The Swan Princess: Kingdom Of Music

The Swan Princess: Kingdom of Music is a delightful 2019 musical animation, adding another chapter to the beloved 'Swan Princess' series. Director Richard Rich aids to retain the charm of the original franchise while incorporating newfound zest. Starring the talented voices of Nina Herzog, Yuri Lowenthal, Joseph Medrano, and Jennifer Miller, this film sets off on a new zoetic journey, bathed in the rhythm of music, interspersed with tales of romance, adventure, friendship, and persistent courage.

The story begins in the magical kingdom of Cathay, graced with beautiful princesses and charming princes. The protagonist, Princess Mei Li is a character filled with determination and bravery. Voiced by Nina Herzog, Mei Li is a princess on a mission. She has a brother who is under a spell, stuck as a dragon, an interesting premise which pushes her onto a journey into unknown realms. This slightly ominous situation, however, doesn't diminish our young princess's spirit, and she sets sail towards the kingdom of Borromeo, where a grand musical competition is being held.

Yuri Lowenthal lends his voice to Prince Li, Mei Li's dashing young brother who is cursed and turned into a dragon. While he questions his fate and deals with his new fearful form, his story arc also explores his struggles with acceptance and the endeavour of returning to his original human anatomy.

The movie introduces many vibrant characters, one of them being Meowrice, a streetwise, cunning, and shrewd western cat. He is not a mere inclusion to add substance to the plot, expressed through the unique voice of Joseph Medrano, but also to add a dash of comic relief with his witty dialogues and memorable quirks.

Jennifer Miller voices Scully, a despicable yet essential character, who in his role as an accomplice, adds tension and a touch of the sinister. He is a trusted assistant of an antagonist, adding intricacy to the plot and tension to the climax.

Our protagonists' journey leads them to the heart of the Kingdom of Music competition, where Princess Odette is preparing for the grand event. Here, nations from all corners of the world have gathered, each dedicated to winning the prestigious competition.

Further, the film encapsulates the multi-layered essence of the characters through music. Each character connected to music in their unique ways, expresses their feelings, stories, and experiences through the beautiful medium of melody and rhythm. The movie captures the spirit of a true musical, with characters breaking into song, expressing their deepest emotions through this universal language of sentiment. The film boasts of a variety of songs, each crafted skilfully to enhance the characters' personalities or to simply propel the story forward.

The film embeds its inspiring messages within the enchanting lyrics and melodic vibrancy of its music. It encourages its young audience to believe in their dreams, portraying the vital message that true love knows no bounds, not even a spell and can overcome even the most insurmountable adversity or curse.

The animation in The Swan Princess: Kingdom of Music is vivid, colourful and charming in a way that is designed to captivate younger viewers but also gives a nostalgic feel to older fans of the franchise. The animation borrows from the franchise's traditional style, giving several references to the previous films in visual and narrative ways.

Whether it's a boisterous musical number or a tensely muted confrontation, Director Richard Rich manages to create an engaging ambiance throughout the movie. Among the other characters, Jean-Bob, Speed, and Puffin, known faces from the previous parts of the franchise, make appearances, contributing to the warm familiarity that longtime fans of the series can look forward to.

The Swan Princess: Kingdom of Music proves to be a heartwarming addition to the Swan Princess franchise. It manages to successfully carry forward the legacy of the series, introducing a new narrative, new characters as well as a new, magical element - music.