Frozen 2 - The Norwegian Inspiration

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ new feature Frozen 2 take cinema goers from all over the world to Arendelle and beyond, “as North as we can go”, to discover why Elsa was born with magical powers. 

The first Frozen film was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen. Filmmakers also looked to Norwegian fairytales and real locations in Norway for additional inspiration, such as the Akershus Fortress in Oslo, Stiftsgården, the Royal Residence in Trondheim, St. Olaf’s Church in Balestrand, Sognefjord and UNESCO World Heritage Site Bryggen in Bergen.

Frozen 2 takes its audience on a journey into the lands beyond Arendelle, including an enchanted forest where Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven meet magical spirits and new characters. To find inspiration for Frozen 2, filmmakers once again returned to Norway. In Oslo, they toured the city and learned more about Nordic folklore and storytelling. Next, they traveled north to Karasjok and its surrounding areas where they walked the autumnal Norwegian forests, where they found inspiration for the design of the enchanted forest. They also met with the indigenous Sami people of the region, learned about their history and culture, and attended a traditional reindeer-herding siida. Additional research destinations were among others Tromsø and Lofoten Islands, experienced via Hurtigruten.

– For all our films at Disney Animation, research is crucial to building fantastical yet relatable and believable worlds, said award-winning producer Peter Del Vecho.

– At the genesis of creating Frozen 2, our filmmaking team embarked on a research trip to Iceland, Norway and Finland. We were deeply moved by so many of the places we visited and the people we met, including a visit with the Sámi, with whom we have continued to collaborate in the production of the film.

Here's some inspiration on where to go in Norway for your very own Frozen-adventure!

“FROZEN 2”
WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS 
U.K. Release Date: Nov. 22, 2019 
Voice cast: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad  
Directed by: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee 
Produced by: Peter Del Vecho 

Why was Elsa born with magical powers? The answer is calling her and threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, she'll set out on a dangerous but remarkable journey. In Frozen, Elsa feared her powers were too much for the world. In Frozen 2, she must hope they are enough. 
From the Academy Award®-winning team—directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, producer Peter Del Vecho and songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez—and featuring the voices of Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen 2 opens in UK 22. November.

NOTES:

• Frozen, which opened in 2013, is the highest grossing animated film of all time in worldwide box office.  
• Frozen won an Academy Award® for best animated feature film of the year. The film’s iconic song, Let It Go, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, also won an Oscar® for best achievement in music written for motion picture, original song.