*This is a user-submitted post for Frozember by Christopher Fagan*
Disney has managed to capture the imaginations of children and adults alike for many years. When the song “Let It Go” was released, it was apparent that what Disney had was something on the same level of level of “Hakuna Matata” or “Can You Feel The Love Tonight.” The song was magic that tugged at the heart of almost anyone who heard it. It’s a once-in-a-generation kind of soundtrack and film. When I took my children to see the first movie, it instantly set a new standard storytelling for them.
We were inspired by Disney’s Frozen to the point of me finding new ways to celebrate its magic in many ways. One way was to watch the film and sing the songs with my children and by myself as often as I could. My daughter wears the pajamas, my sons dance with Olaf, and we all enjoy the variety of online parodies. As a variety streamer, I’ve created my own line of sketches based on the characters of the Frozen franchise. My YouTube streaming partner Amanda Pierson and I had a moment when we were scheduled to stream one of our shows, and she had no time to change clothes and had to come to the studio wearing an Anna costume. Amanda’s day job as an actress and entertainer for children’s birthday parties led to a new opportunity that was too good to pass up.
Princess Anna At The Movies
The original plan was to see a film and do a movie review, but this was too great to not build upon. The thing that made our movie-going experience more enjoyable was taking Amanda in full Anna-from- Arendelle mode to a brand-new AMC Theater. We decided to record the experience and turn it into a sketch and vlog to use on our channel. The idea was that Disney allowed Anna to be interviewed in the real world but was stuck here for 30 days until the portal to Arendelle could be reopened.
There were many people who enjoyed the show we put on inside of the theater. Amanda played the part of Anna from beginning until the end. Adults wanted to take pictures with her, the staff applauded her commitment, and a little girl escaped from her parents in an attempt to follow Amanda around just to prove she was real. Amanda later took a few pictures with her, and the family caught up with us again after our movies both ended at the same time. The little girl, sounding vindicated, said to her parents “You see, I told you she was real. I told you she was in the restroom Daddy. You didn’t believe me. I told you.” This actually became the highlight of the our evening.
The Sketch
After we came back to the studio to review the movie we saw, we expanded on the idea we had and did a reality-show type sketch where I played the interviewer who was now stuck with, and responsible for, Anna until she was ready to return to Arendelle in the magical world of Disney. As the sketch progressed, it turned out that keeping a Disney Princess in the “real world” too long would have strange effects on her. Anna became addicted to dancing to pop music and her iPhone. The idea was that she would become a hard-to-deal-with teen, and the longer she stayed, the tougher things would get.
Feeling Frozen
Overall, the experience of working with people, getting to know them, and seeing their reactions to a Frozen character, even when we all know it’s just a person in cosplay, was fabulous as we tend to act a bit different. The impact that this movie and its characters had on the world is immeasurable. People want to be drawn in and become a part of the its world even if it is in a festival, a toy store, or even in the middle of summer at a movie theater with some random duo reviewing a film far from the genre Disney is even known for! And because of what the music and the story did to transform the industry, Frozen has become a touchstone in the hearts and minds of millions. It’s not just a song, a moving picture, or a parody; Frozen has become the heartbeat for a generation and most likely will continue to touch us all for generations to come.
How has Frozen affected you, your friends, and family? Let us know in the comments!
Edited by: Kelly Conley