Frozen movie clip

Frozen tells the story of Princess Anna as she teams up with an iceman, his reindeer, and a snowman to find her estranged sister Elsa, whose icy powers have inadvertently trapped their kingdom in eternal winter. Frozen underwent several story treatments before being commissioned in 2011 as a screenplay by Lee.

Perhaps the most obvious message in Frozen is that it's good to be courageous. Elsa fleeing her home to live on her own was bold; Anna following her was even more so. Having a feisty streak can be a very good thing!

BE BOLD
Perhaps the most obvious message in Frozen is that it's good to be courageous. Elsa fleeing her home to live on her own was bold; Anna following her was even more so. Having a feisty streak can be a very good thing!

TRUE LOVE TAKES TIME
In a departure from countless other Disney movies, Frozen portrays romantic relationships in a (slightly) more realistic way. Anna's hasty engagement to Hans at the beginning of the movie isn't well received by many; when she falls head over heels for Kristoff it is only after getting to know him properly, warts and all. Refreshingly, the film doesn't end with a glitzy wedding (maybe they decided to move in together first…). We'll wait for the sequel to see if this power couple is still going strong!

NOBODY'S PERFECT
Hey, if a Disney Princess isn't perfect than who the heck is? With Elsa's not inconsiderable flaws (she accidentally turns things to ice, for goodness sake) and Anna's clumsiness and quirkiness (talking to paintings…), it's reassuring that these girls are just like us. Sort of. Anna even wakes up with messy hair and drool on her face – now that we can relate to.

LEARN TO BE SELFLESS
Anna prioritised her sister's life over her own, and while this is an extreme, Disney-fied example, there is a valuable lesson in there for both kids and us adults. Whether it be giving up your seat for an elderly person, helping someone with a heavy bag or donating barely-worn clothing, it's always good to give back.

DREAM BIG… LIKE OLAF
Goofy-but-loveable Olaf the snowman harboured fantasies of experiencing spring, never quite grasping what would happen to him when faced with a balmy day. In the end, his dream came true – granted his very own snowflake flurry by Elsa, he could finally soak up some rays – no damage done. Follow Olaf's lead and dream big.

GET BEHIND STRONG WOMEN
With two female protagonists and a kingdom ruled by women, Frozen is a feminist tale if ever there was one. Interestingly, how each male character reacts to the sisters seems to reveal their own flaws or strengths. Hans wants to murder Elsa and leave Anna to die in order to claim the throne; the Duke is afraid of Elsa, and it's only Kristoff who seeks to support and help the two women. The message? Female empowerment is definitely on the rise!

DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
As we've just pointed out, handsome Prince Hans reveals himself to be one nasty fella. Princess Elsa is unfairly branded a monster by the Duke of Weselton, and rugged, kind Kristoff is found to have been raised by (albeit loving) trolls. A recurring theme in Disney films (think Beauty and the Beast) the message is not to judge a book by its cover.

SIBLING LOVE TRUMPS ALL
While Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, The Swan Princess and countless others rely on a handsome prince to break the spell they're bound by, Frozen goes a different way. Anna's love interest, Hans, turns out to be an evil, conniving villain, and it's down to good old sisterly love to thaw Anna's frozen heart. For little girls counting on romantic love to get their happy ever after, this is an all-important message. Amen!