Many Frozen fans were disappointed when a scene where Anna wields Kristoff's sword was cut from the sequel, but Frozen 3 could fix that by giving Anna a new moment of empowerment. Anna has a significant role in Frozen 2, but her time in the spotlight wasn't quite enough to satisfy fans who wanted to see her take a more active role in fighting evil. Although the movie highlighted Anna's loyalty to her family and drive to persevere in adverse circumstances, her softer qualities were overshadowed by Elsa's literal battles against nature.

The first teaser trailer for Frozen 2 created a lot of buzz when it ended with Anna drawing Kristoff's sword to fend off a surprise attack. Fans were thrilled to see Anna take a more physically aggressive stance to protect her loved ones, with some even creating fan art. Unfortunately, by the time the teaser trailer was released, that particular scene had already been axed, according to Frozen 2 co-directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck. "That [scene] was in [the movie] at one point, and then it was out," Buck said in an interview with Insider. "We were like, 'Uh oh, people love that scene.' So we made it work, but it's different." 

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Frozen 2 includes an amended version of the scene added as a response to the enthusiasm of fans. Instead of drawing Kristoff's sword, Anna grabs a sword made of ice to defend herself and her family from an unknown threat. It's a great moment in the film, showing Anna is willing to physically fight and even risk her life in battle for her family. Disappointingly, the moment is undercut seconds later when the spooky noises in the forest are revealed to be the peaceful Northuldra. Frozen 3 should continue Anna's character development by giving her a chance to truly fight for her family. One of Anna's strengths is her unrelenting spirit. Paired with Elsa's magical powers, the two sisters could become a formidable fighting team.

Frozen 2 teaser trailer Anna sword moment

Throughout the Frozen franchise, Anna has been one of the physically weaker characters. While Elsa has her ice powers and Kristoff has advantages including height, weight, and reindeer backup, Anna is a smaller figure. The sword moment, however, shows that she's not just going to stand around like a damsel in distress. It embodies one of the best things about the Frozen franchise — the way the movies break expectations about female characters. In Frozen and Frozen 2, Anna doesn't wait around for someone else to save the day, she steps up and does it herself.

Still, the scene where Anna wields the ice sword is a bit of a letdown. While it's nice to see Anna take a stand, it's not the epic moment hinted at in the first teaser trailer for Frozen 2. Anna wielding a sword could be a much bigger moment, on in which her subtler positive qualities become visible for the audience. The relationship between Anna and Elsa remains critical in Frozen 2, but Anna's contributions to the quest — her loyalty, love and stubbornness — are often overlooked, taking a backseat to Elsa's visible magical talent. Frozen 3 should put the sisters on an equal playing field by highlighting Anna's drive to keep going (even when all the odds are against her) in a more concrete way.

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