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July 31, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Frozen

Frozen is a 2013 Disney animated musical fantasy film about two royal sisters in the kingdom of Arendelle.

Updated July 31, 20261 min readCited sources

Frozen is a 2013 Disney animated musical fantasy about two sisters, Elsa and Anna. The film follows Anna’s quest to save Arendelle from an eternal winter caused by Elsa’s ice powers.

What it is

Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, Frozen is a Walt Disney Animation Studios film loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s 1844 fairy tale The Snow Queen. It reimagines the story as a musical focused on sisterhood and self-acceptance, with Idina Menzel voicing Elsa and Kristen Bell as Anna.

Key details

The plot centres on Princess Anna’s journey to find her estranged sister Elsa after Elsa accidentally traps Arendelle in eternal winter. Alongside Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf (voiced by Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad), Anna works to repair the sisters’ bond and thaw the kingdom. Elsa is 21 years old for most of the film.

Why it matters

Frozen won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for Let It Go. It became a major Disney franchise, spawning sequels and extensive merchandise. In Canada, the film has been widely released and marketed, with strong popularity among Canadian audiences.

In short

  • Released in 2013, became a major Disney franchise
  • Won Oscar for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song
  • Loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen
  • Elsa is 21 years old in the film
Canadian angle

Frozen has been widely released, broadcast, and marketed in Canada as part of Disney’s global film catalogue, and its songs and characters have had strong popularity with Canadian audiences.

Quick questions

Who voiced Elsa in Frozen?
Elsa is voiced by Idina Menzel.
What is Frozen about?
Frozen follows Princess Anna as she tries to save her sister Elsa and the kingdom of Arendelle after Elsa’s ice powers accidentally create eternal winter.
Is Frozen based on a true story?
No. Frozen is not based on a true story; it is loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Snow Queen.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_(2013_film)
    Supports: Release date, plot, characters, Elsa's age, and source inspiration
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Idina-Menzel
    Supports: Idina Menzel voicing Elsa
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idina_Menzel
    Supports: Idina Menzel voicing Elsa in Frozen franchise
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsa_(Frozen)
    Supports: Elsa's age and voice actors
  5. Voices.com — https://www.voices.com/blog/who-is-the-voice-of-elsa/
    Supports: Voice cast, plot overview, and inspiration from The Snow Queen