Clark Kent says: With the change in the weather comes a healthy appetite for hitting the streets, getting into trouble, and bargaining for free goodies. Myself and Nesha from Her Agenda got you covered after the jump.

Far, far, far, far away lives a land where your dreams are extensions of your personality. An embodiment of that belief is exhibited whenever you get a chance to see Ms. Nesha and her agenda in progress. With the release of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, Her Agenda partnered up with yours truly for the Happily Ever After Giveaway.

The contest will take place on April 1st, 2010 and end on April 10th, 2010. To enter the contest you must tell us about your most memorable moment that was truly “happily every after”. It can be funny, heart-warming, anything that you wish to send in. Two winners — chosen by Her Agenda and DLYDJ — will win a free DVD copy of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog.

You can submit your answers to Happ...@gmail.com.

Clark Kent says: I haven’t even seen ‘The Princess and the Frog’ yet… I know, I know… Shame on me. But if you haven’t either, check out the trailer below:

Tiana, the ninth and newest enchanting addition to the legendary lineage of Disney Princesses, makes her home entertainment debut in a rollicking Big Easy-style fairy tale when The Princess and the Frog arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on March 16, 2010 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Clark Kent says: Stay tuned to Don’t Lose Your Day Job as we’ll be doing a giveaway soon!

VIA PR:

A timeless heroine in the tradition of Snow White, Ariel, Jasmine and the rest of the beloved royal sisterhood, Tiana comes to life with classic hand-drawn Disney animation from the revered team of John Musker and Ron Clements (Aladdin, The Little Mermaid) and a jazz-infused musical score from Academy Award® winning composer Randy Newman (Best Original Song, Monsters, Inc., 2001). A royal procession of exclusive bonus features, including games and specially created featurettes, take viewers on a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the storied French Quarter of New Orleans and into the magic-steeped bayou for hours of can’t-miss family entertainment.

The Princess and the Frog transports audiences to glorious, glamorous New Orleans as Tiana,the first African American Disney princess meets her frog prince and gives him the fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical, magical bayous of Louisiana.

The Princess and the Frog’s colorful cast of one-of-a-kind new characters joyfully raises the roof, with voice performances from stars including Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose (Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, 2004,“Caroline, or Change”), Keith David (Crash), Jenifer Lewis (“Strong Medicine”), Jim Cummings (“Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”), Michael-Leon Wooley (Ghost Town), Bruno Campos (“Nip/Tuck”), Peter Bartlett (The Producers), Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow), Jennifer Cody (Broadway’s “Shrek: The Musical”), Oprah Winfrey and John Goodman (Monsters, Inc.).

Suedonym says: It has been a year of many firsts from experiencing a Black president to the first Black Attorney General and now a Black fairytale princess.

Although having a black princess may not be as important as the others, trust and believe that it is. Back in the day, girls and boys would watch Disney movies and imagine themselves as the main characters, enjoying their adventurous story. Disney’s history of memorable princesses have given us such unique personalities that are loved even till this day. But there wasn’t a princess for everyone just yet. With The Frog Princess there’s finally a representation of color in the animated world and that has been long overdue. Sitting down with Anika Noni Rose, she spoke about her book reading tour, why there’s more than what meets the eye to this ‘Frog Princess,’ and why this royal lady is more assertive than her Disney counterparts in the past.

DLYDJ: What was your most memorable Disney animation?

Anika Noni Rose: The first movie I would have to say was ‘Fantasia.’ I loved that movie and I saw it for the first time when I was two. I was just enchanted by the whole thing. When I think of the Dandelion puffs, I’m not sure what they’re called, the white puffy things that turn into fairies when they came down… who decided that there would be a fairy in a beautiful dress? Either way, I just think it’s a beautiful way to introduce children to classical music. I’ll never forget seeing ‘Fantasia.’ I have many that I won’t forget including, ‘Lady and the Tramp,’ ‘Bambi,’ and ‘Mary Poppins’ which only had animated birds, but it was still gorgeous. Disney sort of does it like nobody else does it. It’s still amazing.

DLYDJ: There are so many firsts in this film, for instance going back to hand drawn animation. How did the project come to you and what did you think when you saw what they were going to do and how different it was going to be?

ANR: I had three auditions. One was in December of 2006 and two in the Spring of 2007. What did I think when I saw it? I was really excited that the hand drawn animation was back. I think it is so beautiful. It’s fantasy. It’s like being able to step into your dream life and into your fantasy life. Like somebody pulls the gauzy curtain over the window and you can see everything but it looks a little softer, a little more beautiful. That’s to me what hand drawn animation does. That’s what I want to see when I see a fairy-tale. I can see life everyday walking out of the house.

DLYDJ: How was it for you to be one of the first among a transition from the typical Disney princess?

ANR: I wouldn’t call her aggressive. I would call her clear. I think that she has a huge dream and she’s still a lady. She’s still soft and still wishing on stars. She has that youth about her. She’s also somebody who is very focused. She has a plan. She has been brought up in such a way that her family was very loving and supportive. There was never a doubt in her mind as a child that this thing that she wanted and worked hard for wouldn’t come to pass. I think that that is a wonderful thing for girls and boys. It has a message that is understandable.

Particularly now when things appear sometimes in our society to come so easily, there is a lot of work involved in the overnight success. I think that it is a dangerous image that we show. It’s important for us to talk about things such as, “How did you get there?” or “What steps did you have to take?” or “How did you educate yourself to attract your dream?” It’s also important when you think about parents. It’s very, very beautiful and poignant to me to have a family where the parents support a child’s dream. I think that all parents should support their children. Believe in their children; whether you believe in the dream itself or not. Whether you believe they are going to make it or be able to do it. Believe in them. Let them know because you give them boosters when you do that. The dream might change. The journey might change. What will never change is knowing that somebody believes in them. So many times in life people knock us down. I think it’s a beautiful thing they s how that way.

DLYDJ: What does it mean to you to be the very first African American princess?

ANR: To be in the role is quite an honor. It’s quite a blessing to be able to voice her into reality. It’s so amazing to me because I think that, we as adults, have a different feeling about her. The babies are walking in to the theater and it’s just what is. It’s not something they have to think about. It’s not something they’re pondering. It’ll never ever have to be something that is new and special again. That is phenomenal. We are no longer a homogenous society. We really weren’t when we were pretending we were. You can go to someone’s thanksgiving dinner and this is what their table looks like and they’re related.

They love each other for who they are. It’s important for this little boy to be able to see his cousin on the screen and in the fantasy life. His cousin, auntie, or friend from school can see it. It’s very much apart of our lives as Americans. When you touch a child in their fantasy life, you really affect the future. It sounds big and it sounds silly and somebody is thinking, ‘Come on Anika, it’s a Disney cartoon,’ but when we think of the fantasy life and how it affects the future somebody decided they were going to have a stick with a ball at the top and you were going to speak into it and somebody would be able to play it back later. Somebody said, ‘Fool… that will never happen,’ but here we are with the Internet and smart-phones that are like the size of your hands.

Fantasy life to me is extremely important to be fully representative. This way people can envision themselves and in that way also envision the future, whatever that difference is.

DLYDJ: How do you feel about being the first in the same year that Barack Obama was the first?

ANR: It’s very interesting because, I don’t mean this in a disrespectful tone, but to me, when I got the call back in 2007, I was the first person they considered. Then President Obama got elected and that was when I was like, ‘That’s really exciting… what a year!’ This has been happening for a long time. I think that there are a lot of people who think it was brought about because we now have this black president, but animation doesn’t happen overnight. Animation takes years in the making. It’s just sort of an amazing coincidence. It’s amazing that this is the world we live in now. When I think of my grandmother she never dreamed of a black president running the United States. She never dreamed of a black princess, let alone it be her grandchild. This is somebody who is 90+ years old. As amazing as this year may feel to us, to her it’s something else.

DLYDJ: What kind of child were you: the tomboy or princess?

ANR: I was in a tree. I had princess moments. When I was dressed up I loved to be dressed up. When I wasn’t dressed up I was jumping, running, laughing, and riding down the street on my bike with both hands in the air. It’s very much a mixture of both of those things. I didn’t feel bad at all. I still don’t.

DLYDJ: What’s your response to positive and negative feedback you have received, especially from fellow African Americans?

ANR: I am not a blog reader. Sorry. I once read a blog that hurt my feelings so bad that I was like, ‘Oh, don’t need to read that.’ I haven’t read the reviews either. I feel like you run the risk of becoming either so pumped up that you can’t touch the ground or so hurt and run down that you can’t even reach the finish point. At some point I’m sure I’ll read the reviews when everything is all said and done, maybe… I’m really, really happy about what I’ve done. I want to stay that way. I don’t want to be mired down. I’m very proud of this.

DLYDJ: Did you feel like you were taking on a responsibility by being the first black princess?

ANR: I don’t. Not to make light but I feel a strong responsibility whenever I do a role. I feel like I have to do 100% whenever I do a role and then to take it to the next level from there. There’s always a responsibility. There are so many ways in which to look at this. As a woman, as a person representing the old, beautiful and future New Orleans, there’s always responsibility. I’m looking forward to playing a nasty villain someday. There is responsibility there too. You can’t just be nasty out of nowhere, there has to be a reason. It’s your responsibility to figure out what that reason is. Figure out who makes that person. Why does that person act the way they do? Why did they come to who they are? This way you’re not just saying words all willy-nilly. Words can be very hurtful if you don’t have reasoning behind them.

DLYDJ: How do you manage to still bring forth your being within a character? What is the process to it? How was it doing the whole animated experience?

ANR: You don’t need to see me… Anika. Physically it’s a different process because you are by yourself in the room. It’s a very organic way of coming into a character. To be truthful I think that the root of all acting is the same. It’s truth. It’s knowing who this person is. Being true to where they come from and what makes them tick, being honest with it. I think that particularly children they know when you’re striking a dishonest chord. It’s searching for that rot of truth and then watering it and allowing it to grow into full reality. I always try to make a three dimensional character. I try to.

DLYDJ: Speaking of New Orleans as mentioned earlier, what was your experience like there?

ANR: I have been to New Orleans before. I’ve never experienced such humidity before ever in my life. It’s very interesting because with the hand drawn animation, when they went to those fire scenes, they really drew humidity. You could feel the moisture in the air. There was haziness in the air and you could feel it but it was beautiful. I feel like we’ve seen New Orleans naked in the past couple of years and they didn’t know somebody was coming to snatch their pants down. I feel like it’s so important for us to put New Orleans back into the glory of what was. Adults and children who may be there or not there anymore get a chance to see their city as something glittery and beautiful and worthy of magic. I don’t think that that has been the light. I don’t think we should forget what has happened there. I think it is important for us to look forward and bring this magic back. Remember what you came from; all the things that are from New Orleans such as the architecture, music and visual art. It’s a beautiful representation of America. When you talk about the melding of cultures, it’s America in New Orleans.

It’s important for us to remember that magical side and be able to bring that back. It’s a very unique city. I was in New Orleans last weekend. I was only there for one day and walking down Canal Street to the drug store. I could hear a band playing. It was a random street corner, on the corner of Bourbon and Canal, a trio. There was a tuba, trumpet and percussionist jamming on the street corner. It’s like something you would only see or hear in a movie. I have been to New Orleans before and I did not have that particular experience. It moves you to walk down the street and feel that rhythm coming. It is so spectacular and amazing and energizing. To be in a city that has gone through what they have gone through. To see people standing on a corner playing music just for the pure joy in doing it, those are survivors. It was lovely.

DLYDJ: How has the public response been in regards to this movie? You are reading to children correct?

ANR: I haven’t started doing any readings in libraries yet. I was supposed to do it in New Orleans last week but there was the holidays and stuff like that. That’s my pet project. I’m a very big reader. This is something that has shaped my life and world very strongly. I’m very big on literacy in children. It’s a way to travel and experience the world in a way that we may not otherwise have. Some schools and some situations have become places where intelligence is rewarded with ridicule. It’s important for us to reward the journey of exploration. I am a Golden Book. I could not believe it. To take this Golden book and share it to the kids is amazing. I will read anything to them. I really don’t care, I will read to them. As long as they are willing to be read to. It inspires journey. When you can take a journey in your heart and in your mind as you grow older and move forward you can journey physically. I think it is so important for us to explore different cultures and lands. We are not the end all and be all. There is no way to expand without journeying. That is something that is really special and personal to me. I’m going to read to as many children as I can read to. I want them to be hooked on it.

Clark Kent says: Anika, I know you don’t read blogs, but if this one ever comes across your laptop screen, just know that I love you…

Clark Kent says: This review comes courtesy of my homegirl Suedonym. She’s a dope up-and-coming writer for the blog GoodiesMag.com. She just saw ‘The Princess & The Frog’ — check out what she thought about it below.

Suedonym says: Disney finally gave the masses an African American princess. Once again, a huge piece of history witnessed. Were we given the same magical fairytale as most of the popular past movies? Find out after the jump.

GOOD: Disney cartoons have managed to enthrall us for years and it doesn’t end with their recent creation. In this adaptation of the ‘Frog Prince‘ we see how a hard working girl named Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) grows up to become a princess and live happily ever after. Set in 1920’s New Orleans, the movie gives us a colorful premise and cast of characters that really tie the essence of the city and storyline together. A particularly favorable character would have to be the firefly named Ray (Jim Cummings). He’s cool only because he reminds me of that crazy uncle named June Bug who comes to visit every once in a while and you have to watch your stuff when they’re around.

BAD: I really wanted this movie to have a pivotal impact as far as the Disney princess fairytales go. In the past we got classic memorable songs such as “A Whole New World” in Aladdin or “Under the Sea” in The Little Mermaid. But in The Princess and the Frog there didn’t seem to have any songs that particularly stood out. I was hoping to come out humming a tune that really brought the whole experience together, but alas I was unfulfilled. I also would have liked to see the main characters in human form for a longer duration of the movie. Simply because they were really cute cartoons and the frogs simply did not do them justice. In my opinion, the movie may be too scary for children under the age of five as well. With the evil voodoo man Dr. Facilier, voiced by Keith David, his powers from the dark side may spook the little ones.

UGLY: This movie is a definite classic based off principle alone. I only hope it gets the same reception as Disney movies of the past. As like every other Disney movie, it is filled with crazy sexual innuendos that only an adult viewer would pick up on, but it isn’t anything to worry about.

Suedonym says: I felt like a kid all over again becoming elated and sad at all the strong emotional moments in the movie. It really tugs at your heart-strings. I was rooting for the main characters to realize they like each other the whole time. But I’m also a little bit embarrassed at how excited I got when we saw what Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos) looked like. Overall kids of all races should come out and see a well thought out and beautiful tale.

Clark Kent says: For more from Suedonym, you can check her out at her blog — Deep In The Cabbage Patch…

With the help of Anika Noni Rose (the voice of Princess Tiana), Walt Disney Records is giving fans a sneak peak of ‘The Princess and the Frog‘ soundtrack.

Clark Kent says: I know it’s not Disney of me to say this but, Anika Noni Rose is FIINNNNEEE!Watch this exclusive featurette to learn more about the music and why Princess Tiana’s song will set her apart from past princesses.

Clark Kent says: Listen to exclusive snippets from ‘The Princess and the Frog’ Soundtrack right here: http://disneymusic.disney.go.com/albums/theprincessandfrog.html. Check out the video below.

The first five minutes has made its way online and can be watched in two parts using the players below.

Clark Kent says: I remember there being some controversy for this movie. After the jump you can see what all the fuss was about.

VIA CS:

Opening in New York and Los Angeles on November 25th before going wide on December 11th, the animated comedy was written and directed by Ron Clements and John Musker.

It features the voices of Anika Noni Rose, Terrence Howard, John Goodman, Keith David, Jim Cummings, Jenifer Lewis and Oprah Winfrey.

Clark Kent says: After 300 years, Disney finally decides to push a black princess. First Obama, now this… hmm, let me find out Disney is a part of the Illuminati.