My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analyses: Has Disney Exposed "Frozen" Too Much? An Assesment and Analysis About the Overexposure of the "Frozen" Franchise

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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

The answer to this question is of course a huge yes, but let's look closer on this subject...

Yes, you're off-putting with all your snow:)

It's frozen without snow :)

Since the Frozen mania was revived with it's much awaited and successful sequel, it was relevant to bring this issue up. About whether Disney has exposed Frozen too much. The answer can of course (as aforementioned) be summoned in one simple word: Yes.

The reason for why Frozen even has become overexposed, is of course an obvious one. Because of it's sheer success. When something becomes outstandingly successful, it's going to be milked for what it's worth, no matter what. However, most successes comes with a backlash for it's overexposure (if you don't believe me, just look at James Cameron's Titanic). What comes up, must comes down. And this has essentially to an extent happened with Frozen.

How Disney Has Kept Frozen Alive Before the Sequel

It's such a pity that it's
soon going to be eaten :)

Not to say that the Frozen mania has been entirely dismissed, since it's very successful sequel proved that the Frozen Fever (yes, this pun was intended) is still intact. And that a full-length Frozen feature still equals Box Office success, even after having waited six years for the mandatory sequel.

Just pretend that
it's a rock :)

However, Disney has still kept the Frozen franchise alive through other ways. We've gotten two theatrical shorts, a short Lego TV-series based on the spinoff books Northern Lights and a Broadway show. During the pandemic, we`ve got the At Home With Olaf short-series that went on Disney`s YouTube Channel (made entirely from the homes of Hyrum Osmond and Josh Gad). A new short about Olaf called Once Upon a Snowman debuted in October 2020 on Disney Plus (yes folks, the Frozen short craze apparently won`t stop). And let`s not forget Myth:A Frozen Tale, which premiered on Disney Plus, February 2021. And the two other Olaf series, At Home With Olaf and Olaf Presents. As for the reception of the theatrical shorts, at least Frozen Fever was received more warmly. While Olaf's Frozen Adventure created controversy on it's own right. For misleading people to think they've bought thicket to another Frozen feature instead of Coco, which it was attatched to. However, let's look closer for the backlash to the massive overexposure of Frozen and find out what some people have to say about this issue.

First Theory: Overexposure By the Fans Themselves

I'm the grown up version
of Bambi in reindeer
disguise :)

Perhaps Frozen really suffered from being overexposed during a time where it's easier to praise and show fandom. But also in a time where it's actually easier to give backlash. One of the most prominent users from Disney Discussion Boards and one of the main members of The Three Commentears, Escapay (a.k.a. Albert Guiterrez), wrote this statement in a discussion in 2019: "We live in an era of not only instant gratification, but instant fatigue. It's easier to gauge a response to something online now than it was in personal experience twenty-five years ago. If anything, I feel the majority of exposure is in commentary from everyone else about Frozen rather than Disney's actual marketing of the film itself.

Within a year of Frozen's release, social media has seen that trend where everyone loves the film ("OMG, can't stop listening to Let It Go!"). Then everyone hates it ("OMG, Frozen is not as great as you all think it is!"), then everyone loves it again ("OMG, they're going to make a Frozen dark ride/Broadway musical/sequel!"). But mostly peppered in with everyone hates it ("OMG, everything is Frozen!"). Because in the age of the Internet, we know we can just make some clickbait article or video like "Five Things Wrong With Frozen" or "This Fan Theory About Frozen Will Make You Rethink The Film!" to keep people talking. But again, the exposure feels more self-perpetuated by the fandoms rather than by Disney itself.

The Exposure From Disney Themselves & Scrutiny About the Time Gap Between Both Movies

You're so adorable that I'm
going to spare you. At least
for now :)

Well, Escapay's statement is truly something representative about the overexposure of Frozen. Yet scrutinizing this statement, regardless of the hype surrounding it, it's undeniable that Disney themselves has been promoting Frozen for all it's worth. So the exposure comes from both ways. Yet regarding the issue, it would be tempting to scrutinize the decision of waiting six years before giving Frozen a true sequel. Since Disney has pretty much risked of having it's demographic who've grown up with the original outgrowing their Frozen phase.

This was the closest to make
it resemble the North Pole :)

The time-gap issue between both movies has of course been brought up by several reviewers. But no matter how you much you'll ponder about it, the public response have proved that the world was ready for another Frozen movie. Regardless of the long wait. One would wonder if Disney was going to have another six year synergy between the sequel and the third movie, but now it`s been confirmed that the third feature will arrive in 2016 (so it`s going to be a seven year gap). Yet most animation buffs knows that animated movies takes long time to make, mostly to four to five years. It would be tempting to wonder if Frozen sequel would've been as successful if it was released sooner. But oh well.

Second Theory: How the Internet Has Exposed Frozen

I'm going to make you blind so
you'll forget what happened :)

Another relevant criticism regarding the overexposure is how the Internet has overexposed Frozen more than needed. Several people have suggested this. Mostly because of (as otherwise in our society) the fandom and praise has happened online. Well, it's fair to say that it's a very legit reason.

Calm down, different genders
are not supposed to fight :)

Considering that we live in a world that has become as dependent on the Internet, it's hard to believe that we lived in a lifetime without it. It's been claimed that the Web made it easier to create several anti-Frozen campaigns. Yet such groups are (unfortunately) still an inevitable part of the online culture. As this article cites: The vast presence that Frozen had on social media tells Disney just how popular the movie was.

The Difference Between the Renaissance and the Revival Period

The title is misplaced, I'll
become a King when I'll
grow up :)

Of course with analyzing Frozen and it`s success, we'll have to compare it to the overexposure of Disney's previous juggernaut, The Lion King. An comparison that is relevant, due to how both movies were their behemoth of their times. Yet regarding that issue, we'll have to remember that both movies were released at very different time periods. Not only for Disney, but for animation in general. What both movies have in common is (as aforementioned) how both being the pinnacles of their eras. Since the Revival has been frequently been compared to the Renessaince era. But in reality, both movies have little in common besides having royalty within them (despite how Honest Trailers remarkably enough have pointed out some similarities).

Yet The Lion King was followed by two movies that broke the mold and were controversial in their own right. And therefore immediately tarnishing Disney's reputation (regardless of how you'll personally perceive Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame). Whereas the Revival era didn't see that immediate downfall after it's pinnacle and was followed by various strings of successes. Besides, every movie in the 90's were pretty much a huge event with merchandise and promotion to an overwhelmingly degree (with the unfortunate exception of The Rescuers Down Under). More than what Disney does nowadays. So The Lion King wasn't particularly the lone exception in that regard.

Besides, no matter how beloved the movies from the 90's are, it was pretty much Disney's most derivative and homogeneous period. And objectively more than what Disney has been lately. The formula was pretty much criticizable for that sole reason. And made people sick of it and the overexposure each release got almost every year. Which could pretty much be a reason about why people weren't fed up with The Lion King as the same way as with Frozen. Since Lion King wasn't just overexposed by itself, but Disney was pretty much overexposed (a loose theory, but still). Yet the Revival era, no matter how much you dislike this fact, has seen more variety. Where Disney expanded their horizons with different genres and premises. The only features which has truly followed what you associate the Disney musical formula with, have been the Princess movies (yes, no matter how you put it, it's unfortunately what they truly are). Yet even they've followed a certain derivative pattern that has been criticized by current Disney fans.

At least it's not seven dwarfs :)

Soon you'll
become heavy
and will eat
me :)

Yet comparing the Frozen hype to The Lion King, there's been theories that Disney still gave attention to their other movies during the Renaissance. As opposed to what they've done in the Revival era (while of course this could be interpreted individually, Disney has still given most attention to Frozen). Besides, the animation industry changed rapidly after the post-Renaissance. As Disney was usually perceived of being the head animation studio, where most studios tried to replicate their formula. Now the tables have turned and the formula that most animated movies tries to strive for is the Pixar and DreamWorks mold. Regardless of Disney's string of successes in the Revival Era, Disney is not the pinnacle studio to look up to anymore. At least not in the same regard as they used to be.

Breaking the Policy of Sequels

At least this circle of
leaves won't frame
me :)

Another thing that differentiates the Revival from the Renaissance is how we've received actual sequels to some of their biggest hits. Which was pretty much unthinkable during the Renaissance or even in Walt's time. If Frozen wasn't the phenomenon that it was, it would be most likely that Disney wouldn't even bother to give it a sequel (let`s be real, guys). At least Wreck-It-Ralph had a premise that screamed sequel/franchise all along. And was an invigorating movie for Disney. While Frozen II was invigorating for being an actual full-length sequel to a Disney fairy tale.

Yeah, I'll break it with
my fist. Duuh. Hate
me, Millennials :)

Since fairy tales are usually forever stuck with the "happily ever after"-staple, it was truly something new for Disney to really sequelize one (regardless of their previous cheapquels to fairy tales). While Disney strayed away from sequelsafter Frozen II, they`ve now morphed into another sequel phase with Moana 2, Zootopia 2 and the third and fourth Frozen movie. As for The Lion King, it received it's own Circle of Life attraction on DisneyWorld, a Timon and Pumbaa Stand By Me short, some cheapquels and two spinoff series. But it never received a true sequel (which fans have nagged about), regardless of how semi-cherised it`s cheapquels are.

Final Reasons For the Backlash

It's the Star of Christ :)

Another theory for the drawback of Frozen has been it's demographic. How it`s primarily a girls property. There's been various suggestions that it's easier to frown at a property catered to a female target group than vice versa.
And sure, while it may be a shallow reason, it's still a reason that could be perceived as relevant (despite Disney's forever association with Princesses and their sanitized products towards females. Regardless of the issue of not incorporating Anna nor Elsa into the much promoted Princess lineup. Despite how they were, let's be real here, made for it). But we all know Disney's previous policy of trying to avoid marketing towards a female demographic. Despite that Disney themselves has apparently now realized that it's such tactics aren't needed (despite how this article cites Disney's marketing of the first Frozen was towards all demographics).

This is our way of
Christmas
decoration :)

Another reason for Frozen's backlash could be that people started to see through it and picking it for it's faults. This tends to happen with a lot of successful properties, really. But overrating actually happen to come with a late or immediate backlash. Yet several people have rather ranted about it's flaws and contrivances in the writing. Since Frozen tended to have a lot of them that people have been ranted about during these years. Of course Frozen has been known and praised for turning several fairy tale tropes on it's head. In my previous entries I've criticized how these issues feels shoehorned in a premise that simply does not need it. And I fully stand by it (sorry to those who disagree). But one must wonder if people are truly going to see through the innovations that Frozen had and not regard them as important anymore in future.

We're not Olaf and
Sven from Titanic :)

True that backlash can easily lead into the perception of overrating. Which is also a staple that Frozen have been stuck with. And frankly I must say that I agree with those claims. Regardless of having previously declared that I wasn't particularly keen on Frozen when I first saw it (it was too flawed for my taste; Too dramatically uneven, several plot contrivances. And not enough focus on the Queen who's the catalyst of the events). Yet overrating happens to most of the Revival properties, actually. Of course most of these Revival features have been eclipsed of the success of Frozen. But the Revival era has been perceived of being successful on it's own terms, nonetheless.

Epilogue

At least snowflakes makes you less chubby :)

No matter how you individually perceive the Frozen hype, we'll have to accept the inevitable, folks: That the franchise is here to stay. It's reasonated with people and it's name equals Box Office. So that`s why it's here to stay at least for now. And yes, I know this entry may come across as a anti-Frozen campaign, which is not my intention.

People who love it are fully allowed to adore it and rightfully so. It's not a bad franchise by any means. Yet this entry just happened to be an analysis of it's overexposure. Or rather my take on it. So let's wonder how long this craze will last. Or if the Frozen Fever (pardon my intended pun) will be revived when the third and fourth movies will arrive in the same way as before...

But unfortunately it's not all dedicated to me :)

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My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analyses

søndag 8. desember 2019

Has Disney Exposed "Frozen" Too Much? An Assesment and Analysis About the Overexposure of the "Frozen" Franchise

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

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