Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies.
Make sure to leave a comment if you like this site! And if there's something you think could be improved, please let me know. But in a constructive way, please. And just a note; I'm not a Native English writer, so my incorrect grammar may be notable.
And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize
While it was relevant to tie this entry to the release of Frozen II, let's discuss something that was pretty relevant during the heydays of it's predecessor; It's Disney Connected Fan Theory. And yes, this is the first time that I'll ever discuss a Fan Theory. And it may be superfluous to do so, but here it goes.
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| At least this photo made us a lot slimmer than we even were :) |
While this may be an odd way to start an entry, let's begin with that people usually has the tendency to have a their personal preferences. Whether it's food, color, places or taste of art and entertainment. But sometimes a preference has a tendency to become blind bias, where the affection towards the thing just become blind defending. It's easy for cynics to usually frown over this bias from fanboys (also because of the huge length they can actually get with by defending their preferences). For obvious reasons. 
Yet since personal bias is an inevitable part of life, the same could be applied to fanboyism. And just to be clear, my intention is not to tarnish fanboyism, but to objectively discuss their cons.
While this may be an odd way to start an entry, let's begin with that people usually has the tendency to have a their personal preferences. Whether it's food, color, places or taste of art and entertainment. But sometimes a preference has a tendency to become blind bias, where the affection towards the thing just become blind defending. It's easy for cynics to usually frown over this bias from fanboys (also because of the huge length they can actually get with by defending their preferences). For obvious reasons. 
Yet to discuss the other side of it, fandom could also be perceived as an overall good thing. After all, it creates consumers and without consumers, there wouldn't be an audience for a product. And this also applies to Disney.
The Stigma of Fan Theories
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| Of course it's fanmade, this mesh isn't official :) |
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| This is our way of doing a family tree. Just not literally ;) |
Regarding the latter issue, we'll have to accept the fact screenwriters are just as failable as the regular human being and that every official piece of art is going to feature serious mistakes. But since we live in our Internet times, scrutinizing, and overanalyzing have increased significantly. And yes, while those aforementioned tendencies are often an genesis of a discussion, scrutinizing has become more of a custom nowadays.
It would be easy to dismiss such theories as juvenile, yet one also have to remember that Disney's fanbase is still also an adult one. After all, while the stigma of animation is how it`s made for kids, properties aimed at children can also have an adult appeal, too. And therefore an adult fanbase.
The Genesis of This Theory
As for Disney, there have been several theories around their properties that can be discussed forever. Several that has been known for many years. However, there's been one specific theory that's seen the light of the day and received a lot of attention.
But also one that the press has managed to give fuel to (remarkably enough, as usually such fan theories never gets caught by the press). And that's of course the theory of Tangled, Frozen, The Little Mermaid and Tarzan belonging in the same universe. Appearing at the peak of Frozen's success, the theory first involved just Tangled and Mermaid, before including Tarzan alongside with it (taken from director Chris Buck`s own words). And the theory was alive for a couple of years.
Some Scrutiny About How This Theory Became so Popular
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| Even girls can play chess :) |
It's needless to cite that there are many articles around the web surrounding around this theory. But a crucial question would be why exactly this theory received so much attention. More than any Disney theory has received ever before? Could it be the aforementioned theory of our online era? Or could it be simply be due to the success of a little movie called Frozen that happened to be Disney’s most successful film to date? Both of these suggestions are most likely true. It's unknown who actually came up wth this theory, but hey, some mysteries we must have in life, right?
Let The Scrutiny Begin
However, regardless of what could`ve been said about this theroy, this entry will of course be about whether this theory is even plausible. Well, let’s analyze it carefully, shall we?
First Part of The Theory: The Blend of Tangled and Frozen
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| Yes, this is what happens when you blend with Frozen :) |
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| At least we're not the Romanov's ;) |
The present day event of the story (Elsa’s coronation) in Frozen takes place three years after the demise of Elsa and Anna’s parents. And since Frozen was made three years after Tangled, so there you have the set up for that theory. It would’ve been a little plausible that Rapunzel and Eugene would’ve visited Arandelle.
After all, let's remember how Frozen was shaped by Tangled. And both being CGI properties is a thing they have in common (despite that they have more than one thing in common). According to an Reddit AMA that Frozen's directors Buck and Jennifer Lee did in 2014, Lee confirmed that the king and queen were headed to a wedding. Which also has sparked the theories that Anna and Elsa could be Rapunzel`s cousins.
However, that placement still has a little unpossibility to it, anyways. Tangled is rumored to take pace in the 1780's, whereas Frozen takes place a century later. So there you have the fact that would crush this first part of the theory. However, the book Frozen II: Forest of Shadows truly proved that both franchises in the same universe. Whether it was a part of it from the get-go is questionable, but hey, at least you have a little theory for it.
Second Theory: The Link To The Little Mermaid
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| It would've made a compass confused :) |
But let’s look at the second part of the theory: Who has Mermaid to it. And to be real, that theory is less likely to be true. After all, Mermaid preceded Frozen in almost a quarter decade, so it makes little sense that the shipwreck Ariel and Flounder are visiting was the one from Frozen. 
However, despite how Mermaid also takes place in a fictional fairy tale setting, at least it makes logically made sense that Mermaid and Frozen’s universe are close, since both have Scandinavian origins (while technically Mermaid was never confirmed to be placed in Denmark, it would be easy to assume so, considering Hans Christian Andersen’s origins. Despite how it`s been confirmed that it takes place in a Tropical setting). Since Mermaid and Frozen are both Andersen properties, a comparison between them is after all logical. Yet the theory of the sunken ship is still less plausible for aforementioned reasons.
Second Theory: The Link To Tarzan
Now let’s look at the last, but not least of these suggestions: About Anna and Elsa’s parents being Tarzan’s (which frankly makes Tarzan the only non-fairy tale among these films). At least that one is a tongue in cheek nod to both parents resemblances and it came from Chris Buck’s own words. Yet this theory was the last one to be suggested. However, if we’re looking at it from an honest point of view, it makes the least sense. 
First and foremost because King Agnarr and Queen Iduna aren't exactly identical to Tarzan’s unnamed parents (despite how both fathers do somewhat resemble each other, but both mothers doesn’t). Secondly, if the Royal ship were actually sunken by a storm, how would’ve Agnarr and Iduna be able to come to another ship that takes them to Africa? (If we're letting our imagination get any further, we could assume that the Royals were stranded somewhere and rescued up by another ship).
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| At least when it's thawed ;) |
While at least the timeline between Tarzan and Frozen is closer, there's still a gap between them, so it doesn't add up. So let's crush the theories of Tarzan being Anna and Elsa's little brother, shall we? At least that suggestion was fun enough, yet the least plausible one. But in the panel for Tarzan in Disney D23 Expo from 2019, Buck finally confirmed that King Agnar and Queen Iduna weren't Tarzan's parents (on 37:25), as has producer Peter Del Vecho.
Other Disney Crossover Theories
However, while discussing this subject, of course we could take consideration that all Disney movies takes place in the same universe. It’s a pretty logical thought for obvious reasons. Yet of course these movies are after all meant to originate from individual universes. Still, it's needless to mention how Easter Egg cameos has been in several Disney Movies ( since the day of Walt). While it’s a fun tongue in cheek nod, it still fuels up the discussion of Disney movies belonging in the same universe. But even that makes place for implausibility.  |
| These circles makes a Mickey. Sort of :) |
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| I'm the Pinocchio-version of Dumbo :) |
Yet it would be tempting to make this entry about all Disney Easter Eggs. Which would've made this entry extremely long. But while we're here, we could at least mention some crucial ones, shall we? Some of the Lady & the Tramp characters are in One Houndred and One Dalmatians and in Oliver & Company. A deer that pretty much resembles Bambi’s mother appears in The Jungle Book (and it`s haven't been her only cameo, since she's appeared in The Sword of the Stone, The Rescuers and Beauty and the Beast as well, fueling up how Gaston is her killer). While The Fox and the Hound would reuse animation from Little April’s Shower, many people have brought up that Hound takes place in the same location as Bambi.
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| Santa's helpers forgot to paint our faces :) |
But the same could’ve been said about the other films. Cause what about The Great Mouse Detective having cameos from both Dumbo and Alice in Wonderland? And Mermaid having cameos from Mickey and Goofy, but also from the King and Duke from Cinderella? And how Aladdin has not only an Sebastian cameo, but a Pinocchio one and a toy that is the Beast? And all those in A Goofy Movie? And Hunchback's brief cameo of not only Belle, but the Carpet from Aladdin? Or that Hercules had Scar taken from Africa to ancient Greece (you get my thought)? Or that Mrs Potts has been stuffed in Tarzan (which has sparked the theories about Jane and Belle being related) and the brief cameo of Mulan's Little Brother?  |
| I've listened to Linkin' Park's Crawling too many times :) |
And what about Lilo & Stitch's nods to Dumbo and Mulan? Treasure Planet's cameo of Stitch? And Brother Bear's brief cameo of Nemo? And let's not forget how The Princess and the Frog and Moana had various Easter eggs to it's predecessors. And that Tangled had not only references to it's Princess predecessors (sorry to use that term, guys) and Pinocchio. The same could be said about Wreck-It-Ralph, Big Hero 6 and Ralph Breaks the Internet. And how Enchanted had references to both Frog and Tangled?
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| Be glad that this wasn't you, Mushu. A blend of a dragon and a snake :) |
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| It's going to be "who baked the bread"? |
But if we're going to look at the other Disney theories that are around: One rather loose theory is that Aladdin and Hercules takes place in the same universe. And that is after all a legit one, since both movies are by the same directing team. Since Aladdin and Jasmine flies through a Greek Garden that is not exactly identical, but still reminiscent of the one in Hercules.
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| It may not be The Ceremony of the Furious Five, but it counts :) |
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| This is what Daughters of Triton should've been like :) |
However, to also look at another loose theories, is that of Captain Hook and his pirates killing Ariel's mother. And another one about Ariel and Hercules being cousins (since King Triton, who in Greek mythology is the son of Poseidon God of the Sea, despite how Mermaid is absent of any specific Greek influence). Another Frozen-theory is that Sven's mom was killed by ice harvesters, and Kristoff is wearing her pelt. 
We could also speculate on several Disney theories forever. But let'snot bring the ongoing Pixar theories, shall we? The offical kings of Easter Eggs, John Musker and Ron Clements, has stated that they wouldn't make their Easter Eggs be too easy to find. Still, in our Internet era, they've been easier to find and for some reason also been confirmed by the filmmakers in advance (most likely due for clarifying and making the audience aware of them, so they can find them easier).
Epilogue
However, my intention with this entry was (as aforementioned) not to pick on those who actually believes in this theory. Or any other Disney theory for that matter. Since people are allowed to come up with so many theories as much as they want. No matter how much people could frown at them, at least there`s still room for them, nonetheless. It could also be assumed that Disney`s derivative stock elements is the main reason for why these speculations even exists.
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| Yes, I'm trying to ingore you, bear :) |
And Easter Egg cameos are not always supposed to make a lot of sense. They`re meant to be a tongue-in-cheek nod to other movies. However, it`s remarkable how Frozen II didn`t spark such theories. Perhaps a proof of how the World has actually learned to not taking them seriously. But who know if there will ever be a Disney theory who will be as discussed again? |
| At least it's an equivalent of an photo album. Sort of :) |
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References:
https://venturebeat.com/community/2013/08/22/understanding-fanboy-ism-an-overused-and-misconstrued-term/
https://lifehacker.com/the-psychology-of-a-fanboy-why-you-keep-buying-the-sam-1300451596
https://youarenotsosmart.com/2010/05/19/fanboyism-and-brand-loyalty/
https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/a26111/mind-blowing-disney-movie-theories/
https://d-princesses.livejournal.com/1104677.html
https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Thread:307915
https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Mother_Gothel#Trivia
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1yh46x/in_which_era_does_the_movie_tangled_and_frozen/
http://animatedviews.com/2011/the-fox-and-the-hound-30th-anniversary-2-movie-edition/?highlight=The%20Fox%20and%20the%20Hound
http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/disney-princess/answers/show/198169/where-does-tangled-take-place-mean-like-country-timeline-etc
https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/reviews/a24440/frozen-and-tarzan-disney-theory/
https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/reviews/a22829/frozen-tangled-the-little-mermaid-theory/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_egg_(media)
https://www.amctheatres.com/amc-scene/the-history-of-the-easter-egg
http://66.media.tumblr.com/829056b29d5acec10e3b89a9b960ab63/tumblr_n2c788HczN1tvn7xco1_500.jpg
https://www.dailybreak.com/break/frozen-director-confirms-tarzan-is-anna-and-elsa-Brother
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1xj4n5/hi_reddit_we_made_frozen_ask_us_anything/
http://www.mtv.com/news/2236490/frozen-director-debunks-major-disney-conspiracy-theory/
https://www.thegamer.com/disney-movie-theory-confirmed-creators/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpUx9DnQUkA&t=1649s (Lindsay Ellis: That Time Disney Remade Beauty and the Beast).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8DHGu69Yos&t=189s (FULL: Zero to Hero: The Making of HERCULES #D23Expo)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suo3l6kHnqA (30 Disney Cameos)
http://www.threecommentears.com/2014/08/the-three-commentears-episode-15-hercules/
http://www.threecommentears.com/2014/09/the-three-commentears-episode-17-tarzan/
http://www.threecommentears.com/2016/02/pocahontas-extended/
The Legacy Collection: The Little Mermaid.
Moana Collectors Edition Blu Ray.
https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a29208142/frozen-2-tarzan-theory-explained-denied/
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