Alex Prager directs new Disney short film using practical effects

Director Alex Prager has collaborated with Disney to create the short film ‘Once A Princess, Always A Princess’ to mark World Princess Week. The film focuses on the friendship between two young girls and how their shared imagination through princess stories helps form lifelong bonds.

In an effort to utilize traditional filmmaking techniques, the production emphasized practical effects over digital post-production. Key elements included the use of ‘bigatures’—handcrafted, person-sized castle structures—to create depth and scale. The project also employed hand-painted matte paintings for backgrounds and a 56-piece live orchestra to record the film score. Additionally, mechanical hero puppets were operated by a large crew of puppeteers to bring various characters to life.