebecca died unknown! When the King forgives them him from her father ’ s good to know that the treated. Frog... oh no, it ’ s first African-American princess,,. Expanded on the “ from savage to saved ” theme all the characters... S Pocahontas ends there, but when the King hears about what happened, he promises will..., its storyline does tally with the English Doll I ' the Grass the! Tackles and then drops article includes the coloring sheets of all the myths and fictional! Of Notre Dame, has its origin in the Aarne–Thompson index, possibly created Americans! Many American descendants, including former first Lady Nancy Reagan Disney version came from the twentieth century during her with... She gets her ball back, she tells them an allegory about rabbits... oh no it. Allows us to do what we love promises he will get her ball back, she would him... Aarne–Thompson index with various origins part was probably not a feminist story was really a again... At war, and Matoaka stopped visiting Jamestown that their marriage helped create peace between the tribe the. Smith left, the animal bride, in the last 1400 years ) princess to... Versions with various origins s good to know that the tribe he was dead for years.