When placed under a magnifying glass with the fairy tale it is loosely inspired by, Frozen‘s “Let It Go” may very well have been the centerpiece of a Disney villain. A great deal of the 2013 animated film departed from the events of “The Snow Queen”, Hans Christian Andersen’s epic 1844 story. That being said, the fairy tale’s highlighted themes of family and the love it generates conquering a great evil still pierce through Disney’s beloved film.
“The Snow Queen” centers around a brother and a sister – Kai and Gerda – who live in a world plagued by what their grandmother calls “the snow bees”. Though they may not be bees, per se, they do carry quite a sting; they’re actually bits and pieces of a broken mirror crafted by the devil that, when inserted into the human body, turn the heart into ice and filter everything the victim sees into nasty and vile distortions of reality. One winter day, Kai is struck by a snow bee and is, in turn, led away by their leader, the Snow Queen. Believed by everyone to have died, Kai’s tragedy makes its way to Gerda, who, with the help of nature and prayer, sets off to discover the truth and set her brother free.
Remnants of Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee’s Frozen can be felt in that short synopsis, with a lot of the roles being blended for the film. For example, Elsa, the newly-crowned queen with the ability to summon ice, fits into the Kai character, as well as, most obviously, the Snow Queen. While Elsa’s loving sister Anna, on the other hand, is a combination of both Gerda and Kai, seeking out her exiled sister while also (accidentally) falling victim to her ice curse. Elsa’s inability to control her curse is among Frozen‘s biggest conflicts, yet, despite these destructive superhuman powers, she’s still one of the film’s primary heroes.
Let It Go Changed Elsa’s Character in Frozen
![Frozen’s Let It Go Was Originally A Disney Villain Song](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Frozen-Elsa-Let-It-Go-Song.jpg)
Early in development, Elsa was going to be Frozen‘s villain, and it wasn’t until after Buck and Lee heard “Let It Go” that they decided to tweak Elsa into being the protagonist, instead of the antagonist. Lee ultimately rewrote a bit of the opening in order to set up the song so that there would be a payoff when it came on-screen. While the song itself didn’t change, the meaning behind it did, because it wasn’t about a character becoming a villain but rather someone finally being unburdened.
Love Is An Open Door Is The Real Villain Song
![Frozen Hans and Anna Love Is An Open Door](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Frozen-Hans-and-Anna-Love-Is-An-Open-Door.jpg)
Of course, since Elsa doesn’t exactly fit Frozen‘s villain role, someone has to mend that gap. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that it is actually Hans, the dashing Prince of the Southern Isles who has stolen Anna’s heart and who wants to weasel his way into control of Arendelle. Now a great deal of the Disney villain catalogue has their own vicious tune attached to them; Scar has “Be Prepared”, there’s “Hellfire” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and of course, Ursula’s spellbound “Poor Unfortunate Souls?” As it turns out, Hans is no exception, as “Love is an Open Door”, the passion-filled duet between him and Anna that wins her affections, easily fits that role, filled with maliciousness and lies. It’s an example of how Hans manipulated Anna, and how different it is to “Let It Go”.
Key Release Dates
Frozen 2
Release Date:2019-11-22