After the disappointing showing of bonus features on the Frozen Blu-ray, fans shouted foul play, saying that Disney was holding back some key bonus features.
Turns out they were right. An animatic of the deleted song “Life’s Too Short” appeared a few days ago on YouTube. Apparently the footage was shown at an open lecture at the Beijing Film Academy. The song isn’t anything new: it has been around on the Frozen Deluxe soundtrack since November; however, the concept art and corresponding animatic of this scene is.
“Life’s Too Short” is basically the older version of the “For the First Time in Forever Reprise.” The hook of the song is that “for the first time in forever” Anna understands Elsa and, for Elsa, it’s the “first time in forever” that she can be who she is. The clip shows Anna and Elsa’s confrontation after Elsa flees Arendelle. Anna trying to convince Elsa to return home, even going as far as trying to give Elsa her old gloves. And ultimately Elsa rejecting that notion and wanting to stay free in her ice palace. The clip ends with Elsa blasting Anna in the heart with her ice powers.
It’s really interesting to see this song animated. We get a lot sassier version of Elsa and Anna than what we got in the final film. In the final film, Elsa is usually pretty subdued, except for during “Let It Go.” But here, we see Elsa really open up and be a sassafras to her sister Anna. We get to see a more real sister dynamic, while each sister is trying to push their own agenda and desires.
Personally, while I like the character development (especially of Elsa) we get in this scene. I’m not a fan of the tune. It really would have made the musical themes in the film all over the place. “For the First Time in Forever” really does a great job of tying everything together and making the music seem a bit more cohesive. Anna and Elsa’s parts in this clip are sung by Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel, respectively, showing that this scene wasn’t cut early and must have stayed in the film for quite a while.
Buy “Life’s Too Short” on the deluxe soundtrack here.
