Frozen 2 promises to be an epic follow up to the original film, and the latest trailer has showed us how they’re choosing to highlight the sisters’ relationship.
Disney movies have been a staple for many people as they’ve grown up. When we were younger, the question was always whether or not the princess would get the prince (and the answer was always yes).
As Disney has grown, they’ve incorporated more diverse stories into their arsenal. Brave‘s Merida never had a romantic interest, for example, and neither did Moana.
While Frozen certainly had romantic elements with Anna, Hans, and Kristoff, the heart of the story was always between the two sisters. It was Elsa’s love for Anna that saved her from a frozen heart, after all.
So, it’s with great pleasure that it looks like Frozen 2 is continuing to walk down this path of recognition for how important sisterhood can be between two women. Kristoff is still very much involved in the story, and we don’t yet know if there will be a romantic element for Elsa (though it seems unlikely), but all the trailers so far have emphasized Anna and Elsa’s relationship.
In the first full-length Frozen 2 trailer, we see Pabbie talking about how the past is not what it seems and that Elsa’s powers, while powerful, may not be enough to save them from incoming danger. Anna responds with, “I won’t let anything happen to her.”
I love this part in the trailer because Anna has always been the younger, more naive sister. She doesn’t have any powers, but like all good sisters, she is fiercely protective. Elsa can certainly handle herself in just about any situation, but Anna doesn’t even dream of letting her go off on her own.
That’s not to say that Anna isn’t capable. She can wield a sword and is extremely resourceful, after all. But while Elsa feels its her duty to protect Arendelle and everyone in it, Anna has tasked herself with keeping an eye out for the one person Elsa has probably forgotten also needs protection: herself.
The second Frozen 2 trailer dives even deeper into what’s going on in and around Arendelle, as well as the devotion these two sisters have for each other. “What would I do without you?” Elsa asks. “You’ll always have me,” Anna responds.
Elsa doesn’t want Anna to come with her to find the voice calling out to her, but Anna (ever the headstrong one) insists. Later, Elsa is surrounded by fire, which she quickly puts out using her powers, but Anna is still clearly shaken up.
“You can’t just follow me into fire,” Elsa says. “Then don’t run into fire,” Anna replies.
I love this line so much because there is no choice for Anna but to follow her sister. She would do anything for her, even put her own life in danger. Elsa hates this, but it’s not like she wouldn’t do the same thing in return. The only way to truly protect each other is to protect themselves from whatever is happening in their kingdom.
We still don’t know the extent of what’s going on with the magical forest and what’s affecting Arendelle, but Pabbie warns Anna, “Magic is very alluring. Without you, she may lose herself to it.”
That’s certainly a terrifying premise. In the first Frozen movie, we saw how much trouble Elsa had controlling her powers until she realized her love was stronger than her fear. We know Elsa’s power will continue to grow, and while we also know she’s a good person, we don’t know much about the origin of her magic. Could it warp Elsa over time?
“I believe in you, Elsa, more than anyone or anything,” Anna says.
While we know everything will work out just fine in the end (this is Disney, after all), these Frozen 2 trailers have seemed darker and heavier than the original. The threat to Arendelle is even bigger than last time, and there’s no guarantee that Elsa’s powers will be enough to save them all.
But that’s where the sisterhood comes in. If true love can cure a frozen heart and help Elsa control her powers, then the bond between Elsa and Anna will be enough to save them once again.
Related: Watch Elsa’s new ballad “Monster” from the Frozen Broadway musical
The most recent Frozen 2 trailer introduces the song “Into the Unknown,” and we hear Elsa singing about how she longs for adventure as she feels her powers growing inside her.
My favorite part about this trailer, however, is right at the beginning when Anna says, “Promise me we do this together, okay?” and Elsa responds, “I promise.” That shot of them walking into the fog hand in hand is stunning.
Both Anna and Elsa want to protect each other at all costs, but instead of running away to do so (like in the first movie), it seems as though the sisters are going to team up to solve all their problems. These two are better together, and I’m so glad that Frozen 2 is highlighting their sisterhood and love for each other.
When they do finally go into the unknown, I have no doubt they’ll come out on the other side all the better for it.
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