Dr. Facilier'sfriends on the Other Side are major antagonists in Disney's 2009 animated feature film, The Princess and the Frog. They are a sinister legion of loa (spirits) who aid the villainous Dr. Facilier in his plot to rule New Orleans.
A large, horned mask appears to be the head of the legion, as the others look to it for guidance and approval. This mask also serves as a gateway to the hellish "Other Side". It provides Doctor Facilier with his voodoo talisman, it releases the Shadow Demons from its mouth, and it sucks Facilier inside it when the talisman is destroyed.
Various other masks are seen in the film, plastered along the walls of Facilier's emporium, disguised as ordinary decorations. They serve as the primary background vocalists during Facilier's spells, chanting with deep, booming voices.
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Miniature, living voodoo dolls who beat tribal drums during Facilier's larger spells, in addition to dancing alongside the doctor during their finales. They repeat the beating of the tribal drums during Facilier's musical demise. Unlike the other spirits, the voodoo dolls neither speak nor vocalize.
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A legion of black shadows who were bestowed upon Facilier to serve as henchmen in the fields, with an order to capture Prince Naveen, and prevent others from foiling their plot. They can only be defeated by enchanted light, which is shown when they faced Mama Odie and Ray.
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Sentient shrunken heads that briefly appear during "Friends on the Other Side", and its reprise. They physically appear as the heads of deceased and decayed humans, with human-esque eyes and facial structures.
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Two snakes who appear during "Friends on the Other Side", in which they tied themselves around a captive Naveen, preventing him from escaping. As Naveen's transformation takes place, the snakes can be seen dissolving midst the chaos. Beyond the song, the snakes never appear for the remainder of the film.
Role in the film[]
After luring Prince Naveen and his valet, Lawrence, into his emporium, the spirits ominously watch in secrecy as Facilier manipulates the two victims into making a deal; Naveen wanting wealth and "green", while Lawrence wants Naveen's privileged lifestyle. Settling it with a handshake. As the spell upon the two is cast, the spirits chant, dance, and sing alongside the doctor, while simultaneously providing him a magical talisman that'll grant Lawrence's wish by disguising him as Naveen, while the prince is turned into a frog.
Later on, thanks to his bumbling, Lawrence allows Naveen to escape, leaving Facilier to ask for help from his friends after the talisman runs out of blood. Should they assist Dr. Facilier, the voodoo spirits would be given the souls of New Orleans' wayward denizens as a reward. Pleased with this proposition, the spirits grant Dr. Facilier a team of Shadow Demons, to obey his every command and capture Naveen. They head off into the Bayou and find pieces of balloons with Naveen's scent. Some of the shadows catch Naveen and begin their journey back to their dark master until they are destroyed by Mama Odie. Later on, when Naveen, Tiana (who had also fallen victim to Facilier's frog curse upon kissing Neveen), Louis, and Ray return to New Orleans, the shadows are able to capture Naveen.
Back at the city, Naveen escapes yet again and manages to give Ray the firefly the talisman used for Facilier's plan, resulting into the demons resuming their work. They are halted by Ray, who battles the shadows with ease until he is mortally wounded by Facilier. The other shadows follow Tiana, who now has the talisman but she soon destroys it. Furious at Facilier's failure to live up to his end of the bargain, the Loa suddenly arrive at the cemetery to punish him by taking his soul as payment instead. Though Facilier pleads for mercy, the witch doctor is dragged against his will into the voodoo spirit world, where he is doomed to remain for all eternity.
The demons are often used as elements during Facilier's section of live show, most of the time. The first iterations of the demons appeared in Tiana's Showboat Jubilee, where they were represented by flags with images depicting the Shadow Demons.
In World of Color: Celebrate!, the head mask appears alongside Facilier during the montage celebrating villains. The also appeared in the Halloween version called Villainous.
In 2016, the Shadow Demons appeared as walk-around characters during Disneyland's Frightfully Fun Parade, leading off Facilier's unit.
In the 2017 update to Disneyland's Fantasmic!, the Shadow Demons briefly appear when the Evil Queen calls on all the forces of evil.
In Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, the demons are briefly used by Doctor Facilier to retrieve the legendary crystal of the Magic Kingdom. The demons find and deliver the crystal to the doctor, but are soon defeated by the park guests. The snake spirits also appear to hold down a captive Tiana at one point.
The head mask also appears in the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular show. Before then, the Shadow Demon flags appeared during Villains Mix and Mingle.
In 2013, the voodoo dolls appeared as walk-around characters during Disneyland Paris' Disney Dreamers Everywhere! event. Theatrical representations of the demons were also featured in Disney's Maleficious Halloween Party.
The Masks are likely intended to be the Loa, who are god-like figures in Voodoo Mythology that are typically invisible and need to possess a form to communicate with mortals.
The leader mask is likely Baron Samedi, a Loa Baron of the Dead in Haitian Voodoo Mythology who is known for committing evil acts and giving power to Bokors (Voodoo Doctors). To support this theory further Facilier dresses in the same clothing that Samedi wears in Mythology and in Voodoo Magic it is believed that the more you act and look like the Loa you serve, the stronger the connection of power between the two of you will be.
One of the Shadow Demons summoned by Facilier is tall, skinny, and has large, oval shaped eyes, leading many to believe that this is supposed to look like Jack Skellington.
Tiana's Bayou Adventure:The Bayou Community Band • Zydeco Rainbow • Timoléon • Apollo • Rufus • Byhalia • Gritty • Beau • Rara Fauna • Octavia • Pawpaw • Claude • Bernadette • Sebastián • Phina • Las Ranitas Verdes • Felipe • Mayra • Mondo • Isabel • Gloria • Delores • Lari • Emily • Walter • Lucia • Ana • Rosa • Rufus and the Terrapins • The Bayou Bobcats Cameos and Crossover characters:Br'er Rabbit • Br'er Fox • Br'er Bear • Mr. Bluebird • Br'er Frog • Br'er Goose • Br'er Terrapin • Br'er Porcupine • Br'er Raccoon • Swamp Boys • Singing Geese • Singing Bullfrogs • River Belle Chorus • The Bees • Bass Frog • Farming Rabbits • Miss Possum • Five Bear Rugs
Objects
Facilier's Talisman • Mama Odie's Wand • Mama Odie's Gumbo Cauldron • Tiana's Foods
Organizations
Tiana's Foods • Southern Dome Salt Company • Finest King Carrots
Locations
New Orleans • Bayou of New Orleans • Mama Odie's Tree • Tiana's Palace • Maldonia • Dr. Facilier's Voodoo Emporium • Duke's Café • Tiana's Home • Fleur du Bayou • Tiana's Foods • Old Mill Pond • Lemoine Soda Club • Lari's Home
Bayou Boogie:Everyday Princess • Live To See You Smile • Shadow Man • Do What I Wanna Do • When You're In Love You'll Understand • Zippin' To The Zydeco • I Was Born To Blow This Horn • Play With The Band • Night and Day • Life In The Swamp • Love is a Magical Mystery • Sing Away The Blues • Mama Odie's Kitchen Song Tiana's Bayou Adventure:Special Spice
Season One:Emma Swan • Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard • Prince Charming/David Nolan • Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold/Weaver • Evil Queen/Regina Mills/Roni • Belle French/Lacey • Henry Mills • Happy • Sneezy/Mr. Clark • Bashful • Doc • Dopey • Sleepy/Walter • Jiminy Cricket/Archie Hopper • Lady Tremaine • Stealthy • Victor Frankenstein/Dr. Whale • Blue Fairy/Mother Superior • Widow Lucas/Granny • King George/Albert Spencer • Genie/Magic Mirror/Sidney Glass • Nurse Ratched • Mad Hatter/Jefferson • Prince Henry Mills • Knave of Hearts • Sheriff of Nottingham/Keith • Fairy Godmother • Abigail/Kathryn Nolan • Red Riding Hood/Ruby • Huntsman/Sheriff Graham • Baelfire/Neal Cassidy • Pinocchio/August W. Booth • Frederick/Jim • Severe Nurse • Mayor Tomkins • Hansel and Gretel/Nicholas and Ava Zimmer • The Woodcutter/Michael Tillman • Martin • Myrna • Stephen • Donna • Prince James • Blind Witch (Enchanted Forest) • Peter • Siren • Pongo • Gaston • The King/Mitchell Herman • King Leopold • King Midas • Zoso • Prince Thomas/Sean Herman • Grace • Daniel Colter • Nova • Briar Rose • Geppetto/Marco • Gus/Billy • Ruth • Dark One Season Two:Killian Jones/Captain Hook • Aurora • Prince Phillip • Mulan • Milah • Maid Marian • Quinn • Anita Lucas • Jack • King Xavier • Anton • William Smee • Greg Mendell • Tamara • The Dragon • Queen Eva • Seer • Lancelot • Wendy Darling • Nana • Mary Darling • George Darling • John Darling • Michael Darling • The Shadow • Felix • Raven Season Three:Malcolm/Peter Pan • Ariel • Zelena/The Wicked Witch of the West • Glinda • Walsh/Wizard of Oz • Elsa the Snow Queen • Tinker Bell • Lumiere • Blackbeard • Ursula the Sea Goddess • Jonathan • Dorothy Gale • The Witch of the East • Rapunzel • Rapunzel's Mother • Rapunzel's Father • The Sheriff of Hamelin • Medusa • Prince Eric • Liam Jones • Roland Season Four:Anna • Kristoff • Hans • Grand Pabbie • Sven • Ursula the Sea Witch • Marshmallow • Little Bo Peep • The Apprentice • Ingrid • Lily Page • Colette • Oaken • King of Arendelle • Queen Gerda • Cruella De Vil • Poseidon • Hans' Brothers • Chernabog • King Stefan • Isaac/The Author • Madeline • Merlin/The Sorcerer Season Five:Merida • Queen Elinor • King Fergus • Captain Silver • Harris, Hubert, and Hamish • The Witch • Lord Macintosh • King Arthur • Sir Kay • Guinevere • Gorgon The Invincible • Charon • Brennan Jones • Hades • Megara • Hercules • Zeus • Cerberus • The Scarecrow • Toto • Cleo Fox • Auntie Em • Dr. Jekyll • Mr. Hyde • Evil Queen Season Six:Aladdin • Gideon • Count of Monte Cristo • Alexandra • Jasmine • Red Bird • Captain Nemo • Clorinda • Tisbe • Jacob • Oracle • Royal Guards • The Sultan • Beowulf • Black Fairy • Killian Jones/Hook/Rogers • Tiger Lily • Robert • Prince Achmed • Stanum • Cowardly Lion • Lucy • Robin of Locksley Season Seven:Rapunzel Tremaine/Victoria Belfrey • Cinderella/Jacinda Vidrio • Tiana/Sabine • Isla • Robin Hood/Margot • Alice/Tilly • Drizella/Ivy Belfrey • Anastasia • Gothel/Eloise Gardener • Eudora • Dr. Facilier/Mr. Samdi • Hansel/Jack/Nick Branson • Marcus Tremaine • Cecelia • Madame Leota • Naveen/Drew • Blind Witch/Hilda Braeuburn • Gretel • Chad • Seraphina • Flora • Isla • Zorro • Fairy Godmother • Prince • Prince Naveen/Drew
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland:Alice • Cyrus • Anastasia/Red Queen • Percy the White Rabbit • Edwin • Jabberwocky • Silvermist • The Sultan/The Old Prisoner • Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum • Mrs. Rabbit • Elizabeth/Lizard • Amara • Bandersnatch • Millie • Cheshire Cat
Both series:Will Scarlet/The Knave of Hearts • Cinderella/Ashley Boyd • Robin Hood • Little John • Friar Tuck • Grumpy/Leroy • Cora/The Queen of Hearts • Caterpillar • Maleficent • Jafar • Dr. Lydgate
Episodes
Season One: "Pilot" • "The Thing You Love Most" • "Snow Falls" • "The Price of Gold" • "That Still Small Voice" • "The Shepherd" • "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" • "Desperate Souls" • "True North" • "7:15 A.M." • "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" • "Skin Deep" • "What Happened to Frederick" • "Dreamy" • "Red-Handed" • "Heart of Darkness" • "Hat Trick" • "The Stable Boy" • "The Return" • "The Stranger" • "An Apple Red as Blood" • "A Land Without Magic"
Season Two: "Broken" • "We Are Both" • "Lady of the Lake" • "The Crocodile" • "The Doctor" • "Tallahassee" • "Child of the Moon" • "Into the Deep" • "Queen of Hearts" • "The Cricket Game" • "The Outsider" • "In the Name of the Brother" • "Tiny" • "Manhattan" • "The Queen Is Dead" • "The Miller's Daughter" • "Welcome to Storybrooke" • "Selfless, Brave and True" • "Lacey" • "The Evil Queen" • "Second Star to the Right" • "And Straight On 'Til Morning" Season Three: "The Heart of the Truest Believer" • "Lost Girl" • "Quite a Common Fairy" • "Nasty Habits" • "Good Form" • "Ariel" • "Dark Hollow" • "Think Lovely Thoughts" • "Save Henry" • "The New Neverland" • "Going Home" • "New York City Serenade" • "Witch Hunt" • "The Tower" • "Quiet Minds" • "It's Not Easy Being Green" • "The Jolly Roger" • "Bleeding Through" • "A Curious Thing" • "Kansas" • "Snow Drifts" • "There's No Place Like Home" Season Four: "A Tale of Two Sisters" • "White Out" • "Rocky Road" • "The Apprentice" • "Breaking Glass" • "Family Business" • "The Snow Queen" • "Smash the Mirror" • "Fall" • "Shattered Sight" • "Heroes and Villains" • "Darkness on the Edge of Town" • "Unforgiven" • "Enter the Dragon" • "Poor Unfortunate Soul" • "Best Laid Plans" • "Heart of Gold" • "Sympathy for the De Vil" • "Lily" • "Mother" • "Operation Mongoose" Season Five: "The Dark Swan" • "The Price" • "Siege Perilous" • "The Broken Kingdom" • "Dreamcatcher" • "The Bear and the Bow" • "Birth" • "The Bear King" • "Broken Heart" • "Swan Song" • "Souls of the Departed" • "Labor of Love" • "Devil's Due" • "The Brothers Jones" • "Our Decay" • "Her Handsome Hero" • "Ruby Slippers" • "Sisters" • "Firebird" • "Last Rites" • "Only You" • "An Untold Story" Season Six: "The Savior" • "A Bitter Draught" • "The Other Shoe" • "Strange Case" • "Street Rats" • "Dark Waters" • "Heartless" • "I'll Be Your Mirror" • "Changelings" • "Wish You Were Here" • "Tougher Than the Rest" • "Murder Most Foul • "Ill-Boding Patterns" • "Page 23" • "A Wondrous Place" • "Mother's Little Helper" • "Awake" • "Where Bluebirds Fly" • "The Black Fairy" • "The Song in Your Heart" • "The Final Battle" Season Seven: "Hyperion Heights" • "A Pirate's Life"• "The Garden of Forking Paths" • "Beauty" • "Greenbacks" • "Wake Up Call" • "Eloise Gardener" • "Pretty in Blue" • "One Little Tear" • "The Eighth Witch" • "Secret Garden" • "A Taste of the Heights" • "Knightfall" • "The Girl in the Tower" • "Sisterhood" • "Breadcrumbs" • "Chosen" • "The Guardian" • "Flower Child" • "Is This Henry Mills?" • "Homecoming" • "Leaving Storybrooke"
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland: "Down the Rabbit Hole" • "Trust Me" • "Forget Me Not" • "The Serpent" • "Heart of Stone" • "Who's Alice?" • "Bad Blood" • "Home" • "Nothing to Fear" • "Dirty Little Secrets" • "Heart of the Matter" • "To Catch a Thief" • "And They Lived..."
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland:Wonderland Castle • The Mad Hatter's House • White Rabbit's House • Underland • Tulgey Wood Both series:Storybrooke • Maine • Enchanted Forest • Forbidden Fortress • Wonderland • Wonderland Maze • Agrabah • Sherwood Forest • The Sultan's Palace
Objects
Once Upon a Time:Once Upon a Time (Book) • Red Riding Hood • Maleficent's Staff • Magic Wand • Glass Slipper • Poisoned Apple • Spinning Wheel • Magic Lamp • Dark One's Dagger • Chipped Cup • Jefferson's Hat • Magic Beans • Captain Hook's Hooks • Enchanted Candle • Pixie Dust • Dreamshade • Salad Fork • Pandora's Box • Silver Slippers • Sorcerer Hat • Enchanted Broom • Trident • Enchanted Shell • Heroes and Villains (Book) • Merida's Bow • Magical Rose • Excalibur • Olympian Crystal • Cinderella's Dress • Golden Scarab Beetle • Rapunzel's Frying Pan • Magical Golden Flower • Shrinking Potion • Floating Lanterns • Tarot Cards • Maui's Fish Hook
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland:Vorpal Blade Both series: Enchanted Hearts • Jafar's Lamp
Original Songs: "Powerful Magic" • The Queen Sings • Love Doesn't Stand a Chance • Revenge Is Gonna Be Mine • Wicked Always Wins • Charmings vs. Evil Queen • Emma's Theme • A Happy Beginning
