Brief Factual Information
Title: Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess
Director: Jamie Mitchell
Studio/Production Company: Disney
Year of Release: 2012
Title: Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess
Director: Jamie Mitchell
Studio/Production Company: Disney
Year of Release: 2012
Prompts Plot Summary: -Beginning: The story begins with how Miranda (Sofia's mom) met King Roland II. They met when Miranda was hired by the castle to make shoes for the King and they fell in love and were married. Sofia and her mom must now move to the castle and leave their life in the village behind. Sofia is very excited about this new adventure. When they arrive at the castle Sofia meets her step siblings (James and Amber). Amber is a bit stuck up and isn't thrilled with all the attention being on Sofia. Amber becomes even angrier when King Roland announces they will have a ball in Sofia's honor. Sofia is very worried about this and fears she is not ready to be a princess and realizes this is not all easy. She goes to tell her mom she doesn't want to do this but instead finds her new dad (King Roland). He tries to reassure her that she can do this and gives her the Amulet of Avalor as a gift, but she must promise to never take it off. Sofia excepts this gift and decides to give being a princess a try. -Middle: The next day is Sofia's first day of school at Royal Prep and Sofia knows she must work very hard to prepare for her ball. Flora, Fauna and Merryweather (the headmistresses) show her around and the other students are very excepting. Amber is jealous of this and convinces James to trick Sofia into swinging on a magic swing which will throw her into a pond. Embarrassed by all of this Sofia runs off into the forest. She finds a baby bird and returns it to it's mom, she thinks she hears the birds say "thank you", but that can't be true. Back at home Cedric (the sorcerer) runs into Sofia. He sees her amulet and knows he must have it if he wants to become king because it has special powers. He explains to Sofia that "with each deed performed for better or worse a power is granted, a blessing or curse". But he says she must give it to him for him to test it out. Of course she refuses, but now she understands why she can talk to animals. The next day is the ball but they have one last day of class and she must learn to dance properly today. Amber gives Sofia "special" shoes for class that end up being trick shoes. Sofia makes a fool of her self and doesn't learn how to dance. At home she asks Cedric for a spell to help her dance, but he actually gives one to put everyone to sleep so he can steal the amulet. -End: While everyone is getting ready for the ball Amber rips her dress. All of the maids are helping Sofia because she is nicer, so Amber refuses to go to the ball. At the ball King Roland asks Sofia to dance and she reads the spell. The spell puts everyone to sleep and Sofia panics not knowing what to do. She runs up and down the halls for help and meets Cinderella. She explains the amulet sent her there to help. She also explains how she regrets not trying harder to be "true sisters and ever after friends" wit her step sisters. She tells Sofia that Amber is still awake and can help. So, Sofia goes to Amber and they make up. They then go to Cedric's lair to get a spell and wake everyone up. The film ends with the whole family dancing together. -Moral of the Story: It takes more to being a princess than looks its about what is on the inside that truly counts. Target Audience: This movie received a G rating, meaning it is appropriate for all ages. But with themes of sisterhood and princesses it is geared more towards young girls. Characters/Descriptions: -Sofia: She is the main character. Her mother marries the king, so they move from their village to the Castle. Now Sofia must learn how to behave like a princess. -Amber: She is the princess of Enchancia and Sofia's new step sister. She enjoys the attention she gets and is jealous of Sofia and her new popularity. -James: He is Amber's brother, the prince and Sofia's new step brother. At first he plays a mean trick on Sofia, but later helps her and becomes her friend. -King Roland II: The king of Enchancia, father to James and Amber. He marries Miranda and becomes Sofia's new step father. -Queen Miranda: She is Sofia's mother. They work together making shoes, until one day she is hired to make shoes for the king and they fall in love. Roland and Miranda get married and Miranda becomes queen. | -Cedric: He is the castle sorcerer who is not too good at his job. He wants to become king and tries to go after Sofia's amulet to get powers. -Animals: Sofia has the ability to talk to animals, two birds and Clover the rabbit help her with her chores in return for food and they all become friends. -Fairies: The three Fairies from Sleeping Beauty (Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather) are the headmistresses of Royal Prep and help Sofia learn the ways of being a princess. -Cinderella: Cinderella (from the movie Cinderella) comes in the end to explain to Sofia the importance of sisters and help her fix her bond with Amber. Soundtrack Description: -Genre/Style: The music in this movie would be classified under children's music because it is a children's movie. But the music is more specifically upbeat and catchy (theme song, royal prep) and ballad-esque (I'm not ready to be a princess, true sister). -Role of music: In this film the role of music is to help the story line process and establish emotion. The theme song and Royal Prep song both establish a more excited emotion because in the movie something new is happening. Also with those songs it helps but a lot of action into a short song which movies the action along. With the other two songs (I'm not ready to be a princess, true sister) helps you understand why the character is in the sad mood. In "I'm not ready to be a princess" explains Sofia's fears and sadness regarding her new life. And "True Sister" gives Cinderella a chance to teach a lesson and establish mood with it's somber tone. Critique: -Stereotypes/ideologies of race: In this film Sofia and her family are white, as in most Disney princess films. While almost all of the characters are white there are some characters that are other races. The characters of other races would be an Asian girl at Sofia's school and a Middle Eastern boy. They are both dressed like what people would expect their cultures to be, the girl in a kimono and the boy in a turban. -Stereotypes/ideologies of gender: In the movie gender both falls to stereotypes and is challenged. Miranda is swept off her feet by the King which fits ideologies but Miranda puts the shoe on the King's foot and they fall in love which challenges the "Cinderella" stereotype that men put the shoe on the foot. -Stereotypes/ideologies of class: In this movie Sofia comes from the village where she is considered "poor". When you see the people of the village they are wearing layers of brown and grey clothing with patches making them look drab. Then according to stereotypes of fairytales the royals live in a big fancy castle, with closets full of dresses, they hold grand balls and they even take a flying carriage to school making them appear rich. -What techniques could you borrow for your own classroom or when working with children in general: In the film Disney uses parts of other Disney movies to teach lessons. For your classroom you could use other movies from popular culture to teach lessons. That draws in things that students are interested in (their favorite movies) to lessons making them more involved and interested. Overall for working with children in general, this film shows that children are very nervous about new things (for example Sofia becoming a princess). So you have to make them comfortable and help in any and all ways that you can. Other evaluations: This movie fits the typical Disney princess mold. The princess has talking animal friends, sings her emotions, and has to overcome some family issue to achieve happiness. But with a unique twist parts of classic Disney films come into play. For example the movie starts with a book opening to tell the story, this is just like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. Sofia's mom places a shoe on the King's foot and then they fall in love just like in Cinderella. Then the three fairies from Sleeping Beauty play the headmistresses of Royal Prep. Sofia can talk to animals like in Mulan, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Enchanted, and The Princess and the Frog. Finally in the end Cinderella comes to teach Sofia about sisterhood and the regrets she has about not trying harder to be friends with her stepsisters which ties Cinderella into this movie. |
Sofia the First: Once Upon A Princess Trailer
Sofia the First theme
Royal Prep Song
I'm Not Ready To Be A Princess (Song)
True Sisters (song)
Sofia the First IMDB page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2137286/?ref_=nv_sr_1
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2137286/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Sofia the First is now a TV show on Disney Junior! (full episodes, clips, games, parental information):
http://disneyjunior.com/sofia-the-first
http://disneyjunior.com/sofia-the-first