Last week, Walt Disney World announced that the ride Maeslstom, featured in the Norway Pavilion in their Epcot park, will close to make way for a "Frozen" inspired attraction. Maelstom, a fan favorite, is being closed after a 26 year run to be replaced by a ride inspired by Disney's latest hit, "Frozen", a movie that was released in theaters a little over 10 months ago.
This got me to wondering, has "Frozen" taken over the world?! I don't hate it, I mean, ok I'll admit it I've downloaded the song "Do You Want to Build A Snowman" and I've had sing-offs with my cousins. But really what is happening here? It seems like EVERYONE is obsessed with this 108-minute animated musical.
First off, let's look at the facts. As of May of this year "Frozen" had earned more then $1.2 billon dollars and has become the fifth highest grossing film of all time. Now, throw in two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA and "Frozen" is primed for world domination.
The popularity of "Frozen" also seems to come, at least in part, from the fact that Disney broke it's mold (sort of). In "Frozen" they decided to put the focus of the movie on sisterhood and female empowerment rather then the typical Disney romance (damsel in distress + being rescued by prince charming = happily ever after). I mean ok, yes there is still a thread of traditional romance in the movie but what's important here is that it's not the main focus. And the movie actually passes the Bechdel test, a tool that measures if two female characters talk to each other about something other then a man.
And then there are the "Frozen" covers and oh are there many "Frozen" covers. If you've been living under a rock for the past 10 months with limited access to social media - chances are you still heard at least one rendition of either "Let it Go" or "Do You Want to Build a Snowman". The true key to the "Frozen" fame are these short video's posted online. YouTube offers the "Frozen" fan hundreds of clips with million+ views, and everyone has been getting in on the action. From children's choirs, to Marines and (my favorite) the daughter and daddy duos. But what strengthens Frozen's claim to world domination are the parodies. Maybe you can't relate to "Do You Want to Build a Snowman", but anyone can relate to this college students need for caffeine in "Do You Want to Go to Starbucks"...
Or for those medical school student's completing rounds there is the "Let It Go" parody of "I Don't Know"...
As far as Disney movies go, this is one of the first animated films that has spawned a virtual tidal wave of cover songs and tribute videos across the web. It could be argued that the success of the film could be attributed, in a major way, to this groundswell of YouTube videos and Twitter hashtags. Many people who would not otherwise be exposed to "Frozen" via traditional advertising could not avoid seeing #LetItGo appear in the Twitter trending topics or see the catchy song being sung by a group of med students on their Facebook feed.
Kristen Wiig and I are the last two people on Earth who don’t know the lyrics to “Let It Go.” But that didn’t stop us http://t.co/Phixx3runu
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) September 15, 2014
"Frozen" took over the world in 2014 and in 2016 it will take over Epcot. Maelstrom, you'll be missed! But for now I'm going to #LetItGo
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