The Untold Story of Elsa's Original Backstory in Frozen
Discover the original opening scene of Frozen and how it would've changed Elsa's character arc completely. Learn about the pivotal decision that shaped the iconic Disney movie and why it was the right call.
The Original Frozen Opening
One detail from the original Frozen opening would've changed Elsa's backstory completely, but thankfully, Disney scrapped it. Based on the fairy tale The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, Frozen tells the story of two sisters: Elsa, Queen of Arendelle, who accidentally traps her kingdom in eternal winter with her icy powers, and Anna, who sets out on a journey to find her sister.
Young Anna and Elsa skating together at the beginning of Frozen.
The 2013 animated Disney movie was a paramount success and launched a whole franchise, including Frozen 2, the upcoming Frozen 3, and a potential live-action Frozen remake.
Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) formally dressed and standing beside each other in Frozen.
In some ways, Disney has yet to top Frozen 10 years later. Frozen brilliantly subverted the traditional Disney tale by avoiding the standard hero/villain trope and focusing primarily on sisterhood over romance.
Elsa and Anna look at each other while holding hands in Frozen.
However, Frozen co-director and co-writer Chris Buck recently revealed that Elsa's character was originally very different. Though she was always the Snow Queen, Elsa was initially written as more of a villain rather than the tormented, misunderstood character viewers came to know her as in the final product.
Elsa (Idina Menzel) frowning with her hand outstretched as a gesture to halt in Frozen (2013).
Elsa's Original Backstory Made Her Character Arc About Romance
According to Buck, in the original opening scene of Frozen, Elsa was left at the altar during her wedding. Heartbroken and betrayed, Elsa ran out of the church and up the mountains, wishing upon a star that she would never again feel the kind of pain she felt at that moment. Her wish came true: her heart froze, preventing her from ever feeling pain again and granting her the power to manipulate snow and ice. However, there was a catch. Because her heart was frozen, she also couldn't feel love anymore — or anything else for that matter.
Elsa is dazzled by the Enchanted forest in Frozen 2.
This betrayal was the inciting incident for Elsa acquiring her powers.
Elsa concerned over Anna in Frozen.
This origin story for Elsa's powers was vastly different from the one she was ultimately given in the Frozen franchise. Since Frozen focuses more on the impact her powers have on her life, the source of Elsa's powers isn't revealed until Frozen 2.
Elsa and Anna smiling in Frozen 2.
The Disney Movie Made The Right Call Giving Elsa A Different Backstory
The original version of Frozen could have incorporated aspects of this origin story, but the acquisition of Elsa's powers would have been self-inflicted as a 'careful-what-you-wish-for' sort of punishment for trying to escape the agony of heartbreak, rather than inherited as an albeit burdensome gift. Elsa's character arc would've been rooted in the significance of romantic love and its consequences rather than familial conflict and her own personal obstacles.
It was definitely the right decision for Disney to ditch Elsa's original backstory in Frozen and restructure the focus on her relationship with Anna. In fact, Anna and Elsa weren't supposed to be sisters in the original plan for Frozen.
By scrapping Elsa's failed wedding backstory, Frozen was able to develop into a beautiful story about the importance of sisterhood and finding one's own strength. It also showed that a Disney princess doesn't need to seek out romantic love, whether she succeeds or not, in order to be a compelling character with a compelling storyline. Elsa was better off with a backstory that centered herself and her family's history in Frozen, instead of the betrayal of a lover.
