Things You Never Knew About Disney’s Frozen
Though it’s only been four years since Disney’s Frozen debuted in movie theaters across the globe, this Disney gem has stolen the hearts of those young and old. Now considered one of the greatest films of all time, creating this vast amount of magic doesn’t come easy. Even for experienced animators and the creative geniuses who work behind the scenes, producing this awe-worthy film required a lot of research, trial-and-error and time. Though your little one might be content to sing ‘Let it Go’ as loud as she possibly can, you might be intrigued by some little-known facts about the development of this film. That way, the next time your kiddo wants to watch it for the fourth time in a row, you can at least savor some tidbits that make it a hair more bearable, right?
The scene where Elsa builds her ice palace was a lot of work.
And by a lot, we mean… a ton. Because it’s a pivotal, surprising moment in the movie, you probably don’t think twice about the actually grit that went into creating it. It took 50 people to piece together the scene, with one frame taking around 30 hours to render. (Yep, just try to do that math!) Though the witchcraft of her cold castle appears in 36 seconds… it was much longer to make!
The animators did a lot of research – from start to finish.
Before even beginning production, it was important to filmmakers to understand the complicated, dynamic relationships between sisters. To ensure they were portraying the correct vibe – from body language to speech and more – they held a ‘Sister Summit’ to conduct interviews and observe. Once development was underway, they watched the voice actors perform their lines so they could ensure facial movements were accurate, too. Talk about dedication!
Walt Disney started tinkering with the idea in 1939.
Many decades ago, Walt was intrigued by the Hans Christian Andersen story. As a beloved author, Disney considered making a movie out of his life, featuring a scene from The Snow Queen – which inspired Disney’s Frozen. Though it took a while for the idea to come back ‘round, perhaps some of the success of the film is from Walt Disney himself, sending his blessing to the team continuing his legacy.
The artists also studied snow – and traveled to Norway.
To create a whole film that centers around one pivotal part of weather, Disney brought in experts to give them the scoop (or should we say, shovel?) Dr. Ken Libbrecht from Cal Tech answered their questions, gave them a crash course and helped to make the flakes look as believable as possible. Disney even flew the team to Norway while they were creating the Kingdom of Arrendelle, so it would look as true to life as possible.
Elsa has a lot of hair.
How much? Even more than the damsel known for her hair: Rapunzel. Though a knight-in-shining-armor was able climb up all 70-feet of her flowing locks, it would have been an easier ascent with Elsa’s ponytail. According to the designers, her hair has a whopping 42,000 strands! As a nod to being hairy sisters, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from Tangled even make an appearance in the film, right when the city gates open for Elsa’s coronation.
It has a lot of firsts.
When you’re first to the line in anything, the stakes become higher. That’s why the next blockbuster has a lot to live up to, since Frozen took the cake in many arenas. Not only is Elsa the first Disney princess that’s not a teenager (she’s 21), but the film’s director – Jennifer lee – is the first female to direct a full-length Disney animated film. It’s also the first non-Pixar Disney film to win a Golden Globe for ‘Best Animated Feature.’ And it even beat out Toy Story 3 as the highest-grossing animated film in history. To date, it’s made $1.07 billion – and counting.
Want to enjoy Frozen at Disney World?
For everything Frozen, from rides and meet-and-greets to gear and more, talk to your specialized Disney travel agent who can design a vacation for you (and your little Elsa or Anna) centered around their favorite movie.