Frozen (partially found early drafts of Disney animated film; 1937-2012)

The film's final logo.

Status: Partially Found

Disney's Frozen, loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen, is considered to be one of the most successful animated films in recent history. Earning more than $1.280 billion at the box office, it has since formed into a giant multi-media franchise. With various merchandise, a couple of short films, a theatrical film sequel, and is often credited for kickstarting a second Disney renaissance.

Despite Frozen's eventual success, those at Disney struggled with adapting The Snow Queen for many years. With various issues revolving around the film's story, characters, and themes. Causing the story to go in and out of development hell for nearly 75 years. Many of these different versions have still yet to see the light of day.

1930s-1990s

The Walt Disney Version

The idea originated from the mind of Walt Disney himself as he and film producer Samuel Goldwyn were interested in producing a biographical, live-action/animation hybrid film based on the life and works of author Hans Christian Andersen. The live-action, biographical segments would be produced by Goldwyn while the animated segments, all based on various Andersen stories, were to be produced by Disney.

Issues arose when adapting The Snow Queen, as the studio struggled to adapt the story for modern audiences. Furthermore, production occurred during World War II when Disney shifted its focus into producing wartime propaganda, thus halting production. Eventually, Disney canceled plans for the animated segments, though Goldwyn would later produce the live-action musical film, Hans Christian Andersen, based on the idea.

Little to no scripts or concept art are known to exist from this version.

Disney Renaissance Version

During the Disney renaissance, another attempt was made at adapting The Snow Queen with people like Glen Keane and Alan Menken in on the project. Aside from some concept art, very little is known about this version. Keane would later quit the project in 2003 to work on a film that would eventually become Disney's Tangled.

One of the few pieces of concept art from this iteration.

Early-to-Late 2000s

The Disney/Pixar Version

In 2003, then Disney CEO Michael Eisner approached John Lasseter at Pixar and proposed that they take on The Snow Queen. Since John Lasseter was a fan of the original, he jumped on the project. Due to the previous issues revolving around the story, the studio chose to drift away from the original fairy tale and produce a new take on the idea.

Michael Eisner described the film's plot as a "Taming of the Shrew" type story with an angry, bitter Snow Queen looking for a husband.

"Eisner asks for the Snow Queen synopsis. 'The Snow Queen is a terrible bitch,' Ruggels says 'When her suitors try to melt her heart, the Snow queen freezes them.' 'Each one should be a phony, but different,' Eisner says of the suitors. 'Then along comes this regular guy' Ruggels continues... 'The regular guy goes up there, he's not that great, but he's a good person. He starts to unfreeze her... she melts.'"

- Mary-Jane Ruggels and Michael Eisner on The Snow Queen.

Though Michael Eisner liked this take on the film, plans fell through when Disney's initial contract with Pixar failed to be renewed.

There are many pieces of concept art from this attempt. And one of the most notable things to survive is a deleted song titled "Love Can't Be Denied", which was written by Alan Menken.

"Love Can't Be Denied"

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  A storyboard of the Snow Queen interacting with her snow henchmen.

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  Various concept art of the Snow Queen.

Anna and the Snow Queen

In 2008, another attempt was made at an adaptation. Named "Anna and the Snow Queen", this iteration would have taken a more comedic approach. The Snow Queen (who had now been given the name "Elsa") being more of an over-the-top drama queen with a design and personality heavily inspired by people like Bette Midler and Amy Winehouse.

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Josh Gad, who had been brought in to play Olaf, stated that the film was going to be traditionally animated, with Megan Mullally playing Elsa.

"I was originally involved in the project when it was a 2D effort and it was called Anna and the Snow Queen, and it was completely different. Completely different. Megan Mullally was playing Elsa and it wasn’t really about sisterhood at all. I think it had more to do with the source material of Hans Christian Andersen’s story. When I did that version, Olaf was a different character entirely."

- Josh Gad on Anna and the Snow Queen

But despite these changes, Disney still struggled to create an interesting story with the concept, so the film was shelved in 2010.

Revival

"Villain Elsa"/"The Prophecy"

This version was now renamed "Frozen". In this version, Elsa was envisioned as a villain, a woman who had frozen her own heart after being left at the altar. Desiring revenge, Elsa devised a plot to destroy Arendelle with an army of snowmen, along with kidnapping Anna on her wedding day. Elsa would also tie into a prophecy that foretold a "ruler with a frozen heart" would freeze over Arendelle until it was freed by a sword sacrifice.

However, things changed when the song "Let It Go" was composed, as it portrayed Elsa as more sympathetic as opposed to antagonistic, causing a major rewrite for the film.

During a brainstorming session, it was suggested by a crewmember that Anna and Elsa should become sisters. This would be the change Disney needed to fully flesh out the film. The story would now be focused on the bond between Anna and Elsa and a message revolving around "an act of true love".

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  Screenshots from an animatic of "Let It Go", showcasing a more malicious-looking Elsa.

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  A comparison of a screenshot from an early Japanese trailer (left) and the final film (right). Notice the menacing pose on the left Elsa.

Gallery

Videos

A video about the making of "Let It Go" which uses clips of an early animatic.

A film lecture on Frozen that shows clips of early footage.

Yesterworld's video regarding early versions of Disney animated films. (The production of Frozen is discussed at 6:25-11:36)

An early animation test of Olaf.

An alternate version of the "Marshmallow" scene.

A compilation of various deleted scenes from the film.

"Spring Pageant" A cut song from the film, which focuses on the prophecy.

"Life's Too Short" A confrontation song for the two sisters, that also brings up the prophecy.

The film's original end credits.

An early 3D test for Olaf.

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Images

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  A 3D model for one of Elsa's early designs.

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  A 3D model of one of Elsa's later villain designs.

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  Early promotional art for the film (or a possible screenshot of a deleted scene).

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  A test animation of Elsa.

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  A clip of an early animatic of "Let It Go".

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  concept art for Anna and the Snow Queen.

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  Another piece of concept art from the Renaissance version.

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  A comparison between the various early designs of Elsa and her current one.

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  One of the few pieces of surviving concept art for the Walt Disney version.

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  Concept art for Gerda, the original protagonist of The Snow Queen.

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  Concept art of Kai and Gerda.

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  Early concept for Kristoff.

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  A blurry screenshot of a 2009 D23 presentation on the film.

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  An early promotional poster.

See Also

Disney Animated Films

• Aladdin (found Howard Ashman treatment of Disney animated film; 1988)
• Alice in Wonderland (partially lost original draft of Disney animated film; 1939)
• The Black Cauldron (partially found deleted scenes of Disney animated film; 1985)
• American Dog (partially found original version of "Bolt" Disney animated film; 2007-2008)
• Dumbo II (partially found production material from cancelled Disney animated film sequel; 2000s)
• Fantasia (partially lost original audio of Disney animated film; 1940)
• Fantasia 2006 (partially lost production material for cancelled Disney animated film sequel; 2002-2004)
• Frozen (partially found early drafts of Disney animated film; 1937-2012)
• The Jungle Book (lost Bill Peet version of Disney animated film; 1963-1964)
• Kingdom Of The Sun (partially found cancelled original version of "The Emperor's New Groove" Disney animated film; late 1990s)
• The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (partially found production material and deleted scenes of Disney animated sequel film; 1995-1998)
• My Peoples (partially found production material of cancelled Disney animated film; late 1990s-early 2000s)
• Pinocchio (lost Mel Blanc’s "Gideon the Cat" dialogue from Disney animated film; 1940)
• The Search for Mickey Mouse (lost production material of cancelled Disney animated film; 2002)
• The Seven Dwarfs (partially found cancelled direct-to-video prequel to "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"; 2000s)
• Tangled (partially found early drafts of Disney animated film; 2001-2010)
• Wild Life (lost production material for cancelled Disney animated film; late 1990s-2000)

Disney Channel

• 101 Dalmatians: The Series (partially found unaired pilot episode of Disney animated TV series; 1996)
• Amazing Animals (found Disney Channel animated educational series; 1996-1999)
• Arwin! (partially found pilot of cancelled spin-off of "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" Disney Channel sitcom; 2007)
• Bonkers "Fall Apart Bomb Squad" (found episode of Disney Channel animated series; 1993)
• Country Club (partially found test pilot of "Big City Greens" Disney Channel adventure-comedy animated series; 2015)
• Disney Channel Interactive (lost Dish Network game channel; late 2000s)
• Disney Channel "Disney's One Too" (partially lost "Recess" gags of TV channel block; 1999-2003)
• Disney's Coyote Tales (found Disney Channel extended version of "The Coyote's Lament" animated short; 1991)
• Disney's Doug (found episodes of animated TV series; 1996-1999)
• Dreamfinders (unproduced Disney Channel series based on "Journey Into Imagination" Epcot ride; 1983)
• Dumbo's Circus (partially found Disney Channel live action puppet series; 1985-1986)
• Fish Hooks (partially found unreleased pilot of Disney Channel animated series; 2009)
• Going Wild with Jeff Corwin (partially found Disney Channel documentary series; 1997-1999)
• Gravity Falls (found Comic Con 2012 promo of Disney Channel animated mystery comedy series; 2012)
• Gravity Falls (found pitch pilot of Disney Channel animated mystery comedy series; 2010)
• Hannah Montana (lost production material of cancelled anime adaptation of Disney Channel teen sitcom; 2009-2010)
• Herbie the Lovebug (lost Disney Channel animated pilot; late 1990s-2000s)
• J.O.N.A.S. (lost unaired pilot of "Jonas" Disney Channel comedy series; 2007)
• Katbot (partially found unreleased Disney Channel animated series; 2005)
• Lizzie McGuire "Season 3" (lost production material of unfinished season of Disney Channel comedy series; 2020)
• Minnie Takes Care of Pluto (found original English audio of Mickey Mouse Works animated short; 2000)
• Mousercise (partially found Disney Channel exercise series; 1983-1996)
• Mouseterpiece Theater (partially found Disney Channel cartoon compilation series; 1983-1990)
• Pepper Ann (partially found unaired Nickelodeon pilot of Disney animated series; 1996)
• Phineas and Ferb (lost script of cancelled theatrical film based on animated series; 2010s)
• Phineas and Ferb: Shooting Star Milkshake Bar (partially found full version of song; late 2000s)
• Phineas and Ferb: Spot the Diff (found Disney Channel animated special; 2008)
• Recess "The Break In" (partially found pilot of Disney animated TV series; 1996)
• Star and the Forces of Evil (partially found unaired pitch pilot of Disney Channel animated series; 2011)
• Teen Angel (partially found Disney Channel serial drama; 1989)
• The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (partially found revival of Disney variety TV series; 1989-1994)
• The Jersey (partially lost Disney Channel sports themed comedy series; 1999-2004)
• The Owl House (partially found unaired pilot of Disney Channel animated series; 2017)
• The Proud Family (partially lost unaired Nickelodeon pilot of Disney Channel animated sitcom; 1999)
• Welcome to Pooh Corner (partially found Disney Channel live-action puppet series; 1983-1986)
• What's Stevie Thinking? (lost unaired pilot of cancelled spin-off of "Lizzie McGuire" Disney Channel comedy series; 2003)

Playhouse Disney

• Adventures in Nutrition with Captain Carlos (partially found Playhouse Disney animated short series; 2004-2007)
• Bear in the Big Blue House "Water, Water Everywhere" (lost unaired pilot of Disney Channel puppet series; 1997)
• Bear in the Big Blue House (partially lost original English audio of Playhouse Disney puppet series; 1997-2006)
• Breakfast with Bear (partially found episodes of Playhouse Disney spin-off series; 2005-2006)
• Handy Manny (partially found unaired pilot of Playhouse Disney CGI animated series; 2005)
• Little Einsteins (lost second pitch pilot of Playhouse Disney animated series; existence unconfirmed; 2004)
• Out of the Box (partially lost Playhouse Disney children's series; 1998-2004)
• PB&J Otter (partially found original credits sequences of Playhouse Disney animated series; 1998-2000)
• Playhouse Disney UK (partially lost interstitial material of children's TV channel; 1999-2006)
• Stanley (found unaired pilot episode of Playhouse Disney animated series; 1999)
• The Book of Pooh (found Playhouse Disney puppet series; 2001-2004)

Disney Junior

• Beverly Hills Chihuahuas (found pilot of cancelled Disney Junior animated adaptation of film series; 2012)
• Jungle Junction (lost pilots of Disney Junior CGI animated series; 2003; 2005; 2008)

Toon Disney

• Teamo Supremo (partially lost Toon Disney animated series; 2002-2004)
• Toon News (partially found CGI Interstitial Toon Disney series; 2004/2005)

Disney XD

• Billion Dollar Freshmen (lost unaired pilot episode of "Lab Rats" Disney XD live-action comedy TV series; 2010)
• DXP (partially found Disney XD video game block; 2017)
• Power Rangers Animated Series (lost Disney XD pilot of animated adaptation of live-action superhero series; existence unconfirmed; 2007-2009)

Other

• Green Monkeys (lost Disney pilot; 1999)
• La Chambre Folle (lost French Disney children's TV block; 1998)
• Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers (found English dub of anime series; 2015)
• Robodz (lost Disney Toei animated TV series; 2008)
• The Mouse Factory (partially found Disney live-action/animated TV series; 1972-1973)
• The Shnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show (found episodes of Disney animated TV series; 1995)
• X-Heart (partially found unreleased English dub of "X-Coração" Brazilian animated TV series; 2014)