FROZEN took the world by storm. It was just this week that the film crossed the $1 billion mark for the worldwide box office. This last Sunday, FROZEN won the Oscar for best animated feature film. And it’s anthem, the powerful “Let It Go” took home the Oscar for the best original song.
During a very magical trip to Walt Disney Animation Studios myself and a handful of other very fortunate bloggers were able to sit down with the brilliant filmmakers behind Disney’s FROZEN: Director Chris Buck and Producers Jennifer Lee and Peter Del Vecho.
It was rumored that Walt Disney had wanted to create a version of Hans Christian Andersen’s story of the Snow Queen. Chris Buck took this project and pitched it over five years ago. Since production started, the story of the Snow Queen took on quite a vastly different journey than what was originally planned. How did FROZEN evolve into this much-loved animated feature?
The Story of the Snow Queen and Anna
Originally, the Snow Queen was to be more of a villainous character, Lee told us. She said that they really were striving to redefine what “true love” is. Buck told us, “If you go forward, you will find the movie that it needs to be.” And they did. After the sister idea came about, in much later in production, it struck a chord and an emotional pathway. This compelled the story further. This new version, a story love vs. fear instead of good vs. evil, centering around the relationship between sisters, was 2 1/2 years in production.
The Snow Queen’s story became Anna and Elsa’s story. The movie was changed to the perfectly fitting name of “Frozen.”
The Music and the Animation
FROZEN was always to be a musical. And adding music changed the tone of the whole movie, how everything worked together. Lee said that the filmmakers worked every morning for approximately 14 months straight with Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson, the movie’s songwriters. “This is why the songs fit with the story the way that they do.”
This film was originally to be hand-drawn. But with the landscapes of ice and snow and CG being incredible in the last few years, the filmmakers decided to go a different route. The art department spent time in Quebec City, surveying the movement and shape of snow and ice in order to create a world of snow that was beautiful and as realistic as possible. In the movie, the ice castle took 4-5 months to create. That scene was the longest and most intensive. Did you know that a single frame can take as many as thirty working hours?
The clothing and architecture were Scandinavian inspired. The art and lighting crew were sent to Norway to study history and design. What they found there influenced all of the architecture, clothing and even the music of the film.
Any Future Surprises for Us?
“You have to be as efficient as you can, nothing you cut makes it to animation,” says Lee. “It’s weeks or months sometimes in animation. You don’t animate until you know.” One of the most loveable characters was Kristoff. Lee spoke animatedly of a scene of Kristoff climbing a mountain that was originally slated for part of the movie’s intro. He has a whole backstory written in order to keep his character and personality consistent. However, time constraints didn’t allow it to be included in the film. The film doesn’t include a lot of backstory on Kristoff, Sven or other characters. During the interview there was a hint of the possibility of carrying Kristoff’s story on for Frozen fans, telling them how he ended up an orphan, how he ran away to live the life he wanted and about growing up in his non-traditional family. A movie? A book? I guess we will just have to wait and see!
Don’t forget, Disney’s Frozen will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on March 18th! These great bonus features will be included:
The Making Of Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)
- D’frosted: Disney’s Journey From Hans Christian Anderson to Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)
- Breaking The Ice – The Real Making Of Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)
- 4 Deleted Scenes with introduction by Directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
- Original Theatrical Short – “Get A Horse” (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)
- “Let It Go” Music Videos by Demi Lovato, Martina Stoessel & Marsha Milan Londoh (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)
- Frozen Teaser Trailer (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)
All opinion are honest and 100% my own. Disney provided an all-expense paid trip to cover the event.
Jessica Beard says
Wow, I bet you had a blast. I have not seen the movie yet. We are waiting for the dvd on the 18th. Can’t wait!
joanna garcia says
I am pre-ordering this book on the disneystore.com and cannot believe it took years to make esp how long it took for the ice castle! love that there will be something more about kristoff and love that it is going to be a musical too! it has too!
Kim says
We love love love this movie and bought it on Verizon FIOS – the more I watch it the more I fall in love with Anna! What a great family movie!!
Krystal says
I love the Frozen soundtrack so much, but I haven’t seen the movie yet! I can’t wait to get it!
Amanda Her says
I just might be the only person in the world that hasn’t seen Frozen and has never heard the Let It Go song. My son saw a preview to the movie and loved it, so I know we’ll see it soon. I think it’s awesome that you got to interview the people behind the film.
Tiffany (Fabulous Mom Blog) says
I remember seeing story boards of this movie in its infancy. I’m so happy this movie has done as well as it has. I can’t wait to see it again.
aimee fauci says
We have pre ordered frozen and cannot wait to receive it. None of us have seen the movie but all of my girls — all the way from the 2 year old- are in love w the movie already! The music is fantastic.. It is so awesome to read the behind the scenes of awesome shows like this!
Shop with Me Mama says
Oh my gosh, how cool is that?! Love the songs in Frozen and all the singing!!!
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
I love all this behind the scenes sort of stuff. This was a lot of fun to read – thanks for sharing. My kids and I loved this movie.
Danielle Porter says
How cool! It’s neat to see some of the back story to how the movie came about. I’m 25 and asking for it for my birthday later this month. I think it’s great!
Amanda Love says
Wow what a great experience. I can’t wait for this to come out on DVD. My kids are dying to own it. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Chrysa says
So cool! It’s awesome that you got that “insider” information! I haven’t gotten the DVD yet, but want to see all the extras!
brett says
this is my all time fave Disney movie. I hope they further the story somehow with some of the characters!! it’s awesome. and I love that it was a sibling love not romantic
Janet W. says
What a unique experience! I can’t believe I still haven’t seen this movie. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the movie and that the soundtrack is amazing.
Shell says
So fun to get to go and experience this! I love Frozen, even though my boys think it’s too girly for them.
Lindsey @ Redhead Baby Mama says
I love seeing the prelim character boards. Such beautiful renderings!
Elizabeth Norton says
Wow. I just watched frozen last weekend. This was so interesting to read. Very Very Cool. I am looking forward to see if there will be a second frozen?
Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? says
What a great experience and behind the scenes info. I had no idea!
I can’t wait for it to come out…my girls haven’t seen it yet.
Felicia says
That movie is absolutely amazing! What an amazing opportunity you had.
Mandy@ TheHouseholdHero.com says
Wow, what a fun experience. My son loved this movie!
Terin Garrett says
Can you believe that my kids are probably the only kids in America who haven’t seen Frozen yet!? I totally dropped the ball and it was gone from theaters before I knew it! We’re desperately awaiting the DVD release!
Janeane Davis says
It was interesting to read the back story about the behind the scenes stories you shared here. I always enjoy reading the story behind the art,
Onica {MommyFactor} says
How awesome you had the chance to set down with and hear from the filmmakers behind Frozen. It was nice to read some of the story behind the artwork and the characters. I’m glad they didn’t make her a “evil” snow queen.
Melinda@LookWhatMomFound...andDadtoo says
Surprisingly we still haven’t seen this movie.I’m looking forward to it though.
Eliz Frank says
Welcome back and what a wonderful trip! The pictures look great and I bet you’d hold unto the memories for a long time.
Ashley says
I can’t wait for Frozen to come out on Blu-Ray. It has been SO hard to stop myself from buying the digital download.
Joanna Sormunen says
I really enjoyed Frozen. And I think they were brillant to create the story of the relationship between the two sisters. Really great job!
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