Frozen (2013); animated musical film review

British poster artwork for the animated musical film Frozen.

Snow Sisters by Linh

Disney studios’ animated musical film Frozen is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Snow Queen, with music and songs composed by husband-and-wife team Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. The song ‘Let It Go’, sung by Idina Menzel who voices Elsa in the film, has received numerous accolades, and is one of the highlights depicting a crucial turning point for the character Elsa. In this film, there are the usual elements of princesses, princes, magical powers and funny characters for comic relief. There are also differences, compared to the predictable Disney princess films in the past, such as two female lead characters with male characters in supporting roles, more mature themes and messages, and no happily-ever-after wedding. Just like Disney’s hybrid animated-live action musical film Enchanted, Frozen takes on the traditional roles and expectations of women and men by appropriating them for the twenty-first century.

ADVENTUROUS ANNA: Anna (Kristen Bell) is the lively and extroverted of the sisters in Arendelle in the animated musical film Frozen. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.

The film begins on a cold winter evening, when a very young boy, Kristoff, and his pet baby reindeer named Sven, join a group of men gathering blocks of ice from a fjord to sell. Later that night in the kingdom of Arendelle, a five-year old princess named Anna, pronounced Ahna, (Livvy Stubenrauch, Katie Lopez) wakes her eight-year old sister, princess Elsa (Eva Bella), so they can play using Elsa’s magic. Elsa’s magic enables her to create snow and ice at will, using her hands and imagination. She was born with these mysterious powers and each day, her magic grows stronger. When Elsa agrees to play with Anna, they build a snowman, which they name Olaf “who likes warm hugs”, and Elsa turns the ballroom into a winter wonderland. As they play, Anna urges Elsa to work her magic faster. Elsa is unable to keep up with Anna’s quick movements, and she accidentally hits Anna on the head with her magic. As Anna lies unconscious on the floor, a white streak appears in her hair. Elsa is distraught and the King (Maurice LaMarche) and Queen (Jennifer Lee) take Anna to be cured by trolls, who take away all of Anna’s memories about Elsa’s magical abilities. The King and Queen tell Elsa to never use her magic and must repress all her magic to ensure she never hurts anyone again.

Ten years later, the King and Queen die at sea during a violent storm, which capsizes their ship. Their deaths leave Anna (Agatha Lee Monn) lonelier as Elsa (Spencer Lacey Ganus) continues to isolate herself by staying inside her bedroom, never coming out in case her magic hurts someone. Three years pass, and twenty-one year old Elsa (Idina Menzel) is to be crowned at her coronation ceremony as Queen of Arendelle, and Anna (Kristen Bell) is excited that the palace gates will finally be open after many years. At this stage, Elsa’s magic has become very powerful that it takes her plenty of energy and mental fortitude to control it. That same day, Anna meets Prince Hans (Santino Fontana) and they instantly fall in love and decide to get married. Elsa disapproves of Anna marrying someone whom she met only a few hours ago, which upsets Anna. As Anna and Elsa argue, Elsa’s powers erupt and this frightens the guests and palace staff, who begin to think she is a monster and witch. She flees Arendelle and unknowingly turns the summer into winter, with fjords freezing into solid ice, snow falling consistently and a blizzard on the way. Anna goes searching for Elsa, leaving Hans in charge. On her journey, Anna encounters Kristoff the iceman (Jonathan Groff), who sells ice for a living, and his reindeer friend Sven; the snowman from her childhood named Olaf (Josh Gad); and a jolly community of trolls whom Kristoff calls the love experts and his adoptive family.

MARRIAGE MOTIVES: Prince Hans (Santino Fontana) of the Southern Isles seeks a bride and he chooses Princess Anna (Kristen Bell) in the animated musical film Frozen. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.

The voice cast of Frozen is excellent and the songs are delightful and humourous, particularly Olaf’s song ‘In Summer’ and the trolls’ ensemble song ‘Fixer Upper’. Idina Menzel appeared as a live action and an animated character in Enchanted, and she is wonderful in Frozen as Queen Elsa; Kristen Bell is not known for her singing, but her singing voice is gorgeous as the tomboy princess Anna; Josh Gad is hilarious and endearing as Olaf the snowman; Jonathan Groff is affable as Kristoff the iceman, with a sound voice of reason and kind heart; Santino Fontana is wonderfully suave as Prince Hans, whose motives of marrying Anna are questionable.

MAGICAL MANOEUVRES: Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel) flees Arendelle and builds an ice castle with her magic as she sings the song 'Let It Go' in the animated musical film Frozen. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.

The events in the film happen quickly, however, this is supported by repetition in the sense that childhood elements are revisited and characters return. For example, the snowman Olaf, which the princesses built when they were younger; and the return of Kristoff, Sven and the trolls. Even though the film’s colour palette for the backgrounds are mostly white, grey or pale blue, there is plenty to marvel at onscreen. For example, the ice crystals forming on the trees and leaves, the sparkling effect of the ice in the daytime and the aurora borealis or northern lights in the night sky.

The characterisations in Disney animated films are becoming more complex and interesting as the writers and animators make the characters believable and memorable. Cynically speaking, this is an obvious marketing ploy to attract younger viewers to the characters so they will urge parents to buy various merchandise related to the film. In relation to the film’s success and appeal, these characters embody genuine human afflictions and tackle issues that contemporary audiences can relate to and empathise with, despite being set in a fictional world. 

SUMMER SNOW: Olaf the snowman (Josh Gad) has never experienced summer or heat before so he imagines what summer is like as he sings 'In Summer' in the animated musical film Frozen. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.

As with many Disney animated films, the messages are for young viewers to contemplate but these days, adult viewers can re-discover the joys of Disney films as the messages and themes also appeal to adults. In Frozen, there are two prominent messages, one for each sister, with themes of family, friendship and trust. These themes are linked to the messages of love and self-sacrifice, in which Elsa must overcome her fear (of being hurt by others and hurting others) by learning to love again; and Anna must learn that an act of true love is not only for oneself, but also for others as an act of self-sacrifice.

Frozen can be viewed as depicting feminist ideals through the two lead female characters, but also showing traditional family values associated with women. This does not make the male characters less important, but gives males a different perspective of masculinity in a supportive manner to assist women. In similar ways to Enchanted and Tangled, this film is another example from Disney that reflects the changing attitudes and expectations for the status of women and men in contemporary societies. 

MONSTER MARSHMALLOW: In a moment of fear when she was under attack, Elsa created a giant snow monster to protect her in the animated musical film Frozen. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.

Viewers who stay seated for the end credits of Frozen, are rewarded with a 15-second short featuring Elsa's giant snow monster whom Olaf named Marshmallow; and a funny disclaimer in the end credits about Kristoff's views and opinions that "all men pick their nose then eat their booger" which does not reflect those of the film-makers.

Directors: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee

Writers: Hans Christian Andersen (original story The Snow Queen), Jennifer Lee (screenplay and story), Chris Buck (story), Shane Morris (story)

Voice Cast: Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Santino Fontana, Alan Tudyk, Ciarán Hinds, Chris Williams, Marice LaMarche, Jennifer Lee, Maia Wilson, Livvy Stubenrauch, Katie Lopez, Agatha Lee Monn, Spencer Lacey Ganus), Eva Bella, Edie McClurg, Robert Pine, Stephen J. Anderson, Nicholas Guest, Jean Gilpin

Producers: John Lasseter, Aimee Scribner, Peter Del Vecho

Original Music Composers: Christophe Beck (score), Robert Lopez (song lyrics and music), Kristen Anderson-Lopez (song lyrics and music)

Film Editor: Jeff Draheim

Production: Michael Giaimo (Art Director), David Womersley (Production Designer)

Running Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes