The Princess and the Frog Blindsides the box office, Keith David and Jennifer Lewis

Brooke Christopher talks to more of the cast from Disney's The Princess and the Frog which topped the weekend box office, earning $25 million — the highest-grossing start ever for an animated movie in December.

DR. FACILIER (voice of Keith David) is a devious scoundrel, the shadowy figure of threat who causes no shortage of predicament and menace to Prince Naveen and Tiana. Hes a smooth operator who works his magical spells and uses his connection to friends on the other side to get what he wants by way of his mysterious, menacing and dangerous charm.
Hes musical, hes threatening, hes tall, hes lean, hes thin. He can be very sweet. Hes handsome. Hes graceful. And I think all that stuff is, in very contemporary animation anyway, rare to see that type of villain, says Bruce Smith, supervising animator of Dr. Facilier, Its always great as an animator to get the villain, and the villain is always that character that holds up the film and keeps everything interesting and on edge. Luckily, in this case, Ive really got a very unique villain—a great villain.

MAMA ODIE (voice of Jenifer Lewis) is the bright side of Facilier; a sassy, eccentric and witty 197-year-old magic Queen of the Bayou who guides Tiana and Naveen in their mission to undo Dr. Faciliers spell. According to the story, Mama Odie dwells in the deepest, darkest part of the bayou. In an old shrimp boat, improbably wedged upside down in a giant tree, Mama Odie and her snake Juju dispense spells, heyacalls and gris gris to those in need.
Supervising animator Andreas Deja is behind Disney favorites like Gaston (Beauty and the Beast), Jafar (Aladdin), Hercules (Hercules), Scar (The Lion King) and Lilo (Lilo & Stitch). I remember completely gravitating toward Mama Odie, Deja says. This blind little shriveled-up old woman who was eccentric and has this seeing-eye snake, and everything about her was just so unusual.
Some of the spirit of Mama Odie was guided by the filmmakers appreciation of the late New Orleans storyteller Coleen Salley, author of several picture books, esteemed University of New Orleans professor, and an ambassador for childrens literature.

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[tinyrebellion]

the characters in this film are all great! even the spoiled brat Charlotte has a big heart

[90mv]

Lovely film, we need a new chain of disney classics

[Iheartdolls4ever]

he said "jalapena" have heard that since gargoyles

[1mnmfan]

jennifer lewis was funny on the fresh prince of bel air!

[MyRayrayhercules]

I love how intelectual they get into this movie.

[TheRadical42]

@msscott73 Kewl Beanz! I didn't know that. I did watch Gargoyles and liked it but all I knew at the time was the Star Trek: The Next Generation guys. William Riker and Deanna Troi did voices. (Yeah! Trek and Disney, two of my favorite bits.) Thanks for the info!

[msscott73]

@TheRadical42 Did you see Disney's Gargoyles?  Keith David voiced one of the lead character Goliath.

[TheRadical42]

Wow! I know James Earl Jones is known for his Super Voice (Darth Vadar and Mufasa, to name a few) but Mister Keith David could give him a run for his money.

-And I'm not sure if James Earl Jones has ever sung like Doctor Facilier did. (Friends on the Other Side - A great villain song.)

[collgoff]

The Trubbles of black and white days are over.



[MrCrimsoneyedprince]

Why the hell did it take this DAMN long for disney to make a black princess? The characters in this move are soooooo compelling and they are full of personality, but i think that they are highly under appreciated. THANKS ALOT DISNEY!

[EdugeBDroN]

I love this evangeline song . I get my babies to bed with it

[The7legacy]

@tdogg4575

Kirby.