Intro
When we look at the older Disney Movies, it is always love at first sight. They meet, they dance, and they lived happily ever after. A perfect romance every young girl or woman would dream of. There isn't anything wrong with it of course. Sometimes a cheesy love story is exactly what we need, and I love those romances.
But more often than not, romance does not happen within a day. You don't look each other in the eyes and fall madly in love with having everything in common.
One of the best romance examples in Disney, is from The Princess and the Frog. Tiana and Naveen are as different as can be. Not only on wealth and background, but on personality too. At first you might say they are completely incompatible with each other, but as the saying goes: Opposites Attract!
Same Place, Two Different Worlds
In the intro song, the life of both Naveen and Tiana is shown. Tiana works in the poor neighborhood of town, works two jobs and works very hard to get the restaurant she and her father always wanted. Naveen is a prince, flying over from Maldonia to visit New Orleans and find a rich bride, so he doesn't have to work. Both of their lives are very different. The only reason they met, was because of the coincidence that Naveen was looking to marry Charlotte.
Their completely different personality is already show instantly in the movie. Tiana is a workaholic, who is serious and doesn't have any time to go out or do something fun. She gets asked by people to come dance, but she is focused on getting her restaurant, so she declines.
Writer's Note: This can actually be considered both a flaw and a good trait. She has a dream, and she is going for it, working as hard as she can. This is something to be inspired by. But being so focused on her dream, she takes it too far. She works, works and works, never having time for friends or to do something fun. This isn't a good thing either. Sometimes a good trait can be taken too far and become more of a flaw.
Naveen is a prince, who never had to do anything in his life. Everything was done for him, and he never had to worry about anything. That was, until his parents cut him off, and he suddenly needs to find a way to earn his own money. But doing that by working? No, he'll just marry into a rich family and get rich again that way. That is far more easier.
So yes, quite the opposite lives and personalities there. A party animal and a workaholic... It would take voodoo magic to make this pair meet...
Though technically, this was not the first time the two saw each other. Their first interaction was even way before, by the end of the intro song. Tiana is cleaning off tables at the café. Naveen tries to use his charms on her, playing his ukulele. But she just shrugs and walks away, absolutely not interested at all.
Writer's Note: In the movie this seems to be played more as a gag / joke, but this is actually a fun and perfect way to meet between two people. It's quick, but catching the moment, and foreshadowing potential build up to their second meeting.
A Bickering Start
They are not even instantly friendly with each other. After Tiana turned into a frog as well, they blame each other for what happened and cannot stop bickering about it. Though they try their best to work together and try to get themselves turned back into human, but they argue a lot and often get on each other's nerves.
It is only when they are caught by hunters, they start to like each other a little bit better, and they start to accept each other more. This scene is an interesting way to show a more heroic side of Naveen. It is a very small event, but when he had escaped, he could have just ran and save his own skin. But the moment he sees Tiana locked in the cage, he doesn't hesitate for one second. He lashes on to the boat to follow them, basically risking his own life. This shows Tiana, as well as the audience, that he might be spoiled rotten and a bratty rich prince, but he isn't completely selfish.
Writer's Note: This is actually a perfect way to get characters to bond. They are forced to work together, or they might not survive. If you are writing an 'enemies to lovers' romance, this is a perfect way to force them together, while it won't seem forced in the story. But be careful and don't go too fast. One small event like this will not turn them into lovers instantly. With the princess and the frog it is a bit more believable, but if they start out as real enemies, then they will not instantly like each other after one event of being forced to work together.
After this, we see them having more fun together, and realize their talents and good features now that they are not simply blaming each other anymore for what happens. Tiana teaches Naveen how to mince vegetables, and Naveen in return teaches her to dance. She refuses first, saying she never danced before, but Naveen pulls her in, motivating her to try.
"If I can mince, you can dance."
They even almost kiss during this scene, but Tiana pulls back before it happens. She is starting to like him already, but still, she shows loyalty to her only friend. She knows Charlotte wants to marry him, and doesn't want to take him away from her.
Supporting Each Other, Not Fixing
Neither Tiana or Naveen tries to change the other one, but they just shared their own lives with each other. Naveen found that working wasn't too bad. The moment he realized he was in love with her, he planned on working, so he could get her her restaurant.Tiana gave up her own dream so she could stay with Naveen.
By the end of the movie, you see both Tiana and Naveen working together, turning the windmill into a restaurant. No hired help, they have done everything by themselves by working together and supporting each other. Naveen even becomes a waiter at Tiana's restaurant, and you can see that he's made his parents very proud.
Tiana has learned to have fun in her life. Now that she has her restaurant, you can see her dancing and actually having fun with each other. Their opposite character traits have changed them both. Tiana has became more loose, Naveen has became more grounded.
Writer's Note: This is more a personal thing, but one thing I absolutely do not like in books is the 'I can fix you' trope. Usually this goes with a handsome man who's done a lot of bad things and broke a lot of women's hearts before. But the main character is different. She is so beautiful and kind, he will change for her, while no one ever managed to do that. This is the usual thing with the trope, but it's also when it comes to the smaller things. You can't fix each other's bad traits, and if the characters love each other, they should not want to either. Usually, Characters will change slightly BECAUSE they love each other. But not fully. A bad boy doesn't become a good boy just because he fell in love.
Conclusion
You might argue that this romance still happened with in two to three days, and yes, this is true. But we do have to remember this is a Disney movie after all. Though they fell in love very quick, you do see them develop their relationship instead of instant love. And after all, we don't know how long it took them to get married as frogs either way.
So, this is my take on their romance. Though the movie is not among my favorites, I still love the story and their characters. Do you agree with this take? Anything you think I have forgotten about their relationship? Who do you think have a realistic or at least a more convincing romance? I'd love to hear your take!
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