Released in November, 2013, FROZEN is Walt Disney Pictures' latest animated film and its most successful animated film ever with world wide revenues of over US$1.2 billion. The plot is loosely based on the well-known fairy tale titled THE SNOW QUEEN written by Hans Christian Andersen and published in Denmark in 1844. As far back as 1937 Walt Disney himself was interested in co-producing a movie with Samuel Goldwyn about the life of Hans Christian Andersen. It was to be followed by film centered around a number of Andersen's fairy tales before Disney's first animated movie, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, came out in 1940. The project was shelved, but in 1952 Samuel Goldwyn Productions did produce a film about the life of the Danish author starring Danny Kaye as Hans Christian Andersen and using song and dance to relate some of his most famous fairy tales. The film received six Academy Award nominations. You have probably seen it. Walt Disney Feature Animation began working on a new adaptation of THE SNOW QUEEN in the late 1990's. Since the original story was rather lengthy and complicated, it was changed quite a bit to appeal to 21st century rather than 19th century audiences. There are various theories as to why FROZEN has been so successful. Some point to the added impact of viewing the film in 3D computer animation or the fact that it is a musical fantasy. Some suggest that films with female leads are bringing out young girls in droves to view the story of two independently minded princesses, Elsa and Anna, instead of the usual single princess heroine in other Disney creations. Some point to the sound track with singable songs. Whatever the reason, Disney is planning to release a short sequel in the spring of 2015 titled FROZEN FEVER. It will allegedly focus on the topic of Anna's birthday.
RSS Feed