The main characters in Frozen are sisters Anna and Elsa, joined by Kristoff, his reindeer Sven, and the snowman Olaf. Their story also features Prince Hans, the Duke of Weselton, and several memorable residents of Arendelle and the mountains.
This guide explains who each character is, what they contribute to the story, and how their roles develop in Frozen II. You will also find the main voice actors and a quick comparison table, so you can tell similar characters apart. One easy-to-miss detail: Olaf and Marshmallow are both made of snow, but they are separate characters with very different purposes.
So, who are the characters in frozen?
The central characters are Anna and Elsa, the royal sisters of Arendelle. Anna is an energetic, hopeful princess who sets out to find Elsa after her older sister’s powers plunge the kingdom into winter. Elsa is the queen with magical ice and snow abilities, and much of her story is about learning to understand those powers.
They are joined by Kristoff, an ice harvester who helps Anna travel through the mountains; Sven, Kristoff’s loyal reindeer; and Olaf, a cheerful snowman brought to life by Elsa’s magic. The first film’s main human antagonist is Prince Hans, whose friendly appearance hides his plan to take control of Arendelle.
Other important characters include the Duke of Weselton, the mountain shopkeeper Oaken, the troll leader Pabbie, and the enchanted snow creature Marshmallow. Frozen II adds new people and magical beings, including Queen Iduna and King Agnarr in the sisters’ family history, Lieutenant Mattias, Honeymaren, Ryder, and the elemental spirits.
The royal sisters: Anna and Elsa
Anna
Anna is the younger sister and a princess of Arendelle. She grows up separated from Elsa, not knowing why the palace doors are closed or why the sisters cannot spend time together. That loneliness helps explain her eagerness to connect with people and her quick decision to trust Hans when he appears to share her feelings.
Anna is brave, but she is not fearless or always careful. She often acts before she has a complete plan, then keeps going when the situation becomes dangerous. Her persistence is essential to the plot: she leaves the palace to bring Elsa home and later risks herself to protect her sister.
Kristen Bell voices Anna. The character’s humor and warmth balance Elsa’s more guarded nature. Anna’s growth is not about gaining magic; it is about learning to make thoughtful choices and showing that love can take the form of loyalty, courage, and sacrifice.
Elsa
Elsa is Anna’s older sister and becomes queen of Arendelle. She can create ice and snow, but as a child she accidentally injures Anna with her powers. The accident leads their parents to keep the sisters apart while Elsa tries to hide what she can do.
During Elsa’s coronation, strong emotions make her magic visible to the kingdom. She flees into the mountains, believing distance will keep others safe. Her famous decision to stop hiding is a turning point, but it does not instantly solve every problem. She still has to understand her abilities and repair the harm caused by the winter she created.
Idina Menzel voices Elsa. In Frozen II, Elsa investigates the source of a mysterious call and learns more about her family’s past and her connection to the enchanted forest. Her journey expands the story beyond the palace and gives her questions that cannot be answered simply by controlling her magic.
Anna’s companions: Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf
Kristoff
Kristoff is an ice harvester who lives in the mountains with Sven. He is practical, independent, and more comfortable around animals than in formal royal settings. Anna hires him to guide her toward Elsa, since he knows the terrain and can help her travel through the storm.
At first, Kristoff and Anna clash over their different approaches. Anna acts on instinct, while Kristoff tends to focus on immediate risks and supplies. Their partnership develops through shared danger, mutual respect, and growing affection. He is not a prince who arrives to rescue Anna; he is a capable companion who helps her act on her own choices.
Jonathan Groff voices Kristoff and also provides the vocal sounds for Sven. Kristoff returns in Frozen II, where his relationship with Anna continues as the group faces a new journey.
Sven
Sven is Kristoff’s reindeer and closest companion. He cannot speak in human words, but his expressions, movements, and reactions make his opinions clear. Kristoff often interprets Sven’s behavior aloud, turning their conversations into a running joke.
Sven is more than comic relief. His loyalty helps Kristoff through difficult moments, and his bond with Kristoff shows the softer side of a character who can initially seem gruff. Sven also provides practical help during travel, while reminding the group that animals have needs and limits too.
Olaf
Olaf is a snowman created by Elsa’s magic. He is friendly, curious, and especially fascinated by summer, even though warm weather would melt him. His cheerful outlook gives the film some of its funniest moments, but it also offers a contrast to the fear and tension around him.
Josh Gad voices Olaf. The snowman is connected to the sisters’ childhood and represents the playful bond they once shared. In Frozen II, Olaf continues asking questions about change and growing up. His jokes often make a serious idea easier for younger viewers to understand.
Frozen characters at a glance
| Character | Role in the story | Distinctive trait | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna | Arendelle princess and Elsa’s younger sister | Persistent and open-hearted | Setting out to bring Elsa back |
| Elsa | Anna’s sister and queen with ice magic | Powerful but guarded | Creating snow and ice |
| Kristoff | Ice harvester and Anna’s travel companion | Practical and self-reliant | Guiding Anna through the mountains |
| Sven | Kristoff’s reindeer | Loyal and expressive | Communicating without human speech |
| Olaf | Magical snowman | Cheerful and curious | Dreaming about summer |
| Hans | Prince from the Southern Isles | Charming but calculating | Revealing his plan to seize power |
| Marshmallow | Large snow creature created by Elsa | Intimidating and protective | Guarding Elsa’s ice palace |
| Pabbie | Troll leader | Wise and cautious | Helping explain Elsa’s magic |
The quickest way to keep the snow characters straight is to remember their roles. Olaf is the small, talkative snowman who travels with Anna and Kristoff. Marshmallow is the large snow creature who guards Elsa’s palace. They are not two names for the same character.
The villains and other important characters in Frozen
Prince Hans
Hans is a prince from the Southern Isles who meets Anna during Elsa’s coronation. He appears considerate and romantic, and Anna quickly agrees to marry him. Elsa objects to the engagement, setting off the public confrontation that exposes her magic.
Hans later reveals that he was using Anna’s trust to gain power. His plan depends on appearing helpful while waiting for an opportunity to rule Arendelle. That makes him different from a villain who relies on magic or physical strength: his danger comes from manipulation and the way other people misread his intentions.
Santino Fontana voices Hans. His role also helps the story challenge the idea that a romantic promise made after a brief meeting is enough to prove someone’s character. Anna has to judge Hans by his actions, not his polished words.
The Duke of Weselton
The Duke of Weselton is a visiting nobleman who cares deeply about trade and status. He reacts with fear when Elsa’s powers are revealed and calls her a monster. His response adds pressure to the political situation, as other people in Arendelle must decide whether to trust their queen.
The Duke is a supporting antagonist rather than the main threat. He is suspicious and self-interested, but his role is different from Hans’s secret plan. Alan Tudyk voices the Duke.
Oaken, Pabbie, and Bulda
Oaken runs a trading post and sauna in the mountains. He gives Anna and Kristoff a brief, funny encounter while they look for supplies. His cheerful manner stands out against the cold and danger outside.
Pabbie is the wise leader of the trolls. He tries to help Elsa and Anna when they are young and warns that fear can make Elsa’s powers dangerous. Pabbie’s advice is important, but it does not give Elsa a simple cure; she still has to learn how to live with her abilities.
Bulda is a troll who takes a strong interest in Kristoff and tries to match him with Anna. She brings humor to the story and is part of the troll community that raised Kristoff. Oaken is voiced by Chris Williams, Pabbie by Ciarán Hinds, and Bulda by Maia Wilson.
Frozen II characters and the enchanted forest
Frozen II brings the main group into an enchanted forest connected to the history of Arendelle. Its new characters help reveal what happened between the kingdom and the Northuldra people. The additions also make the conflict less about a single villain and more about memory, responsibility, and repairing past harm.
Iduna and Agnarr
Queen Iduna and King Agnarr are Anna and Elsa’s parents. They appear in memories and help the sisters understand their family history. Their past choices influence the events of both films, although neither parent is present for most of the sisters’ adventures.
In Frozen II, the story reveals that Iduna was Northuldra and that she saved Agnarr when they were young. This information changes how Anna and Elsa understand their parents and the connection between Arendelle and the forest. Evan Rachel Wood voices Iduna and Alfred Molina voices Agnarr in the film.
Lieutenant Mattias, Honeymaren, and Ryder
Lieutenant Mattias is an Arendellian soldier who has been trapped in the enchanted forest for many years. He remains committed to his duty, but his time there has left him separated from the kingdom he serves. His character helps show how the old conflict affected ordinary people as well as the royal family.
Honeymaren and Ryder are members of the Northuldra community. Honeymaren helps Elsa learn about the forest and the spirits, while Ryder connects with Kristoff through their shared interest in reindeer. Their presence gives the sisters a chance to meet people whose history differs from the account they learned in Arendelle.
Sterling K. Brown voices Mattias, Rachel Matthews voices Honeymaren, and Jason Ritter voices Ryder. They are supporting characters, but their perspectives matter because the sisters cannot understand the forest’s past by relying only on their own family’s memories.
The elemental spirits: Bruni, the Nokk, Gale, and the Earth Giants
Bruni is a small salamander connected to fire. He may look harmless, but he is one of the forest’s elemental spirits. Elsa’s calm approach helps her get close to him, showing that patience works better than force when she encounters the unfamiliar.
The Nokk is a water spirit that takes the form of a horse. Elsa must face it while crossing dangerous water, and their encounter becomes a test of her courage and control. Gale is the wind spirit. It moves leaves and objects through the forest and can carry messages in playful ways.
The Earth Giants are enormous stone beings associated with the earth. Their size makes them dangerous when they are disturbed, but they are not simply villains. Together, the spirits represent different forces of nature and help explain why the forest has been unsettled.
Common mix-ups about the Frozen cast
- Anna and Elsa are sisters, not rivals. They may disagree or struggle to understand each other, but their bond is the emotional center of the films.
- Kristoff is not Anna’s childhood friend. He meets her during her search for Elsa in the first film.
- Sven does not speak like a human. Kristoff often voices what he thinks Sven means, which creates the impression of a conversation.
- Olaf and Marshmallow are separate snow creations. Olaf is a friendly companion; Marshmallow is the larger guard at Elsa’s palace.
- Hans is not the hero of Anna’s story. He first appears to be a romantic partner, but his actions reveal that he wants political power.
- Not every new character in the sequel is a villain. The Northuldra characters and the elemental spirits help the sisters learn what happened in the forest.
Another useful distinction is between characters and voice actors. Anna is the character; Kristen Bell is the actor who voices her. Knowing both names can help if you are looking up songs, cast interviews, or the animated films’ credits.
How to follow the characters across both films
- Start with the sisters. Track Anna’s choices and Elsa’s relationship with her magic. Most major events connect back to one of those two storylines.
- Notice who helps them travel. Kristoff and Sven make the mountain journey possible, while Olaf provides companionship and a different way to respond to danger.
- Separate personal threats from political ones. Hans manipulates people for power, while the Duke’s fear and self-interest create pressure around Elsa’s rule.
- In the sequel, watch for clues about the past. Iduna, Agnarr, Mattias, and the Northuldra characters each add pieces of the history behind the enchanted forest.
- Identify each spirit by its element. Bruni is fire, the Nokk is water, Gale is wind, and the Earth Giants are earth. This makes their scenes easier to follow.
This approach is especially helpful if you are watching with children or returning to the films after a long break. The stories introduce many supporting characters, but you do not need to memorize every name at once. Keep the sisters and their closest companions in view, then connect new characters to the part of the story they help explain.
The central characters in Frozen are Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf, with Hans driving the main conflict in the first film. Frozen II adds family-history figures, Northuldra characters, and elemental spirits who broaden the story.
If you are watching the films or helping someone learn the cast, start by following Anna and Elsa, then use each character’s role to remember the supporting cast. Keep Olaf and Marshmallow distinct: one is a traveling snowman, and the other guards Elsa’s palace.