Frozen 2: 10 Key Questions You Should Be Asking

In recent years, Disney have put more effort into trying to develop the worlds their protagonists inhabit, with detailed world-building being one of the highlights of their more recent films.

There are two reasons to apply this meticulous approach to Anna and Elsa’s world. Frozen 2 will be primarily set beyond Arendelle, but the kingdom needs to be developed enough to show that it is worth fighting for.

In addition, the political issues regarding representation have become increasingly important, and the first Frozen made several mistakes in this regard - Most notoriously, Kristoff was originally written as a Sami native, but became a conventional blond hunk instead.

The magical and adventurous approach of the Frozen franchise represents an opportunity to portray Scandinavia’s indigenous culture and traditional customs in a unique and exciting way.

The move towards fantasy also means that some aspects of Scandinavian mythology will get a moment in the spotlight. The mysterious water horse that Elsa met in the second trailer is a Nokk, a troublesome shapeshifter often featured in Southern Scandinavian legends.

The team at Annecy showcased a battle between the Nokk and Elsa, which could potentially be a highlight of the film. They also confirmed that an early scene would feature Elsa being hypnotised by a mysterious chant based on the traditional Swedish Kulning. It is interesting to see so many Scandinavian fantasy elements in a single film, but they need to be used sensibly, as mindless mixing and matching could feel lazy and disrespectful.