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Frozen Fever

Frozen Fever is a 2015 American computer-animated musical fantasy short film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, who also co-directed the original Frozen, the seven-minute short serves as a sequel set shortly after the events of the 2013 feature film. It features returning voice cast members including Kristen Bell as Princess Anna, Idina Menzel as Queen Elsa, Jonathan Groff as Kristoff, and Josh Gad as Olaf, with Santino Fontana reprising his role as Prince Hans in a brief cameo. The story centers on Elsa's efforts to throw a surprise birthday party for despite coming down with a cold, which causes her sneezes to inadvertently create mischievous mini snowmen that disrupt the celebration. Accompanied by the original "Making Today a Perfect Day" performed by the cast, the short emphasizes themes of sisterly love and perseverance amid humorous chaos. Announced in September 2014 as part of Disney's promotion for the Frozen franchise, Frozen Fever was directed by Buck and Lee to capitalize on the original film's massive success, which grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide. The short premiered theatrically on March 13, 2015, attached to screenings of Disney's live-action Cinderella, before being released digitally on August 11, 2015, and later included in the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection Blu-ray/DVD set. It received positive reception for its charming animation and character dynamics, earning a 73% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 78 reviews, and has been praised for extending the Frozen universe in a lighthearted manner.

Plot

On the morning of Anna's nineteenth birthday, Elsa wakes her sister with a magical new and begins leading her on a through Arendelle, following a long string of yarn to find various gifts prepared by Elsa, Kristoff, , and . These include a made by Olaf, a sunflower bouquet from Kristoff, and other surprises hidden around the kingdom. However, Elsa has caught a , and her sneezes cause her to unintentionally create small, mischievous known as Snowgies, which run amok causing minor chaos as they follow the group. As the day progresses, Elsa's illness worsens, but she persists in making the birthday perfect. notices Elsa's condition and urges her to rest. The trail leads to the castle courtyard, where a surprise party awaits with a massive and the "Making Today a Perfect Day." Despite the disruptions from the Snowgies, is touched by Elsa's efforts. In the end, tucks Elsa into bed to recover, and the Snowgies are transported to the North Mountain by Kristoff. The short concludes with Elsa's final sneeze launching a that travels to the Southern Isles and hits Prince Hans in the face.

Cast

Production

Development

The development of Frozen Fever began in June 2014, shortly after the massive success of Disney's 2013 animated feature , which grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide and became a cultural phenomenon. The short was conceived as a quick, lighthearted extension of the universe, focusing on a birthday celebration for to reunite the original creative team and deliver a "thank you" to fans eager for more adventures with Elsa, , Kristoff, and . The project was announced on September 2, 2014, during the special The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic, where revealed it as an all-new short featuring the returning characters. Production proceeded at an accelerated pace, with the entire process—from storyboarding to final animation—completed in approximately six months by January 2015, allowing for a theatrical debut alongside Disney's live-action on March 13, 2015. This tight timeline was driven by the desire to capitalize on 's enduring popularity while the core team was still assembled at the studio. Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, who had co-directed the original Frozen, returned to helm Frozen Fever as directors, with Lee also serving as screenwriter. The film was produced by Peter Del Vecho, the producer of Frozen, alongside Aimee Scribner, who had worked as associate producer on the feature. The story originated from an idea by story artist Marc E. Smith, who proposed depicting Elsa battling a cold while planning Anna's perfect birthday party, allowing the narrative to explore themes of sisterly love and redemption in a comedic, festive context without delving into heavier conflicts. This concept emphasized the characters' post-thaw harmony in Arendelle, providing a joyful, self-contained tale that could be produced swiftly by the familiar Frozen crew.

Animation

Frozen Fever is an 8-minute rendered in by , closely adhering to the visual aesthetic and character designs of the 2013 to preserve across the franchise. The production employed similar rigging and rendering pipelines as those used in , enabling consistent character movement and environmental details in the summery of Arendelle. Special emphasis was placed on motion for the Snowgies—miniature snow creatures created by Elsa's sneezes—and their dynamic interactions during the parade sequences, which added layers of chaotic energy to the visuals. Facing a compressed six-month production timeline from June 2014 to January 2015, the team streamlined their pipeline with round-the-clock efforts and contributions from numerous volunteer animators eager to revisit the characters. A primary challenge involved crafting expressive facial s to depict Elsa's illness through sneezes and sniffles, alongside the emotional nuances in Anna's reactions, all while maintaining high-quality output under pressure. Post-production wrapped under an intense deadline to align with the March 2015 theatrical release alongside , prioritizing final touches that integrated all elements without necessitating changes to the established core animation.

Music

The short features the original "Making Today a Perfect Day," written by and . It is performed by the , including as Elsa, as , as Kristoff, and as , with a duration of 4:58. The was released as a single by on March 12, 2015, ahead of the short's theatrical premiere.

Release

Theatrical

Frozen Fever premiered in theaters on March 13, 2015, in the United States, marking the short film's debut as part of ' theatrical slate. Directed by and Jennifer Lee, the seven-minute animated featurette served as an opening short preceding the live-action adaptation of , directed by . This pairing leveraged the immense popularity of the original film to draw audiences to the new release, with the short reuniting key characters including Elsa, , Kristoff, and in a lighthearted birthday-themed story. The distribution strategy emphasized bundled theatrical presentation rather than independent screening, ensuring Frozen Fever reached global audiences alongside 's international rollout throughout spring 2015. opened in select markets as early as March 6 in countries like and , followed by the on March 13 and the on March 27, with wider releases continuing into April and May across , , and . There was no standalone theatrical run for Frozen Fever, positioning it exclusively as a promotional companion to enhance the feature film's appeal and extend the Frozen franchise's visibility on the big screen. Marketing efforts for Frozen Fever integrated seamlessly with Disney's expansive Frozen merchandise ecosystem, capitalizing on the short's birthday motif to drive consumer engagement. Trailers released in early 2015 highlighted Anna's birthday celebration, featuring new original song "Making Today a Perfect Day" by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, which underscored themes of sisterly love and festive preparations. Retail partners like J.C. Penney introduced summer collections of Frozen apparel and accessories inspired by the short, including outfits reflecting Elsa and Anna's updated designs, further amplifying promotional tie-ins ahead of the Cinderella launch.

Home media

_Frozen Fever was released on home media in North America on September 15, 2015, bundled as a bonus feature with the Blu-ray and DVD editions of Disney's live-action Cinderella. This pairing allowed fans to own the short following its theatrical presentation ahead of the feature film earlier that year. The release was available in standard Blu-ray/DVD combo packs, providing a high-definition transfer that preserved the vibrant animation and detailed visuals of the short. Select retailer editions, such as those from and , offered additional packaging like SteelBooks or covers, but the core content remained consistent across formats. Internationally, similar bundling occurred with Cinderella's releases in regions including the and , where the short was included on Blu-ray and DVD editions launched around the same period. Special features on the disc highlighted the short itself in , presented in 7.1, alongside Cinderella-focused extras like featurettes on production design and cast interviews, though no dedicated behind-the-scenes segments on Frozen Fever's creation were included. This physical media option catered to collectors seeking tangible ownership of the animated short in a premium format.

Digital and streaming

Frozen Fever was made available for digital high-definition purchase and rental on August 11, 2015, through platforms including and , as part of the Short Films Collection. This release followed its theatrical pairing with Disney's . The short was added to the Disney+ streaming service on November 12, 2021, where it remains available as of November 2025, often included in curated playlists featuring the Frozen franchise. It is accessible via Disney+ subscription bundles, such as the Disney Bundle combining Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, with no reported major removals or exclusive distribution shifts. To mark the short's 10th anniversary in 2025, Disney uploaded a behind-the-scenes director's retrospective video to its official YouTube channel on May 15, 2025, featuring commentary from directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck on the film's inspiration and production.

Reception

Critical reception

Frozen Fever received generally positive reviews from critics, earning a 73% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 78 reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The site's critic consensus describes it as having "a blend of sweetness, silliness and tunefulness," making it "satisfyingly consistent in vision and in spirit with the original Frozen." On IMDb, the short holds an average user rating of 6.7/10 from 18,833 votes. Critics praised the short as a charming extension of the characters, particularly highlighting the heartwarming sisterly moments between Elsa and that reinforce their rekindled bond. The new song "Making Today a Perfect Day" was commended for its catchiness, filling much of the runtime and adding to the tuneful appeal, though it was not seen as surpassing the original film's hits. Reviewers also noted the efficient , delivering a complete, funny romp in under eight minutes. Some reviewers criticized the short for feeling formulaic and less innovative than the 2013 feature film Frozen, opting for simple comic ideas over deeper emotional resonance. Its brief runtime was said to limit narrative depth, serving more as a light appetizer than a substantial story. Opinions on the Snowgies—miniature snowmen created by Elsa's sneezes—were mixed, with some viewing them as a cute but gimmicky element that lacked lasting impact. Building on 's massive success, which grossed over $1.28 billion worldwide, the short was appreciated for maintaining the franchise's joyful spirit while teasing future installments.

Accolades

_Frozen Fever received no major awards or nominations from key industry bodies. It was not nominated for the Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 88th ceremony, where finalists included Bear Story, , , We Can't Live Without Cosmos, and . Similarly, the short was absent from the 43rd nominations for Best Animated Short Subject, which featured entries like by and Carface from the . The , which do not have a dedicated category for animated shorts, also did not recognize it. Despite the lack of formal accolades for the short itself, Frozen Fever contributed to the ongoing success of the Frozen franchise, whose songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez had previously won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media for "Let It Go" from the 2013 feature film. The short was included in the 2015 home video release Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection, which showcased it alongside Oscar-winning and nominated works like Paperman and Get a Horse!, underscoring its role in Disney's tradition of innovative animation shorts. The brevity of Frozen Fever, running just over seven minutes as a tie-in to the universe, likely constrained its eligibility and visibility for standalone honors compared to feature films or independent shorts. Its cultural impact manifested more through fan engagement and commercial s, including a 15% surge in merchandise sales at in the two weeks following its theatrical debut. Availability on Disney+ has sustained its popularity among audiences, particularly families revisiting the franchise.

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