Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the songwriters of Frozen 2, recently weighed in on the movie's relevancy during the pandemic. The sequel, which released late last year, expanded the story set up in 2013's Frozen. It recaptured the original's magic thanks its excellent songs and the return of main characters Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf. However, Frozen 2 also delved a bit deeper into the mythology of the first movie by exploring Elsa's powers and the deaths of her and Anna's parents.
Though there was no way to know at the time, Frozen 2 wound up being one of the last major movies to release before the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States. Only a few months later, theaters around the country began to close their doors. In March, near the start of the outbreak, Disney used Frozen 2 as a way to cheer up those affected by the coronavirus. The company dropped the movie on Disney+ three months earlier than expected and with only a couple days notice. The move was applauded by many, especially those with young children seeking a distraction.
During a recent episode of ABC Audio's Inside Frozen 2 podcast, Anderson-Lopez and Lopez revisited the film a year after its release. Specifically, the songwriting team discussed Frozen 2's surprising relevancy during the pandemic. Lopez called change Frozen 2's "main strength," going on to explain, "I think that the themes that they touch are applicable to a society that is going through maybe the most change that society has gone through in a hundred years!” Meanwhile, Anderson-Lopez spoke about Frozen 2's biggest songs, "Show Yourself" and "Into the Unknown":
We do show ourselves in these times of adversity, the strength that we didn’t think we had. In my 15-year old’s case, the strength to do all this virtual learning and find a way to keep her friendships...The stakes of the song are sort of this call that is dangerous and…forces Elsa to take action. I think that does resonate with the current situation of everybody kind of being lost in the woods having to find their way forward.
Anderson-Lopez and Lopez make great points about Frozen 2's themes hitting especially hard in 2020. The connection to "Into the Unknown" is especially clear, as the pandemic was certainly an "unknown" before this year. Anderson-Lopez and Lopez's comments also speak to the universality of Frozen 2. It's a movie applicable to many people and situations despite its fantasy elements. This is due to the strong songwriting and storytelling, as well as the audiences' connection to the characters.
In addition to relating to the pandemic and other events of this year, Frozen 2 has provided many with a comforting distraction during a difficult time. At its core, the movie is a warm exploration of a sisterly bond, which leaves the viewer feeling content at the end. Though the Frozen franchise has plenty of younger fans, it and other contemporary movies like Tangled and Moana provide a sense of nostalgia for those who grew up watching classic Disney animated films. Many of those people also turned to Frozen 2 this year, again proving its relevancy.
Source: Inside Frozen 2