(Newswire.net — September 4, 2014) — “Frozen Fever”, a new film by Walt Disney Animation Studios, will reunite the award-winning creative team behind “Frozen,” including “Let It Go” songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, and will bring the film’s central characters back to life.
Originally, Queen Elsa was intended to be the villain of the story. However, when the character’s major song, “Let it Go,” was played for the producers, they concluded that the song was not only very appealing, but its themes of personal empowerment and self-acceptance were too positive for a villain to express. Thus, the story was rewritten to have Elsa as an isolated innocent who is alarmed upon learning that her powers are inadvertently causing harm and struggles to control her powers with Anna’s help.
A live reindeer was brought into the animating studio for animators to study its movements and mannerisms for the reindeer character. Co-director Jennifer Lee said it was the best moment during production for her.
When “Frozen” was released in November, critics praised it as a return to Disney’s prime, and the box office backed that up. Domestically, “Frozen” earned about $400 million and was the third highest-grossing film of 2013.
Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf will return, but it’s not yet confirmed whether or not Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad will reprise their roles.
Disney’s new short, “Frozen Fever,” will focus on Anna’s birthday as her sister, Elsa, and rugged love interest Kristoff “are determined to give her the best celebration ever.” But, Disney’s statement warns, “Elsa’s icy powers may put more than just the party at risk.”
Hug-loving snowman Olaf (Josh Gad) is returning for “Frozen Fever” too, and there’ll be a new song.
Upon winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film, Frozen (2013) became the first full-length Disney (non-Pixar) animated feature film to win the award for the category after the studio was nominated four times before. Frozen is also the first Disney animated feature film to win a Golden Globe since Tarzan (1999), also directed by Chris Buck.