Since last November a day hasn’t passed without me humming the bars to “Let It Go,” viewing Frozen fan art at conventions, or seeing some news article flow through my RSS feed related to the movie’s continuing success. Almost a year later, the Frozen glacier is getting bigger and bigger. Disney is prepping for another heavy Frozen-themed Christmas preluded by a Halloween of little Elsa’s and Anna’s.
Without a doubt, parents and others are tired of Frozen and some with good reason. Kyle Smith, the movie critic at the New York Post, described his cold misery in “How Disney’s Frozen Ruined My Life.” He laid out how he’s spent a small fortune on Frozen toys and costumes for his two girls, compounding his hatred for the film by being alerted to deals on the toys, having to sing the songs endlessly, and his daughter having a tantrum when she lost her Princess Elsa doll.
While it’s easy to empathize with Smith, let’s consider some other opinions. He could employ the word “no” once or twice in lieu of buying more toys and being forced to watch the movie again. Another thing is looking at some of the other alternatives kids could be watching instead of the entertaining and well-animated movie:
Adventures in Lalaloopsy Land
Adventures in Lalaloopsy Land is based off a popular doll line for girls and boys. The dolls are creatively made and encourage a different type of play adventure over the usual fashion and beauty toys. The cartoon, however, is slow. It is so slow that Dora the Explorer has made her rounds around the neighborhood three times or a glacier has moved five feet up north.
The Barbie Movies
The Barbie movies are another option. These movies have found residence in DVD players since the early 2000s and many parents have complained about the hour-long commercials. Some movies have decent plots and songs, while others are so bad the story is a thin ice sheet that would snap in an instant.
Bratz Movies
Another line of movies based off a doll line. The Bratz character designs feature huge lips, anime-inspired eyes, high heels, and a lot of hair. The stories are denser than an ice wall and make you question the appropriateness for children at times. If the grown-up versions of the characters weren’t enough, there are Bratz babies are sure to make you cry.
One might argue that at least these shows present variety, but if you’ve watched any children’s cartoons they are full of repetition to encourage learning and formulaic episodes are easier to make.
Frozen has a well-thought-out plot, a great message to its viewers, and, most importantly, was created before the toys, not vice versa. It’s snowman will melt soon and will be replaced by another franchise. Let’s just hope it’s from one of the better ones like Frozen.
