The hopes and dreams of millions of Elsa-obsessed kids are on the line.
Drop into the frantic final year of the making of what would become the top-grossing animated film of all time.
“Making Frozen II” will definitely rank high up as a “Best Making of Animated Movie” documentary when I get to that list!
Trailer for “Into the Unknown: Making Frozen II”
Watch “Into the Unknown: Making Frozen II”
You can watch “Into the Unknown: Making Frozen II” only on Disney+ at https://www.disneyplus.com/series/into-the-unknown-making-frozen-2/6PWutGrMQzCI
Ratings:
- My Rating: 93/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 90/100 (Users); na/100 (Critics)
Release Date: June 26, 2020
My Review of “Into the Unknown: Making Frozen II”
“Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2” is a six-part documentary series about Disney’s frantic final year creating “Frozen 2.”
This doc shows just how much time, talent, and emotion it takes to bring a billion-dollar animated film to life.
Brooklyn Songwriting Duo and a 90-Piece Orchestra
The music for “Frozen 2” is crafted by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, a quirky couple from Brooklyn, New York.
In the documentary, you get to see them bounce ideas off each other from their home studio, with Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck checking in remotely.
But the real magic happens when their songs are brought to life by a 90-piece orchestra. One of the most spine-tingling moments is watching the full orchestra record “Show Yourself” as David Metzger conducts them.
You can see the intensity on the musicians’ faces as they bring layers of emotion and grandeur to the song. The way the music swells during Elsa’s transformation gives you goosebumps.
The Emotional Heart of “Show Yourself”
A major plot point in “Frozen 2” is Elsa discovering her mother’s voice, and the song “Show Yourself” is the emotional high point of the movie.
But it almost didn’t make it. The Lopezes and the directors struggled to make it personal enough to resonate with Elsa’s journey.
They tinkered with the song for months, considering cutting it altogether. Kristen Anderson-Lopez admits, “It’s still not Elsa’s song yet,” but once they connected it to Elsa’s discovery of her mother’s identity, everything clicked.
Idina Menzel’s performance is electrifying, especially in the recording session with the full orchestra—her voice capturing Elsa’s longing and vulnerability perfectly.
You Can’t Make This $hit Up
Buck talks about the tragic loss of his son, Ryder, who died in a car accident between the making of “Frozen” and “Frozen 2.” In Ryder’s honor, Buck and the team created a character named Ryder—a joyful, adventurous character introduced in the enchanted forest.
Ryder’s mom didn’t know about this tribute until she saw the documentary.
There were 70 animators assigned to each character.
Seventy!
This level of manpower is necessary when you consider that an animator can work for an entire week and only produce three seconds of finished animation.
Every detail, from how Elsa’s hair moves when she runs to how Olaf’s carrot nose wiggles, is painstakingly fine-tuned.
One animator, Malerie Walters, even ran through the streets of Los Angeles to film a reference video of herself sprinting to capture Elsa’s movements for “Into the Unknown.”
It gives you a whole new appreciation for the art of animation.
Olaf’s Real-Life Voice and the D23 Expo
For fans of Olaf, it’s fun to discover that Josh Gad sounds exactly like Olaf in real life. No filters, no effects—just pure Olaf every time he opens his mouth.
It adds another layer of magic to his performances, especially when you see him improvising lines for “When I Am Older.”
The documentary also covers the D23 Disney fan expo, the last big public event before the movie’s release. This is where the cast sees scenes from “Frozen 2” for the first time—at the same time as the fans.
The energy is palpable as Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, and the rest of the cast watch their animated counterparts on screen, sharing the excitement and anticipation.
“Frozen 2”: Breaking Box Office Records
By the time “Frozen 2” hit theaters, it had become the highest-grossing animated film of all time, raking in over $1.45 billion globally.
The documentary reminds us that despite the stress and constant changes, the hard work paid off in a major way. The final product was a triumph, loved by audiences around the world.
Wrapping Up
Directed by Megan Harding (who previously worked on a doc about “Frozen”), “Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2” is a fascinating, unfiltered look at the brutal reality of making an animated blockbuster.
The doc clocks in at around 30-44 minutes per episode and gives you a sense of the immense collaboration involved—from 70 animators per character to a 90-piece orchestra.
Whether you’re an animation fan or just curious about how movies are made, this series offers a rare peek behind the curtain.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc