Yes, My [Future] Kids Will Watch Frozen II

While I know there's a debate amongst fans on whether or not this sequel needed to happen (and be a huge deal), I myself was thrilled to death to go see Frozen II in theaters for my birthday. My personal opinion is that the film did a pretty good job of continuing to grow the existing characters while introducing a few interesting new ones, discussing more mature themes to move the story along instead of just trying to recreate the first one with slightly different jokes, and proving The Anderson-Lopez Team are truly incredible because they wrote a second soundtrack of bangers that's completely comparable to the original.

Frozen II was released into movie theaters on November 22nd, 2019, about three years after Moana made her royal debut, six years after Anna & Elsa's original adventure, and eighty-two years after Snow White. The film is a continuation of Disney's story based off of the Hans Christian Andersen tale The Snow Queen, set three years after the events of the original movie. In a world where sequels can be very hit or miss, Frozen II did very well for itself, with praise for its craftsmanship, delivery, and themes. With a budget of $150 million, it earned a box office of $1.45 billion. The movie was nominated for an Oscar and two Golden Globes in 2020 as well as two Grammys in 2021. While we're unsure where the stories of Anna and Elsa go from this point forward, they are currently the only Disney Princesses who have their own theatrical sequel - Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, and Mulan's sequels were all straight to video; Rapunzel received a short film, TV movie & series; Tiana and Moana have their own Disney+ series currently in production; and Snow White, Aurora, and Merida haven't gotten sequels at all.

One thing that critics weren't quite sure about with Frozen II is that the tone is significantly darker than that of the first film, diving deeper into themes of grief, betrayal, and death. I actually applaud the writers for that, especially with how they treated the themes the original film and how people all over were able to relate to Elsa's depiction of depression. Watching Anna learn to have to deal with her emotions on her own to pull herself out of a desperate situation instead of relying on her safety net of support (Elsa, Olaf, and Kristoff) is heartbreaking at times, but when she succeeds and comes out stronger on the other side you can't help but cheer for her and be so proud that she's grown up. Elsa finally discovering what it means to be her true self, and showing that that journey wasn't over at the end of the first movie and didn't get any easier, was empowering in and of itself, as was her showing a willingness to sacrifice herself to keep everyone she loved safe and right a generational wrong started by her grandfather.

It's always a huge relief when the original cast comes back for the sequel, and Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad were welcomed back by the fans with open arms. We also got some awesome talent in our new characters, like Sterling K. Brown as Lieutenant Mattias, Evan Rachel Wood as Queen Iduna, Alfred Molina as King Agnarr, and Martha Plimpton as Northuldra Leader Yelena. The animation in this movie is truly beautiful, from the incredible landscape of the Northuldra Forest to the intricate character designs of Bruni the Fire Spirit and Nøkk the Water Spirit (just to name a few, they just happen to be my favorite additions).

I was easily expecting the Anderson-Lopez's to hit me with one incredible new song and the rest be pretty okay, when in reality every song on the soundtrack is a certified banger. That being said, my Top 3 were not at all difficult to choose, so without further ado here they are.

All Is Found by Evan Rachel Wood (written by K. Anderson-Lopez, R. Lopez)

The first song in the movie is so beautiful and sweet, a mother singing her beloved daughters a lullaby full of foreshadowing for the rest of the plot. One of the saddest things about Frozen to me is that Agnarr and Iduna weren't exactly bad parents - they were parents who loved their girls so much and were just afraid not OF Elsa and her powers, but of what others would do TO Elsa out of fear of her powers which unfortunately lead them to make poor decisions regarding both girls' wellbeing. That love is incredibly evident here, and Wood's clear, soft vocals encapsulate that emotion perfectly. Also, Kacey Musgraves does the credit roll version of this song and it's just as incredible.

Where the north wind meets the sea/There’s a river full of memory/Sleep my darling, safe and sound/For in this river, all is found/In her waters, deep and true/Lie the answers and a path for you/Dive down deep into her sound/But not too far, or you’ll be drowned

Into the Unknown by Idina Menzel & AURORA (written by K. Anderson-Lopez, R. Lopez)

Into the Unknown is definitely Frozen II's Let It Go, and I'm totally okay with that. I love the animation sequence in this song, and Idina and Aurora's back and forth vocalizations are really wonderful. This song is uplifting, empowering, and just an overall banger - AND Brendan Urie performs the credit roll version, which is how you know it's a great song in this day and age.

I can hear you, but I won’t/Some look for trouble while others don’t/There’s a thousand reasons I should go about my day/And ignore your whispers, which I wish would go away, oh/You’re not a voice, you’re just a ringing in my ear/And if I heard you, which I don’t, I’m spoken for, I fear/Everyone I’ve ever loved is here within these walls/I’m sorry, secret siren, but I’m blocking out your calls/I’ve had my adventure, I don’t need something new/I’m afraid of what I’m risking if I follow you/Into the unknown/Into the unknown/Into the unknown

The Next Right Thing by Kristen Bell (written by K. Anderson-Lopez, R. Lopez)

This is 100% the best song Bell has gotten to sing as Anna across two full-length moves and two shorts. It's hard for me to get through this song without crying, especially knowing that Bell was actually singing through her own tears recording this because when she is dealing with her own depression, she tells herself to keep moving forward and doing the next right thing. The message of this song is so powerful and relatable, and if I could get everyone in the world to listen to it and understand it I would be happy.

I’ve seen dark before, but not like this/This is cold, this is empty, this is numb/The life I knew is over, the lights are out/Hello darkness, I’m ready to succumb/I follow you around, I always have/But you’ve gone to a place I cannot find/This grief has a gravity, it pulls me down/But a tiny voice whispers in my mind/You are lost, hope is gone/But you must go on/And do the next right thing

If you haven't seen Frozen II at all or since it came out, I highly encourage you to watch it because it really is a good sequel. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!