Warning: This article contains nothing but happy and positive comments about the Disney film Frozen. It will feature nothing but joy, understanding, and good vibes. If you are a grumpy old goose who gets offended by people enjoying things that you, yourself, does not personally like, then this article is not for you. Click away and cloud up someone else’s sunny day with your negative superiority complex because it has no place here.
I was a freshman in University when the controversial Disney classic film Frozen was initially released. Ten minutes in and I was in love. I loved princess Anna with my entire heart and wanted nothing more than to be able to jump into the screen and protect this free spirit from any possible threat (not that she’d need it, that girl is one tough princess). I even cosplayed as this ginger wonder to honor the DVD release of the film the following year.
However, very few people above the age of seven shared my love for the films. And the legions of obsessed toddlers caused something that will forever be known as the “Frozen Phenomenon.” Due to frustration with the constant blaring of the film's hit songs, people grew sick of the film and unfairly took their anger out on its stories and characters. So, I am here to clear up some of these criticisms and shed a much deserved positive light on this oddly rage-inducing classic film.
25 Adorkable Anna
I know that it’s silly, but as someone who identifies with Anna, I can’t help but be a insulted when people write her off entirely due to her “adorkable” antics. Some claimed that her adorable blend of quirkiness, clumsiness, and near heroic loyalty-driven bravery was utterly unrealistic and was a bad example for young girls. But I just have to disagree. I think that Anna shows younger viewers that you can save the day and still stumble through everyday life. Your quirks don’t have to be flaws, and they don’t need to hold you back.
24 Heed The Trolls' Warning
People just don’t seem to understand the power of fear. When Elsa zaps Anna and the two are taken to the trolls, it is explained that the fear that people will show towards Elsa’s powers will be the key to her undoing. Many people have criticized the King and Queen for taking this advice and then locking their daughter away. But they were just trying to protect her. They wanted to protect her from the fear of “the other” that permeates society and how people can treat the things which they fear due to a lack of understanding.
23 The First Case Of Sisterly Bonds
While it is important to note that the idea of familial and chosen love that permeates this film is something to be admired, it is not the first film in the Disney lexicon to play into similar themes. The misconception lies in the fact that many people believe that the film attempted to claim that it was the first one to do so. Though this film does place an emphasis on the importance of the love and support that exists between family members, at no point does it ever claim that it is unique in doing so.
22 A Family Affair
When it comes to Disney, it is rare for the characters' birth parents to treat their children with neglect, as those behaviors are usually reserved for stepmothers. Some have pointed out inconsistencies between the fact that the film heralds familial bonds while featuring a woman who has been permanently affected by her parents' treatment of her. But I think that that just adds to the message. Family is not all sunshine and rainbows, sometimes they hurt you and it’s okay to leave them behind and form stronger bonds with those who would trek across an icy tundra for you.
21 Rush Into Love
Many people claim that Anna’s attachment to Hans is due to her lack of world experience, idealization of the world, and blatant naivete. But I have a different idea. If we are taking a deeper look into the film, I would be willing to wager that Anna’s instant attachment to the only person to ever have given her the time of day is due to the intense isolation and loneliness she faced growing up. If I had not spoken to another living person in a literal decade, I would probably fuse myself to the first person that spoke to me as well.
20 The Frozen Phenomenon
The fact that toddlers became hooked to this film as if it was providing them the sustenance needed to live caused a lot of people to unfairly despise it. I get it, not everything will be for everyone and being forced to watch the same thing over and over again would drive most people up the wall. But that is not the fault of Anna nor Elsa. Yes, Disney is the one that filled the entire world with Frozen merch, but they were only meeting consumer demand. You can’t really blame a company for cashing in on the unexpected cash cow.
19 Forgotten Lessons
Though it is not exceptionally obvious, it is important to note that some time has passed between the great unfreezing and the end of the film. Many people have criticized the fact that the film chastises Anna for falling so quickly for Hans and then doing the same with Kristoff. But her and Kristoff are taking it slow and making sure that they truly get to know each other before they crank this film's rating up to 14A. Her nature is still to be loyal and trusting so her attachment to Kristoff (though hesitant) will still be quicker than most.
18 Trading Faces
I have said it once and I will say it again: the three women in the above photo are related. I know that some relatives look nothing alike and that is noted. However, Elsa is supposed to look exactly like her mother to show the ways in which her power affects her. I believe that she is supposed to be the spitting image of that former queen in order to emphasize the pressure being put onto her to live up to the legacy that they left behind. Anna has a few unique features which bring her quirks to the surface, but the similarities emphasize their connection.
17 A Trade Catastrophe
A number of viewers saw the end of trade between Arendelle and Weselton as just desserts. That little rat of a man was a real thorn in Elsa and Anna’s side and deserved some form of comeuppance. However, it is important to note that trade agreements are crucially important to a country's economy. How did that end affect both countries? Was there a financial crisis? Is there a war on the horizon? Will the film's controversial sequel be centered around this looming war?
16 Magical Implications
Some people assumed that Hans was the one who ordered and implemented those handcuffs as part of his plan to acquire the crown. But I disagree, as I have my own idea. I believe that those handcuffs long predate Hans’ arrival. I believe that they were put in place by the former King and Queen of Arendelle. This theory explains that Elsa’s parents feared what would happen if her self-control failed and her powers took hold of her and that they created this dungeon to hold her until she regained control (should that ever happen).
15 No More Surprise Villains
A number of people have expressed their annoyance with the current trend in children's media for the main villain of a film to remain hidden until the final act. And, while I do have to admit that I enjoy the more traditional, insidious, and outright bad villain, I feel that the surprise villain trend can be a fun twist (when done properly and in moderation). The character of Hans was relevant enough to the plot for his surprise villainy to have an impact on the story as well as it being a total shock to the majority of audiences.
14 A Flurry Of Sequels
People have been slamming Frozen for having released two controversial shorts following the success of the film. Has everyone forgotten about the onslaught of questionable sequels that flooded the market in the late 90s/early 2000s? It seems as though that every single Disney movie that achieved moderate success was immediately followed by a straight to VHS sequel which was designed for the sole purpose of cashing in on the fandom surrounding the original film. And not all sequels are bad. Some of the straight to VHS sequels were arguably better than the films they followed.
13 A Lack Of Substance
Some have accused Frozen of lacking any true substance and I have a few opinions on that. First, a movie does not need to be revolutionary or a piece of art in order to exist. It can just exist for mere entertainment. Second, if you are not the demographic for a product it really isn’t fair to slam the product for not appealing to your tastes. And third, though it is not necessary, there is actually a lot of depth in this film. It explores familial bonds, the effects of one’s upbringing on their adult selves, and much more.
12 Mindnumbing Music
I mean, what did you guys expect? There is nothing wrong with enjoying animated films as an adult but critiquing this film for not holding up to your tastes and standards is slightly unfair. And the songs in this film truly do vary. There are songs about oppressive loneliness and reaching out to loved ones when they shun you. There are songs about melting snowmen and meddlesome trolls. There are songs about depression and the pain of hiding one's true self. And there is even a song about the inferiority of humanity when juxtaposed against our antlered friends.
11 Unnecessary Comic Relief
Look, I get it. Olaf isn’t for everyone. Maybe you felt like he didn’t add anything to the plot except for the odd joke. But I must stress that this is a family movie which was geared towards a young audience. A silly, talking, funny friend is a staple in these sorts of films and it helps to hold their attention. Maybe Olaf isn’t your cup of tea but he isn’t for you. And that’s okay. Just because you don’t like something does not mean that it has no right to exist.
10 Let's Get This Sorted
Elsa and Anna have been highly debated figures in the Hogwarts sorting world, and I am here to state my opinions. As I have said many times, Anna is loyal, trusting, and kind to a fault. Her bravery stems from these three qualities. It is because of that that I have chosen to place her in Hufflepuff. And I just don’t think that Elsa belongs in Slytherin. She isn’t particularly cunning, ambitious, or prideful. She is introspective, creative, and finds unique solutions to her problems. I don’t know, but that combination just screams “Ravenclaw” to me.
9 A Bland Substitute
If rumors are to be believed then it should be noted that Elsa was supposed to be the true villain of the film; however, after writing the song “Let it Go,” they knew that she had to be the hero. Some people believe that this change in perspective lead to confusing development on the part of Elsa and resulted in a half-baked villain in the form of Hans. But I just have to disagree. Elsa is only a villain in her own mind and Hans is exceptionally manipulative. You can’t just throw together a long con like that. It takes time.
8 The Power Of Fear
Is Hans the true villain of the film? Or is fear to blame for everything that goes wrong? The king and queen's fear of persecution caused them to neglect their children. Elsa’s fear of her own powers grew into an all-consuming self-hatred. Anna’s fear of being alone caused her to run into the arms of the first man she had ever met. Kristoff’s fear of abandonment caused him to be cold and distant. Hans’ fear of his brothers leaving nothing for him caused him to try to steal an entire kingdom. Fear is the enemy.
7 Ignored Warnings
If fear is the all-consuming and all-destroying power, then why did nobody try to overcome it? The answer is so simple that it sounds like a punchline: they were frightened. Fear can be conquered by overcoming it. People are afraid of their fear and they safeguard themselves against ever having to feel it again rather than forcing themselves to face it head-on. The trolls wanted Elsa’s parents to teach her that her powers were nothing to be afraid of, but they were too afraid of outside fear that they caused Elsa to develop her own fears.
6 A Picture Of Mental Health
Is it a bland, uninspired story, or is it an arguably gripping tale about a young woman who was taught to fear, hate, and suppress an integral part of who she is to the point where she is afraid to even speak to her own sister? This film shows three different ways to deal with mental health issues and the consequences that follow. Option A: suppress it and never deal with it. Option B: make it your entire identity, allow it to consume you. Option C: take it in stride, realize that it doesn’t define you, and go and live your life.