Yes, is frozen film disney? Frozen is a Walt Disney Animation Studios movie released by Walt Disney Pictures in 2013. It is an animated musical fantasy about sisters Anna and Elsa, set in the fictional kingdom of Arendelle.
The name can also refer to a larger franchise, including a sequel, short films, and stage adaptations. This guide explains who made the original movie, how its related releases fit together, and what to watch if you want to follow the story in order. It also clears up common mix-ups about Disney, Pixar, and the different Frozen titles.
Is frozen film disney? The short answer
Yes. Frozen is a Disney animated feature film, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It premiered in 2013 and tells the story of Princess Anna and Queen Elsa, two sisters whose relationship is tested by Elsa’s magical ability to create ice and snow.
It is not a Pixar movie. Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios are separate animation studios within the Disney company. Frozen belongs to Walt Disney Animation Studios, the studio behind animated films such as The Little Mermaid, Tangled, and Encanto.
The title can be confusing because people use “Frozen” to mean the first movie, the sequel, or the wider collection of stories and products. If someone asks whether Frozen is a Disney film, the direct answer is yes. If they ask which Frozen movie to watch, the release order is the clearest place to start.
Who made the original Frozen movie?
Walt Disney Animation Studios produced the 2013 film, and Walt Disney Pictures released it. Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee directed the movie, with Lee also writing the screenplay. The story draws loose inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Snow Queen,” but it changes the characters, plot, and setting substantially.
The movie is a computer-animated musical fantasy. Its main characters are Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf, and Hans. Kristen Bell voices Anna, Idina Menzel voices Elsa, Jonathan Groff voices Kristoff, Josh Gad voices Olaf, and Santino Fontana voices Hans.
Its music is an important part of the storytelling rather than a separate extra. Songs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez help show the characters’ feelings and choices. “Let It Go” is the best-known song from the first film, but the soundtrack also includes songs that introduce Anna, Kristoff, and the people of Arendelle.
Disney’s involvement is not limited to distributing the movie. The studio produced the film through its animation division, developed the characters and story, and continued the franchise with additional screen releases and licensed adaptations.
What is Frozen about?
Frozen follows sisters Anna and Elsa, princesses of Arendelle. Elsa has the power to create ice and snow. After a childhood accident puts Anna in danger, Elsa grows up hiding her ability and keeping her distance from her sister. At Elsa’s coronation, her power becomes public, and she leaves the kingdom.
Anna sets out to find her sister and bring her home. She travels with Kristoff, an ice seller, his reindeer Sven, and Olaf, a snowman Elsa created. Their journey is both an adventure and a family story: Anna wants to reconnect with Elsa, while Elsa is trying to understand how to live with her power without hurting anyone.
The film’s central conflict is not simply about defeating a villain or stopping winter. It focuses on fear, isolation, trust, and the bond between the sisters. That focus helps explain why the story’s resolution centers on a choice made through love and sacrifice, rather than a conventional romantic rescue.
For families deciding whether the movie suits a child, it includes fantasy peril, moments of danger, and emotional scenes, but it is presented as a family animated musical. Parents can consider a child’s sensitivity to suspense and separation before choosing it.
Frozen movies and related releases compared
The franchise includes feature films and shorter releases. These titles do not all have the same length or role in the story, so it helps to distinguish the main movies from the extras.
| Title | Release | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen | 2013 | The original feature film introducing Anna, Elsa, and Arendelle. | Starting the story |
| Frozen Fever | 2015 | A short film about Elsa planning a birthday celebration for Anna. | A brief story after the first movie |
| Olaf’s Frozen Adventure | 2017 | A longer holiday featurette focused on Olaf and family traditions. | A seasonal, lighthearted extra |
| Frozen II | 2019 | The feature-film sequel, following Anna and Elsa as they investigate Elsa’s powers and Arendelle’s past. | Continuing the main story |
| Once Upon a Snowman | 2020 | A short that follows Olaf during events around the first film. | An extra focused on Olaf |
The exact order of release is different from the order of events for some shorts. For a first-time viewer, the simplest approach is to watch the two feature films in release order, then add the shorts if you want more time with the characters.
Is Frozen II also a Disney movie?
Yes. Frozen II is also a Walt Disney Animation Studios feature film, released in 2019. It continues Anna and Elsa’s story several years after the events of the first movie. The sisters travel beyond Arendelle to investigate a mysterious voice, the source of Elsa’s powers, and events connected to their family’s past.
The sequel keeps the original main characters and introduces new settings and supporting characters. Its tone is somewhat more focused on history, responsibility, and change, while still using humor and songs. You do not need to watch the short films to understand the central events of Frozen II.
Watching the original first is important because the sequel assumes you know the sisters’ relationship and the kingdom’s circumstances. The first movie establishes why Elsa’s powers matter and how Anna responds to her. Without that background, the sequel’s emotional choices may carry less weight.
Frozen II is a continuation, not a remake or a separate version of the first film. It answers some questions raised by the original, while expanding the fictional world. It also has its own story arc, so the first movie remains a complete feature even if you decide not to continue.
What order should you watch Frozen in?
For the main story, watch Frozen first and Frozen II second. That order follows both their release dates and the essential progression of the sisters’ story. The additional shorts are optional, and their placement can depend on whether you prefer release order or story chronology.
- Start with Frozen (2013). It introduces the characters, Elsa’s powers, and the events that shape the kingdom.
- Watch Frozen Fever (2015) if you want a short extra. It is a light follow-up centered on Anna’s birthday.
- Watch Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017) for a holiday story. It explores traditions and family celebrations in Arendelle.
- Continue with Frozen II (2019). This is the direct feature-film sequel and the next major chapter.
- Add Once Upon a Snowman (2020) as an optional extra. It revisits part of the original story from Olaf’s perspective.
If you are showing the films to a young viewer, there is no need to turn the shorts into homework. The two features work as the core experience. Add the shorter releases when the viewer wants more of Olaf, Anna, and Elsa.
Why do people confuse Frozen with Pixar?
Both Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar make popular computer-animated films, and both are associated with Disney. That shared corporate connection can make it easy to mix up the studio names. However, the animation studio credited with producing Frozen is Walt Disney Animation Studios, not Pixar.
“Disney movie” is a broad label for films made or released by different parts of the Disney company. “Pixar movie” refers to a film produced by Pixar Animation Studios. A film can be a Disney movie without being a Pixar movie, which is the case with Frozen.
Another source of confusion is that viewers sometimes use “Disney” to refer to a style, a distributor, or the company as a whole. Those uses are not identical. For a clear answer, look at the film’s production credits: Frozen is credited to Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures.
Is Frozen based on a fairy tale?
Frozen is loosely inspired by “The Snow Queen,” a fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen. The connection is a starting point, not a scene-by-scene adaptation. Disney changed the characters and built a different plot around two royal sisters, their relationship, and Elsa’s ice powers.
This distinction matters if you are comparing the movie with the original story. Andersen’s tale has a different structure and set of characters. The film retains a broad association with snow, ice, and a powerful queen, but it is best understood as a new story inspired by an older one.
It is also not a documentary or a direct account of a historical kingdom. Arendelle is fictional. Its architecture and surroundings draw on Scandinavian influences, but the setting and characters belong to the film’s imagined world.
How to tell which Frozen title you are watching
Check the full title and format rather than relying on the word “Frozen” alone. A full-length feature marked Frozen is the original 2013 movie; Frozen II is the 2019 sequel. Shorter titles such as Frozen Fever or Once Upon a Snowman are separate companion releases, not alternate cuts of the original feature.
Runtime can help distinguish a feature film from a short, but listings may vary slightly by platform or include credits and extras. The title and release year are more reliable clues. If a service groups all the titles together, open the individual description to confirm whether it is a feature or a short.
Streaming availability changes by country and over time. A title may be on Disney+ in one region and unavailable there in another, or it may move between services. If you cannot find a particular short, search its full title rather than only searching for Frozen.
One useful tip: check whether the listing says “Frozen II” or gives a short-film title before pressing play. This prevents starting a sequel or companion short when you meant to watch the original, especially in a playlist that combines several franchise releases.
Frozen beyond the movies
The franchise extends beyond animated films. Frozen has inspired a stage musical, books, music releases, toys, and other licensed products. These adaptations and products expand the audience’s ways to engage with the characters, but they are not all part of the movie storyline in the same way.
The Broadway stage musical adapts the first film for live performance and includes additional material. Seeing a stage version is not necessary to understand Frozen II. Similarly, books or merchandise can use the characters without being required chapters in the films’ continuity.
Disney theme parks also feature Frozen characters and themed experiences in some locations. The exact attractions depend on the park and can change. These appearances are part of the franchise’s presence in Disney entertainment, not additional feature films.
When a title or product claims to be part of Frozen, ask whether it is a film, a short, a stage adaptation, or licensed merchandise. That simple distinction helps set expectations. Only the feature films carry the main screen story forward; the other formats provide additional entertainment or reinterpretations.
What makes the original film distinct?
The first Frozen movie combines a fairy-tale setting with a story that puts sisterhood at its center. Anna and Elsa have different personalities and fears, and the film gives both characters meaningful decisions. Their relationship develops through conflict, not just through an easy reunion.
The songs also carry story information. They introduce characters, reveal private thoughts, or mark a change in how someone sees a problem. That makes the music useful for understanding the plot, even for viewers who do not usually seek out musicals.
Olaf provides much of the comedy, while Kristoff offers a more practical perspective on the journey. These characters support the sisters’ story without replacing it. The mix of humor, adventure, music, and family conflict is one reason the movie appeals to different age groups.
At the same time, the movie’s popularity should not be mistaken for a claim that every child will respond to it in the same way. Some viewers may enjoy the songs most, while others may focus on the action or characters. For a first viewing, the core details to remember are that Elsa’s power creates the central crisis and Anna’s effort to reach her sister drives the journey.
Frozen is a Disney movie made by Walt Disney Animation Studios, not Pixar. The 2013 original introduces Anna and Elsa, and Frozen II continues their story; the shorts are optional extras.
To watch the main story, start with Frozen and follow it with Frozen II. If you want more afterward, choose a short by its full title so you know whether you are starting a brief companion story or another feature.