Walt Disney Animation Studios’ animated feature “Frozen” launched a worldwide phenomenon in 2013, becoming the highest-grossing animated feature ever released with more than $1.27 billion in global box office. Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, written by Lee and produced by Peter Del Vecho, “Frozen” has received multiple honors, including two Academy Awards, the Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, PGA Award, five Annie Awards and two Grammy Awards, as well as the Japan Academy Prize for Best Foreign Film, becoming the first animated film in history to win this award.
“Frozen” was one of the biggest home entertainment successes of the last decade, and the film’s quadruple Platinum soundtrack, featuring the Oscar-winning song “Let It Go,” has sold over 10 million units worldwide and spent 33 weeks in the top 5 on the Billboard 200 chart, including 13 weeks at No. 1. The North American tour of “Disney on Ice Presents Frozen,” produced by Feld Entertainment, resulted in the biggest on-sale in Feld’s history.
Millions of guests enjoy “Frozen” experiences at Disney Parks around the world, where Anna and Elsa are among the most sought-after princesses. “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion” will debut May 27 at Disney California Adventure and “Frozen Ever After” will open at the Norway Pavilion in Epcot June 21. Disney Cruise Line also has featured a variety of “Frozen”-inspired activities on select itineraries.
Topping the National Retail Federation’s 2014 Hot Holiday Toys survey, “Frozen” product popularity continues to soar: More than 3 million role-play dresses have been sold in North America alone; “Frozen: The Junior Novelization” spent more than 40 weeks on the New York Times best sellers list; and the “Disney Karaoke: Frozen” app peaked at No. 1 on the iPad Entertainment Downloads category in more than 100 countries. “Frozen” also took home the prestigious 2015 Property of the Year award during the Toy Industry Association’s annual Toy of the Year Awards. Fans have spent 42 billion minutes playing the “Frozen Free Fall” mobile game, and the film also inspired a Code.org initiative to encourage people to learn how to code.
The adventures of Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven continued in 2015’s “Frozen Fever,” a Walt Disney Animation Studios short film created by the original “Frozen” team, who are also working on a feature sequel. ABC will air an all-new “Frozen” animated special starring the original cast in late 2017, and Disney Theatrical Group has announced that a musical stage show will arrive on Broadway in spring 2018, with music and lyrics by “Frozen” songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and book by “Frozen” writer-director Jennifer Lee.