‘Frozen 2’ will forever change what it means to be an Anna or an Elsa
Are you an Anna or an Elsa?
It’s a question that has lingered with Disney fans since Frozen first hit theaters six years ago. For some, the answer was clear; I’m a younger sister with big dreams and a history of bad boyfriends — an obvious Anna. For others, the question required internet quizzes, French braid tutorials, “Let It Go” sing-alongs, and some serious self-reflection.
Eventually, we all staked out our Anna and Elsa camps — with the occasional “Olaf” mixed in — and settled down for rewatch after rewatch knowing exactly where we fit into the kingdom of Arendelle. Now, it seems Frozen 2 could upend our carefully curated answers, casting what we thought we knew about our favorite sisters and ourselves in an entirely new light.
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Gathered at Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California in September, reporters explored the halls where Frozen 2 is being prepared for its debut on Nov. 22.
Split into groups of Annas and Elsas — based on pre-assigned name tags and not our personalities, presumably — we drifted from presentation to presentation, meeting dozens of creatives eager to tell us all about the next chapter in the Frozen universe. Even behind the scenes, it was apparent a lot had changed.
At the start of Frozen 2, the Snow Queen and her sister will pick up at “happily ever after,” surrounded by their friends and a thriving kingdom. But when a mysterious voice cries out to Elsa for help, adventure is on the horizon and our heroines are back in the fray, facing new demons, sporting fresh costumes, and redefining who they are to audiences.
“There is a little bit of a role reversal between the two,” Hyun-Min Lee, one of Frozen 2’s animation supervisors, teases of the upcoming story. “Anna used to be the fearless one, forging ahead: ‘I'm just going to go save my sister, go ahead, I don't care!’ This time, Elsa is the one being called into the unknown, and Anna is a little bit more worried and nervous for her sister's safety.”
It’s a startling thing, imagining an Anna who is anything other than recklessly plucky. But, as Lee was quick to point out, Anna's situation has changed dramatically from the start of the first film.
She used to be alone, trapped in a castle with more questions than answers. Now, our princess has a family and a life she’s eager to protect. Meanwhile, Elsa is starting to ask bigger questions about herself, wondering not how she can conceal her powers, but how she can use them to her kingdom’s advantage.
This new dynamic forms the basis for much of the sequel, and how Anna and Elsa react to it will change a lot about their respective legacies with fans.
“The first movie was very much about them being separate and trying to get to one another,” notes Lee. “This time, because they are starting off together, there's a lot more interaction between the two. There are a lot more in-depth talks and conversations, and that's a good place where we can really discover their differences and their unique personalities, but still look at what keeps them connected as sisters.”
"I'm so excited for the world to see it, and to revisit our characters all over again," adds Becky Bresee, one of the film's heads of animation. "Our characters have matured, and embarked on a journey in this film that's not only challenging for them, but for us as a team."
Sequels are hard to pull off, particularly when two such beloved characters are on the line. But with Frozen 2 just weeks away and Annas and Elsas the world over preparing for its arrival, we won't know whether this change was for the better until the lights dim and we're all back in Arendelle.
Frozen 2 is in theaters Nov. 22.
Topics Disney
