Everything old is new again.

The buzz is all about how Disney has resurrected the hand-drawn animated movie with “The Princess and the Frog.” But the real success story here is a return to great characters and a lively storyline.

With Pixar whiz John Lasseter now at the helm of Disney animation, and directors/screenwriters Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin”) at the helm of this movie, Disney has returned to its roots: not just beautiful, colorful drawing, but also a big, old-fashioned musical with a handsome prince, a feisty heroine and a full-blown musical score that features half-a-dozen lavish production numbers.

But while tradition abounds, Disney also has learned a trick or two from the digital wizards at Pixar. It has given the traditional Brothers Grimm fairy tale a twist and enlivened it with humor that will appeal to a wide age range.

Not only is the story set in 1920s New Orleans at the height of the jazz age, it's also turned on its head. Instead of that famous kiss turning a frog into a prince, it turns the human heroine into a frog.

Her name is Tiana (voice of Anika Noni Rose, “Dreamgirls”), and she is a hardworking African-American maid who saves every penny toward the dream of opening a Cajun restaurant in the French Quarter. Just when her dream seems to be in reach, a green paramour who claims to be Prince Naveen of Maldonia (Bruno Campos) talks her into the smooch.

The black magic of the wicked Dr. Facilier is behind this nasty turn (Keith David is an inspired choice as a villainous voice).

Naveen and Tiana get help from a not-too-bright Cajun firefly named Ray (Jim Cummings) and a jazz-trumpet virtuoso who just happens to be a roly-poly alligator named Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley) as they seek out the voodoo queen of the bayou, Mama Odie (voice of Jenifer Lewis), to fight Dr. Facilier's evil magic.

Randy Newman's lively score includes beautiful ballads, jazz, a Cajun beat, gospel and more on the way to happily ever after.

The accent is on romance, adventure and colorful backdrops steeped in the history and culture of New Orleans. From beignets to Mardi Gras parades, riverboats to the mansions of the Garden District, it's all there.

The movie also sneaks in a few messages.

They're not especially original. “Only thing important is what's under the skin,” Mama Odie tries to tell fretful frog Tiana, who thinks hard work is the answer to reaching your goals.

Tiana's motto is that “you can't just wish on a star,” though she does anyway, in true Disney fashion.

“The Princess and the Frog” should be as big a hit for Disney as “The Little Mermaid” — maybe a notch below the top tier reserved for “The Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast.” But certainly elevated enough to earn an Oscar nomination for animated feature.

Great music, beautiful artwork, fun characters and a lively story — there's very little not to like about “The Princess and the Frog.”

Contact the writer:

444-1269, bob.fischbach@owh.com