Within Frozen 2 is a reference to the author responsible for inspiring the entire Frozen universe — and The Little Mermaid. The Disney sequel saw the kingdom of Arendelle beginning to come apart for mysterious reasons that were traced back to a far-off mystical forest, related to stories that main characters Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell) were told as children. The offhand remark by her father that he's reading a book by "some new Danish author" is a reference to Hans Christian Anderson, whose story "The Snow Queen" inspired Frozen.
Frozen 2's elaborate premise may have upended the status quo of the Frozen universe, but such bold choices didn't seem to upset viewers. Garnering strong reviews from both critics and audiences alike, Frozen 2 eventually become an even bigger box office phenomenon than its already massive predecessor. In fact, Frozen 2 set a Disney animation box office opening weekend record.
With Frozen 2 now available for streaming because of coronavirus, audiences have turned their attention towards smaller details and Easter Eggs that one might have missed in an initial theatrical viewing. One example of such is the film's shout-out to a famous author who inspired the entire Frozen universe: Hans Christian Andersen.
The Hans Christian Andersen reference occurs during Elsa's trip inside the mystical glacier Ahtohallan. Within these chilly walls, Elsa is greeted with ice manifestations of both her own memories, as well as the memories of her ancestors. One memory depicted an adolescent version of her father being asked what book he's reading. The father responds that it's something by "some new Danish author." This is a reference to Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, a writer who was responsible for writing The Snow Queen. This 1844 text served as the creative inspiration for the entire Frozen franchise, which had previously paid homage to Andersen through the names of Frozen characters Hans and Kristoff.
This moment doesn't stop at referencing Hans Christian Andersen. It also invokes another iconic book Andersen penned, one that Disney is familiar with. The book Elsa's father is reading has a cover consisting of a silhouette of a mermaid, indicating that he's reading Andersen's The Little Mermaid. Written in 1837, Little Mermaid was adapted into an animated Disney musical in 1989.
The explicit connection between Frozen and Little Mermaid may send Disney fans into a frenzy, speculating over the possibility of a potential future cross-over between the two properties. Such speculation should be put on pause, since this Easter Egg appears to be just that. Nothing in this scene indicates that an actual version of Ariel exists beyond the pages of Andersen's original book. For now, it's a tip of the hat to Andersen's literary legacy, rather than an indication that Disney's version of Ariel is canon in the Frozen universe. Still, it's a moment that does state Disney is aware that two of their most famous animated princesses share a noteworthy connection through Hans Christian Andersen. If Disney ever wanted to make Ariel canon in the world of Frozen, this small Easter Egg from Frozen 2 could be used to retroactively justify the presence of the character.