IN AN ERA WHEN 3-D animated films and special effects dominate the screens, it?s hard to imagine how a 2-D film would stand out among the 3-D giants.

But Disney?s ?The Princess and the Frog,? loosely based on E.D. Baker?s book ?The Frog Princess,? proves the right combination of a clever plot, diverse characters and vintage hand-drawn animation can produce an instant classic.

Set in the city of New Orleans, the film tells the story of Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose), a skillful and humble young girl who dreams of having her own restaurant, which her father envisioned before he died. As she works two jobs to achieve her dream, she meets Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos), a 20-year-old royalty from Maldonia, who was turned into a frog by dark arts practitioner Doctor Facilier and who desperately wants to become human again.

She kisses the frog prince, believing the age-old fairy tale that doing so would turn him into a prince. But an unexpected twist happens and she and Naveen find themselves in an unforgettable adventure on the bayous of Louisiana.

Vintage Disney magic

As you begin to take in the story, you may find that the film, as a whole, is reminiscent of classic Disney hits such as ?Beauty and the Beast,? ?Little Mermaid? and ?Cinderella.? But unlike the princesses in those films, Tiana is not a heroine who gets rescued by a prince and goes on to live a wealthy life.

For one, her love interest, Prince Naveen, is not rich as he has been disowned by his parents. Nor is he the knight in shining armor who arrives to save a damsel in distress.

In fact, he is portrayed as lazy and overly carefree. Tiana, on the other hand, is a workaholic?never bothering to attend dances with friends nor stopping to smell the roses?and is more independent-minded than most of the Disney princesses.

It is the relationship between these two characters?who are obviously on opposite sides of a pole?and a modern unique twist in the story that contribute to the strength and freshness of the narrative and lead to memorable situations even with the 2-D animation.

The mix of distinct characters and the jazz culture embodied by New Orleans are also welcome elements in the film.

The group of Ray (voiced by Jim Cummings), a Cajun firefly; Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley), a jazz-loving alligator; along with Tiana and Naveen, proves to be an interesting mix of characters, which is a hallmark feature of other Disney movies such as ?Pinocchio? and ?Aladdin.? The 2-D animation also enables the characters to appear more human.

Distinct charm

The lesson in the film is essentially achieving a harmony between work and play: Naveen needs to be more serious in life, and Tiana needs to loosen up more.

But this is far from the ?Love will conquer all? theme other Disney princesses enjoyed in the ending, making it distinct.

It is also worth mentioning that this is the first African-American heroine (Pocahontas was a Virginia Indian) in Disney?s rich history of animated characters.

While 3-D movies? strength lies primarily in its visual flair, this 2-D film heavily anchors on its beautifully crafted story, vibrant characters, and old-fashioned animation.

Disney?s return to 2-D animation in ?The Princess and the Frog? shows it can still produce great, classic films without the use of 3-D, while at the same time upholding its rich tradition.

It also proves that 2-D films, with the right mix of plot, colorful characters and other elements, can undoubtedly provide a distinct charm that is sometimes absent in 3-D films.