If you’re asking who frozen refers to, the answer is the characters and voice actors in Disney’s Frozen. The story centers on sisters Elsa and Anna, voiced by Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell, with Kristoff, Olaf, Sven, and Hans among the other key characters.
This guide explains who each character is, how they fit into the story, and which actors voice them in the first film. It also covers the returning cast and notable new characters in Frozen II, so you can tell the two movie casts apart.
Who frozen refers to: the main characters
Frozen is a Disney animated musical film about two royal sisters in Arendelle. Elsa has magical powers that create ice and snow, while Anna is her younger sister, known for her warmth and determination. The first movie follows the sisters as Elsa’s powers become public and Anna tries to reconnect with her.
The lead characters are not all members of the royal family. Kristoff is an ice harvester who travels with his reindeer Sven, and Olaf is a cheerful snowman brought to life by Elsa’s magic. Prince Hans initially appears to be Anna’s romantic match, but his intentions change the direction of the story.
In the original English-language film, the principal roles are voiced by Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, and Santino Fontana. The cast for Frozen II brings those main actors back and adds several new voices.
Frozen characters and voice actors at a glance
| Character | Voice actor | Role in the story | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa | Idina Menzel | Queen of Arendelle and Anna’s older sister | Ice magic and the song “Let It Go” |
| Anna | Kristen Bell | Elsa’s younger sister | Her loyalty and determination to reach Elsa |
| Kristoff | Jonathan Groff | An ice harvester who helps Anna | Traveling with Sven and guiding Anna through the mountains |
| Olaf | Josh Gad | A living snowman created by Elsa’s magic | His optimistic nature and love of warm things |
| Hans | Santino Fontana | A prince Anna meets at the palace | A major reveal about his plans |
| Sven | Jonathan Groff provides vocalizations | Kristoff’s loyal reindeer | Communicating through expressions and reindeer sounds |
The table lists the original film’s English-language voices. International releases use different voice casts, so an actor’s name may differ if you watched a dubbed version.
Who Elsa is and what her powers mean
Elsa is Arendelle’s elder princess and, later, its queen. She can create ice and snow with her hands. As a child, she accidentally injures Anna while playing, and the sisters’ parents arrange for Anna’s memories of Elsa’s magic to be changed. Elsa grows up afraid that another accident could hurt someone.
That fear shapes her choices. She keeps her distance from Anna and hides her powers, even after becoming queen. During the coronation in the first film, Elsa loses control of her magic in public and leaves the kingdom. The resulting winter is not a deliberate attack on Arendelle; it follows the panic and isolation surrounding her powers.
Elsa’s song “Let It Go” marks a turning point. She stops trying to conceal what she can do, but the song does not solve the larger problem: she still has to understand her power and repair her relationship with Anna. The difference matters. Elsa’s story is about more than learning to use magic; it is also about facing fear and accepting support.
In Frozen II, Elsa investigates the source of her powers and the history connecting her family with the Northuldra people. The journey leads her to a deeper understanding of her magic and her place in the world. If you have only seen the first film, the sequel provides important context for why Elsa is different.
Who Anna is and why she drives the story
Anna is Elsa’s younger sister and a princess of Arendelle. She grows up separated from Elsa without knowing the full reason. Unlike her sister, Anna has no magical powers. Her strength comes from her willingness to act, even when she is frightened or unsure of what will happen.
When Elsa leaves the kingdom, Anna sets out to find her and bring her home. She meets Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf along the way. Anna is often more impulsive than Elsa, but she is not simply a comic or romantic sidekick. Her choices repeatedly help protect the people she loves.
The first film also challenges the idea that a romantic kiss is the only way to save someone. Anna’s crucial act of love is directed toward her sister, not a prince. That choice makes the sisters’ bond the emotional center of the movie and distinguishes Anna’s story from a conventional fairy-tale romance.
In the sequel, Anna faces a different kind of responsibility as the sisters uncover the past and try to protect their people. Her role develops alongside Elsa’s rather than disappearing behind her sister’s magic. By the end of Frozen II, Anna takes on a new leadership role in Arendelle.
Kristoff, Sven, Olaf, and Hans explained
Kristoff and Sven
Kristoff makes his living harvesting ice and selling it. He is practical, reserved, and more comfortable outdoors than at court. He helps Anna travel across the snowy landscape, and their relationship develops as they learn to rely on each other. Jonathan Groff voices Kristoff and provides Sven’s vocalizations.
Sven is Kristoff’s reindeer companion. He does not speak in human words, but his expressions and reactions make his opinions clear. Kristoff often interprets what Sven seems to be saying, which creates a running joke without making Sven less important to the journey. Sven is a character, not just a means of transportation.
Olaf
Olaf is a snowman Elsa creates with her magic. He represents the sisters’ childhood connection and brings humor to the story. Josh Gad voices him, giving the character an eager, conversational style that contrasts with his snowy body.
Olaf’s fondness for summer is a deliberate joke: warm weather would ordinarily melt a snowman. The film’s magic keeps him safe, so the contrast can work as comedy without implying that ordinary snowmen could survive heat. In the sequel, Olaf also asks questions about change and growing up, adding a thoughtful side to his humor.
Hans
Hans is a prince from the Southern Isles who meets Anna during Elsa’s coronation. Anna quickly believes she has found a romantic partner, but the first film later reveals that Hans has been pursuing his own ambitions. Santino Fontana voices him.
Hans is important because he shows why Anna’s fast engagement is not the same as a deep, tested relationship. His polished manners initially make him seem trustworthy, but the story reveals his character through what he does when events turn against him. Avoid relying on a character list alone if you want to keep the film’s twist unspoiled.
Who voices the main cast in Frozen II?
The core English-language cast returns in Frozen II: Kristen Bell as Anna, Idina Menzel as Elsa, Jonathan Groff as Kristoff, and Josh Gad as Olaf. Santino Fontana’s Hans appears in the sequel through a brief memory sequence.
The sequel adds characters connected to the enchanted forest and the history of Arendelle. Sterling K. Brown voices Lieutenant Mattias, a member of the Arendelle guard who has been trapped in the forest. Evan Rachel Wood voices Queen Iduna, the sisters’ mother, and Alfred Molina voices their father, King Agnarr.
Other new voices include Martha Plimpton as Yelena, Jason Ritter as Ryder, Rachel Matthews as Honeymaren, and Jeremy Sisto as King Runeard. These characters help explain the conflict between Arendelle and the Northuldra, as well as the origins of Elsa’s powers.
| Film | Returning or central voices | Notable new or added voices | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen | Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Santino Fontana | Supporting voices include Alan Tudyk, Ciarán Hinds, and Chris Williams | Meeting the sisters and the original story |
| Frozen II | Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad | Sterling K. Brown, Evan Rachel Wood, Alfred Molina, Martha Plimpton, Jason Ritter, Rachel Matthews, and Jeremy Sisto | Learning more about Elsa’s powers and Arendelle’s past |
The comparison separates the main cast from the sequel’s additions. Some actors also voice minor characters, so the table is a guide to prominent roles rather than a full end-credit list.
How the sisters and their relationships fit together
At its core, Frozen is a story about the relationship between Elsa and Anna. Elsa’s fear leads her to withdraw, while Anna interprets that distance as rejection. Both sisters have understandable feelings, but neither has the full picture when the story begins. Their different responses to the same family separation create the central conflict.
Kristoff and Olaf help Anna, but they do not replace Elsa as the story’s emotional focus. Kristoff offers practical help and gradually becomes someone Anna trusts. Olaf brings levity and recalls the sisters’ shared childhood. Hans serves a different purpose: his betrayal forces Anna to reconsider what love and trust require.
The films also connect family relationships to the wider history of Arendelle. In the sequel, the sisters learn that events from their parents’ generation affected the Northuldra and the enchanted forest. This gives the second film a broader conflict than the first, while keeping the sisters’ decisions at its center.
Common questions about Frozen’s characters
Are Elsa and Anna twins?
No. Elsa is the older sister, and Anna is younger. The films do not present them as twins.
Is Elsa the main character?
Elsa is one of the two central characters, alongside Anna. Elsa’s magic drives much of the plot, but Anna’s choices and her relationship with Elsa are equally important to the story.
Who is the villain in Frozen?
Hans is the main human antagonist in the first film, though Elsa’s magic is not itself evil. The conflict grows from secrecy, fear, and Hans’s actions. In Frozen II, the central danger comes from unresolved events in Arendelle’s past and the enchanted forest rather than a repeat of Hans’s plot.
Does Jonathan Groff voice Sven?
Groff voices Kristoff and provides the vocalizations for Sven. Sven does not have spoken dialogue like the human characters.
Do the same actors appear in both films?
The principal English-language actors return for both movies. The sequel adds new characters and voice performers, while Hans has a brief appearance connected to a memory.
What to know before searching for a Frozen cast list
First, check which movie you mean. A cast list for the 2013 film will not include all the characters introduced in Frozen II. If a name appears only in the sequel, it may be a new character rather than a recast version of someone from the first movie.
Second, check the language of the version you watched. Disney films are released with dubbed voice tracks in many languages. The actors listed in English-language cast information are not necessarily the voices heard in another country’s release.
Finally, separate voice actors from the people who sing a song in a different language or performance context. In the original English film, the named principal actors voice the characters, and the songs are part of those performances. For a specific song credit or a minor role, the film’s end credits are more precise than a short character summary.
One detail that is easy to miss: Elsa’s ice magic and Olaf’s existence are connected, but Olaf is not simply another name for Elsa or a separate magical power. He is a distinct snowman character created through her magic, with his own role in both films.
The main answer to who frozen refers to is the cast of characters led by sisters Elsa and Anna. Idina Menzel voices Elsa, Kristen Bell voices Anna, and Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, and Santino Fontana voice other key characters in the first film.
For the most useful cast list, first identify whether you mean Frozen or Frozen II, then check whether you watched the English-language version. That quick check helps you match each character to the right film and voice actor.