What is the name of the kingdom in Frozen?
Quick answer
The fictional kingdom in Disney’s Frozen (2013) is called Arendelle. It’s ruled by sisters Elsa and Anna. Its fjords, wooden churches and mountains were inspired by Norway, where Disney artists traveled for research. The name is thought to echo Arendal, a real town on Norway’s southern coast.
Inspired by Norway
| Arendelle feature | Real-life inspiration |
|---|---|
| Fjord setting | Norway’s fjords, such as Nærøyfjord |
| Castle | Akershus Fortress in Oslo and other Norwegian buildings |
| Chapel | Stave churches, wooden medieval churches |
| Clothing and patterns | Traditional Norwegian rosemaling (decorative painting) and folk dress |
| Kristoff’s look | Sámi culture of northern Scandinavia |
After the film’s success, tourism to Norway rose noticeably.
The story’s roots
Frozen was loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Snow Queen (1844). Disney had tried to adapt it for decades. In the final film, the “Snow Queen,” Elsa, became a sympathetic heroine who struggles to control her icy powers, and the story’s central love turned out to be between sisters.
The main characters
| Character | Voice (original English) |
|---|---|
| Elsa | Idina Menzel |
| Anna | Kristen Bell |
| Olaf | Josh Gad |
| Kristoff | Jonathan Groff |
| Hans | Santino Fontana |
Box office and awards
- Frozen earned about $1.28 billion, at the time the highest-grossing animated film ever.
- It won Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song (“Let It Go”).
- Frozen II (2019) earned even more, about $1.45 billion.
- A third film is in development.
Beyond the films
Frozen became a Broadway musical in 2018, and Arendelle appears in Disney theme parks, including a dedicated area at Hong Kong Disneyland.
For Disney’s first feature, see what the first Disney animated movie was. For another fictional kingdom, see what Wakanda is.
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