When you're off on a grand adventure beyond Arendelle, you got to at least look the part. That's the sentiment behind Queen Elsa and Princess Anna's new looks for the upcoming animated sequel Frozen 2, which redesigns both characters to wear pants instead of dresses.
"The princesses are all things; they're all times; they're all outfits," co-director Jennifer Lee said at the film's premiere. "Everyone sort of represents when the film was made and what the film's trying to show. These two women I'm proud of, they are carrying the weight of the kingdom on their shoulders... so they're going to wear what's right for that, and I love that you can wear anything."
Though it may not seem like a huge deal, it's actually a major step forward when it comes to princess representation in Disney films, which almost always features the main heroines in skirts and dresses instead of pants. Notable exceptions include Princess Jasmine with her turquoise bottoms and Mulan, but she had to disguise herself as a man in the army where a dress would've surely stuck out.
The importance of what Elsa and Anna wear is a sentiment shared by Walt Disney Animation Studios President Clark Spencer, who sees Disney films as a way to accurately reflect society in modern times, no matter the time period of the actual movie.
"We always have to think to ourselves, whatever we're putting into our films is representing the world today, as much as it may be set in different times," Spencer said. "So I think for [co-directors Lee and Chris Buck], it was the exciting thing of saying there is more than one way to be a princess."
Frozen 2 sees Queen Elsa searching to understand the source of her ice powers and setting off on a grand adventure with her sister Anna, ice vendor Kristoff, still not a puddle Olaf and the lovable reindeer Sven to find answers. They're joined by new cast members Evan Rachel Wood, who will play former Queen Iduna, Elsa and Anna's mother, and This is Us's Sterling K. Brown who'll play the brand new character Lieutenant Matthias.
Arriving Nov. 22, Disney's Frozen 2 reunites directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck and producer Del Vecho with voice actors Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad. Returning musical talents include Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.
(via The Los Angeles Times)