My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analyses

Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies.

Make sure to leave a comment if you like this site! And if there's something you think could be improved, please let me know. But in a constructive way, please. And just a note; I'm not a Native English writer, so my incorrect grammar may be notable.

And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize

It should've been Once upon a Princess and her furry friends :)

I'm without a glove :)

Through Disney's everlasting and ongoing jungle of franchises, there was one franchise that saw seen the light between the years of 2012 and 2018. And that was Sofia the First. This Disney Television Animation production from Disney Junior has been one of the most prominent series from Disneyand one of the most promoted. Having it's pilot in October 2012 and finally premiering in January 2013 (despite it's long time development phase).

The numbers haven't been small, gaining 5.2 million viewers at it's premiere. And having been ranked at Top 2 cable Telecast of all time in Kids 2-5 and Top 2 preschool Cable TV Telecast in Total Viewers. The show also struck a chord with both boys and mothers as well, since the creators has tried to appeal to adults too. With the character of Baileywick, voiced by Tim Gunn, who often gets recognized for his voice (while Baileywick was based on him initially, he was cast later on). Having lasted as long as five years, it ran through four seasons and in the fall of 2018, it was heading for it's finale on September 8th.

General Information About The Show

What was it that made Sofia the First remarkable? First and foremost is that it was shaped to fill the bill to something that`s the Disney mold; The Princess concept. The show centered around a girl (Modern Family's Ariel Winter, who not coincidentally was named after a certain mermaid and also voiced in Bambi II), who's mother Miranda (Grey's Anatomy's Callie, uh, I meant, Sara Ramirez, who has a daughter named Sofia) marries king Roland of Enchancia and becomes a Princess. And is given a magic amulet of Avalor to help her when it's needed.

At least it's not Sofia
the last :)

Unsurprisingly, Sofia is apprehensive about whether she's capable to pull her royal title off (and her mother mocks the evil trope of royal stepmothers). Of course in true Princess mold, Sofia has her animal companions. But even their trope gets mocked (since they've haven't been allowed to be at her castle by her servants, since it's not a farm). And the reason for being named Sofia Balthazar the First is that she refers herself as being the fFrst in the royal line.

It's better than SOS :)

Other famous voices stars in this show. As the aforementioned Tim Gunn (Project Runaway, which he even uses his catchphrase from that show), Jess Harnell (Transformers, Animaniacs), Eric Stonestreet (also Modern Family),Wayne Brady (Let's Make a Deal) and Darcy Rose Byrnes (Desperate Housewives). And Mad Men's Kiernan Shipka voiced the mermaid Oona. The idea originated with Disney Junior's Nancy Kanter approaching Craig Gerber (who's worked on the Disney Fairies franchise) about making a new show. Gerber was eager to create a show that contained life lessons, but that was based on his own divorced family and his son (who enjoyed Princess fairy tales), who his fantasy characters he didn't have anything in common with.
Gerber came up with the idea while being stuck at the traffic. Even the way Sofia was marketed was unique, since a storybook version of it was launched before the premiere in Southern California.

The composer was Kevin Kliesch, who've also worked as a orchestrator on certain movies called Frozen, Tangled and The Muppets (and also The Hangover, Justice League: Wars and Superman: Unbound). Kliesch was recommended to Disney by Alan Menken himself. The producers urged Kliesch to stray away from the typical cartoon music and rely on Disney's lush prior scores (despite that the show was not supposed to be a musical). The creators also deliberately included several styles of music, which got Daytime Emmy nominated.

Sofia`s Royal Title, The Fuzz Around Her Race and The Importance of Her Franchise

Look at this, Dot Warner :)

What makes Sofia distinctive among her Princess peers is that she's a rare Princess who's actually a child (and yes folks, let's ignore that all of the Revival era's Princesses has started out as kids). But the real fuzz about Sofia the First is that when the project first was announced, there were some rumors about her being Disney's first Latina Princess (since the Princess brand has become so politically correct. And basically being synonymous for giving every nation their own Princess, it's remarkable that even non-Monarchical countries have been given their own Princesses. Which The Princess and the Frog has been a pretty clear evident of).

Don't get used to this, it's only
once that you`ll get to ride this
wagon :)

Yet the rumor wasn't just a sheer coincidence, though. As Sofia's mother originated from a fictional land with Latin influences and based on Spain. But the theory was shut down at last, since it was a false statement made by producer James Mitchell during a press tour.
This was a disappointment to several Latinos who actually looked forward to a Princess for their race, yet they never thought that she looked Latina enough (yet some praised her look as well). Yet Sofia is overall claimed to be a mixed race, all in all.

However though, at least Disney Junior made up for it with actually making another Princess who's an actual Latina. Which was Princess Elena of Avalor, to serve the bill (and personally I think Elena could've been easily mistaken for a Latina version of Princess Jasmine in Aladdin). The significance Disney gave Sofia the First was huge, since it's was released with a huge amount of merchandise and even been a part on Disney Junior Live on Stage on Disney World (alongside With Doc McStuffins and Jake and the Never land Pirates). The Sofia the First: Story Theater app was ranked as number one on Kids iPad.

The Commercial Purposes of Sofia the First, Her Design and Her Appearance in Elena of Avalor

I have just the
palm of my hand :)

However, while my intention is not to slam the commercial intentions of Sofia the First, it's needless to point it`s commercial contrivance. That it was made with merchandising and toys in mind (of course this applies pretty much to every single Disney project, but nonetheless). And since Sofia is about royalty, it's needless to say that she was made to serve the Princess staple in every single way. However, it's still remarkable that neither Sofia (nor Elena for that matter) were included in the official Princess lineup.

As for Sofia`s design, she`s designed in a true Disney

Princess mold. With huge eyes that almost covers her entire head. Yet the creators have of course tried to promote Sofia's own strengths, rather than referring to her as a "typical Disney Princess". Of course critics have ranted about Sofia's Princess staple, as has naysayers. Yet regardless of it's fairy tale setting, it has snuck in some modern elements (as a rap from Clover the rabbit, Blue Ribbon Bunny).

You don't match
my outfit :)

While Sofia the First offficially ended in 2018, it still haven`t vanished completely. In the finale of Elena of Avalor, she made an appearance as a teenager with her family. To show how those two universes are intertwined (and let`s not make some new fan theories this time, shall we, fanboys?). Yet creating an older Sofia was a challenge, as they had to make a new model for her. Elena & Sofia used two different types of software and animation styles. Sofia's fist model looked monstrous when dropped into Elena's world. Plus, they had to age Sofia up. Which meant they we had to manage her giant head, eyes, and eyebrows that are half way up her forehead. They went through 6 or 7 versions, which is a lot in TV, all or a character in basically two scenes. So the crew were calling retakes on specific frames!

Elena was done in Sofia's style. It's easier for older characters to go back in forth between the styles, because they aren't as exaggerated as the kids in Sofia`s world. As for Sofia`s family, modeling her parents was easy. They just needed to tweak the way their skin looked. James and Amber were tricky to age up and stay on-model. They adjusted their original models to be older and sprucing up the outfits. And despite the two year gap, the kids were about 4 years older than in their finale. And yes, Sofia`s cameo was meant from the get-go.

The Cameos of the Official Disney Princesses

Yet what makes Sofia the First truly outstanding is how the show introduced the official Princesses (thanks to her magic amulet). Of course they haven`t appeared in every single episode. But their appearance has given significance.

The Princesses has served to give a moral to our young heroine in need and usually has a song to sing. Which are usually about their own experiences from their journeys from their movies. Yet their appearances have been quite brief.

Of course this inclusion is something that seemed manufactured and has been something for naysayers to whine about. But at least it's been a conscious choice (and certainly a lot of fun for the creators). Yet the Princesses come across as even more sanitized and politically correct versions of themselves, as they usually appear in products and spin-offs.

Yet it's noteworthy how Merida has made an appearance. And how Olaf has been included instead of his Princess counterparts (apparently because of Frozen II was announced). Yet unsurprisingly enough, the very least popular Princess, Pocahontas, has not been included. For how the creators have claimed that they couldn't find a proper storyline for her (despite that some episodes, there was a Native, Tropical Princess named Lani, that was obviously influenced by her). It's remarkable that Moana was never presented as well. Yet regarding Disney's desperate anti-Princess policy towards her, it was perhaps not a surprise.

Of course the Princesses themselves haven't been the only Disney veterans who's been introduced. As has the Three Goodfairies from Sleeping Beauty (Fauna being voiced by Disney veteran Russi Taylor), appearing more than once. They`ve appeared as being caring teachers for our titular Princess.

Epilogue

Who's the cutest of us? :)

I was eager to run
away from this
piture :)

However, to summarize Sofia the First as a whole; Regardless of it's cynical intentions, at least it was something that was more inspired and healthier than what another Disney property would`ve been (cough, a Disney Channel sitcom, cough). At least was something true to Disney's heritage and spirit. And to give my own personal opinion about it: Despite being far from it's demographic, I found the show really cute and endearing. Sure, it wasn`t the greatest, but it`s still far from the worst.
And the show has managed to survive through five years and four seasons. And now that it's ended, at least it has managed to thrill toddlers all around the world. And being a different kind of a Princess addition to Disney's everlasting staple of Princesses and Royalty.