In 2013, Disney’s Frozen captivated audiences worldwide, becoming an animation phenomenon. Yet, few are aware that the film is rooted in an ancient, chilling tale that offers a different perspective. Curious to learn more?
The film garnered numerous accolades, including an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature in 2014, as well as recognition at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs that same year. Its iconic song “Let It Go” also received several awards for Best Original Song.
More than a decade after its debut, Disney announced a third installment of Frozen slated for December 25, 2026. Will this finally delve into the real story behind the beloved characters?
The real story of Frozen was very different and you would surely have liked to see it in theaters
Few know this, but Frozen is based on a very old children’s story written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1844, which was entitled ‘The Snow Queen’, which was divided into 7 stories that narrated the intense search of a girl for her best friend, who was kidnapped by a witch and taken away from her village to die.
The story begins with a narrative where the Devil has created a cursed mirror that reflects everything negative in people and makes them look ugly, cruel, and terrifying. On a mission to get to heaven, the Devil, followed by other dark creatures, smashes the mirror and drops it to Earth, spreading in tiny particles that get into the hearts of humans, making them cold as ice, and into their eyes, showing them the worst in people.
On Earth, in a village far to the north, where it is very cold, live Kai and Gerda, a boy and a girl who have been best friends since they were very young. They are both very close and do everything together, and Kai even falls in love with her because of how kind she is. He lives with his grandmother, who always warns him to hide from the Snow Queen, a powerful witch who kidnaps children to kill them in her lair.
One night, the Snow Queen appears in the village and tries to take Kai away, however, he rejects her out of love for Gerda. However, a piece of the Devil’s mirror falls on him and makes him very evil and cruel, so he decides to destroy his grandmother’s house and eventually follow the Queen to her lair. To prevent him from running away, she casts a spell on him and they eventually stay together.
Although the whole town gives up the boy for dead due to the frost, Gerda decides to go out to look for him and begins to interrogate all the people and magical creatures in her path to find any clues about Kai. Later, Gerda ends up being bewitched by an old woman who enslaves her, however, the girl breaks the spell when spring makes the flowers bloom, where she sees Kai.
Later, a couple of princes help Gerda on her journey, giving her shelter and carriage. The girl sets out on her way once again until she is kidnapped by a gang of thieves. When she is taken away, the girl ends up befriending a little thief and her magical messenger birds, who tell her that they have seen Kai with the Snow Queen.
The little thief gets a reindeer for Gerda and she goes to the North Pole to find Kai and free him. Upon arriving at the castle, several traps try to stop the girl, but because she is pure of heart, she manages to pass all the tests and find Kai in prison.
At first, he refuses to accompany her since he is still under the effect of the Devil’s mirror, but the warmth of Gerda’s heart and her tears melt the spell, and Kai returns to his old self. Free from the spell, they manage to escape from the witch and decide to return to their small town, recognizing that they have fallen in love with each other.
