Nostalgia Nook: The Swan Princess

Let’s get one fact straight: This is NOT a Disney movie. It’s often mistaken for one despite the animation style being different. But it’s still understandable.


Why?




Because “The Swan Princess” was released during the Disney Renaissance. And the other studios tried to copy the Disney formula. Princess and prince, songs, funny animal companions=viola! Movie!


So, beware SPOILERS!


“The Swan Princess” starts with the birth of Princess Odette, the longed for child of King () and his never seen again queen. In a scene ripped from “Sleeping Beauty,” the young Prince Derek gives a gift to the baby girl. King William and Derek’s mother, Queen Umberta, decide to marry the two. Also ripped from “Sleeping Beauty,” the evil guy threatens to take over the kingdom. So every summer, Odette and Derek are brought together to spend time in hopes they fall in love. And of course the kids can’t stand each other. Through a musical montage (“This is Not My Idea”), we watch Odette and Derek grow up.


And suddenly Odette and Derek are adults. They meet again and in true fairy tale style, are instantly in love after one dance. Derek declares his feelings but Odette wants to know why he loves her. He tells her she’s beautiful. She asks what else. And as this is a fairy tale romance, he’s surprised more matters. He sticks his foot in his mouth and asks “What else is there?”


So Odette leaves, upset. She and her father are attacked on their ride home. A soldier makes it back to Derek’s castle and the prince rides out to rescue Odette. But he is too late—the king is dying and Odette is gone, taken by a “great beast.” Derek vows to find and rescue her. And he practices (“Practice, Practice, Practice”). And he does research on what the great beast is, but his library lacks the Hogwarts’ “Restricted Section.”


Somewhere else, the evil guy, Rothbart, has turned Odette into a white swan. At least by day. When the moon comes out, she transforms back into her human self. There are two ways to break the spell. One way is to agree to marry Rothbart. The other is to receive a vow of everlasting love. Yep, not your standard “True Love’s Kiss.” This is hardcore. Odette keeps rejecting Rothbart but she doesn’t just wait for Derek to find her. Oh, no. She makes a plan to get a map from Rothbart along with her new friends—Puffin (a puffin), Jean-Bob (a frog) and Speed (a turtle). Though Jean-Bob is reluctant, they manage to do so (“No Fear”).


Feeling bold, Derek goes on a hunting trip. He’s determined to catch “the Great Beast.” When he sees the swan, he believes it is “the Great Beast” in disguise. It’s Odette, trying to lead Derek to the pool where she will transform. She succeeds and the two are reunited. Derek wants to take Odette home, but she tells him everything. He promises to make the vow but I guess so we’d have a movie (and I’d like to think also out of remorse for his foot-in-mouth moment that embarrassed her in public), Derek decides to do it at a ball his mother is throwing rather than doing it right there. 


Rothbart catches wind of the scheme and locks Odette up. Not that Odette could go to the ball in human form—it’s a new moon. Rothbart transforms a crony to look like the princess, knowing that if Derek makes the vow to the wrong person, Odette is doomed. Her friends try to break her out in time.


At the ball, Umberta parades several princesses for her son to consider (“Princesses on Parade”). But Derek won’t tell her why he is in such a good mood until “Odette” arrives. Everyone is surprised, but Derek proceeds to make his vow of everlasting love to her. Odette is flying around, trying to stop him but is too late. Rothbart reveals his deception.


Derek pursues Rothbart, who has transformed into the Great Beast. The two battle as Odette fades. Rothbart is defeated and Derek rushes to Odette’s side. She has transformed back to her human form but she’s still dying. Derek yells that he made the vow for her and that he loves her. That does the trick and the two live happily ever after.


On it’s own, “The Swan Princess” is enjoyable. It may not hold up into adulthood like many Disney movies do, but that’s what nostalgia goggles are for. And I still enjoy the music. Howard McGillin voiced the role of “Prince Derek” and did his singing as well. McGillin is a Tony-nominated Broadway actor and I believe has played the Phantom of the Opera the most times. I know I saw him as the masked genius. His voice is great and I urge you to listen to it.


In some ways, the supporting characters are better than the main character. Jean-Bob, a frog who swears he’s a cursed prince, is the reluctant hero. He wants to help, but he also wants to be safe. Jean-Bob serves as a foil to Puffin, who is willing to brave anything. And Speed will just help out of the kindness of his heart. Derek has a sidekick named Bromley. He is loyal to Derek if a bit bumbling. And he helps to save the day!


As for the music, the songs range from okay (“Practice, Practice, Practice;” “No Fear”) to good (“This is My Idea;” “Princesses on Parade”) to great (“Far Longer than Forever;” “No More Mr. Nice Guy;” “Eternity”). But they do fit with the story, just like Disney proclaimed should happen in his movies. Which fits as every studio was trying to rip off Disney in order to capture its magic.


How do Odette and Derek hold up to the Disney princesses and princes? Well, Derek fits in well with his Disney brethren. Odette is closer to the classic princesses than her contemporaries. Frankly, they have no personalities to speak of. Odette is “spirited” and nothing else. Compare to Ariel: “spirited” young woman who loves to explore. Belle: “spirited” young woman with a passion for reading. We don’t learn anything else about Odette, she isn’t her own person outside of “marrying Derek.” The closest she gets to that is in the beginning when young Odette likes to “wrestle, hunt [and] fox.” Sadly, she morphs into a stereotypical girl who likes to play dress up and flirt with the guards.


Well, there was definitely a reason Disney movies were champs during this period. Characterization for the win!


Next month: Spice Girls!