The Brutal Frozen 2 Scene That Was Cut For Terrorizing Kids

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Fans of the “Frozen” films hold onto certain elements tightly, such as Elsa’s elegant demeanor (performed by Idina Menzel), Anna’s cheerful personality (portrayed by Kristen Bell), and even Olaf the Snowman’s playful antics (voiced by Josh Gad). However, Olaf has been a divisive character within the “Frozen” universe; some appreciate his childlike innocence, while others find him irritating. The unexplained pop culture knowledge he displays in the movies leaves fans wondering about the origins of this knowledge within the “Frozen” film world.

One pivotal moment from “Frozen 2,” as admitted by Gad himself, went too far and left Disney-loving children everywhere trembling with fear following a particularly distressing scene involving Olaf. This unsettling sequence has never been shown again, likely hidden deep within the archives of Disney.

In a deleted scene from “Frozen 2”, something happened to Olaf. The reason this scene was too frightening and ultimately removed, is because it was deemed scary for young viewers. However, there might be possibilities for us to see it in the future. Besides this, are there other suspenseful moments in big-screen Disney films? Let me explain what caused that particular Olaf scene to be frozen out.

Something happened to Olaf in a deleted “Frozen 2” scene because it was too scary for kids. Could we see it someday? Maybe! Are there other spooky Disney movie moments like this? Yes, let me tell you more about it.

What happened to Olaf in Frozen 2?

In the sequel to “Frozen,” titled “Frozen 2,” Olaf joins Elsa, Anna, their companions, and Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) in enjoying autumn activities. However, Elsa feels a longing for something more and follows a strange voice deep into the forest, where she unleashes elemental spirits. This causes turmoil throughout Arendelle, forcing the friends to join forces once again to restore harmony among them all.

In their partnership, Kristoff and Olaf team up apart from Anna and Elsa who embark on a journey independently. On this expedition, the sisters uncover the strife between Ahtohallan and Northuldran, leading to a heated argument over magic’s power. The revelation of the truth inadvertently freezes Elsa solid, causing Olaf to vanish completely into nothingness. Anna deduces that the dam obstructing Northuldran’s water flow must be demolished to restore balance and uses an elemental spirit to bring it down. As a result, Elsa thaws — ultimately managing to resurrect Olaf in one of the most heartwarming scenes of “Frozen 2.”

In a different rendition: Elsa discovers she belongs to the elements and assumes the role of guardian for the Enchanted Forest, meanwhile Anna ascends as queen of Arendelle. Olaf wraps up the story about what transpired for the residents in his ice palace, accompanied by Elsa, in a charming post-credits sequence that might have been overlooked if you exited “Frozen 2” early. However, Olaf’s demise in “Frozen 2” was initially depicted as significantly more severe.

How Olaf almost died in Frozen 2

In Josh Gad’s biography titled “In Gad We Trust”, it is mentioned that the scene of Olaf’s demise in the script was heart-wrenching for him. During the voice recording sessions, he found himself overcome with emotion, necessitating a rewrite. The original scene depicted Olaf disintegrating bit by bit and being carried away on wind flakes, which left Anna devastated and in tears. Gad recounted in his book (as reported by Entertainment Weekly) that these initial recording sessions were tough and he felt they were creating something powerful and emotionally impactful.

A few weeks had passed, and following the initial compilation and previewing of the movie for test viewers, Gad approached director Jennifer Lee about the scene’s impact. She replied with an optimistic front, stating, “The older audience members found it delightful, but the children were utterly puzzled and extremely upset.” According to Gadd, they were in tears, shouting, and clearly distressed by the lengthy sequence and the overall mood of the scene. This feedback made it clear to Gad that revisions were necessary for the scene and new dialogue needed to be recorded.

In the updated version, Anna appeared less frightened, while Olaf seemed more accepting of his supposed demise. However, the impact was significantly reduced because Olaf ended up surviving. Disney chairman Robert Iger explained to Gad that many children identified with Olaf’s guileless innocence, which is why they found his potential death so distressing. It remains unclear if this scene was preserved anywhere, but given the lengthy production process of “Frozen 2”, it seems unlikely we’ll see it any time in the near future.

What Josh Gad thinks about the deleted Frozen 2 scene

In “In Gad We Trust,” Josh Gad admitted that he was deeply saddened while recording Olaf’s lines for a particular scene. He remembered having tearful conversations with his wife over Facetime, as he was crying so much. For him, Olaf’s death was not just sad but also shocking and emotionally challenging.

At the conclusion of the recording, not a single dry eye remained in the room, he acknowledged with a joke, implying that his wife couldn’t differentiate between filming a sequel to “Frozen” or “Sophie’s Choice.” The most striking aspect of the scene is that Gad was taken aback because he hadn’t been informed ahead of time that Olaf would be written off. He recalled arriving at the session only to discover that the initial scene would involve a heart-wrenching goodbye between Anna and Olaf. Even Jennifer Lee became emotional when she broke the news about Olaf’s demise. It comes as no surprise, then, that “Frozen 2” proved to be more challenging to produce than its predecessor.

Other Disney scenes that scared kids

Disney often includes scenes that may be distressing or challenging for young children, with numerous instances throughout their films where they don’t shy away from creating scary moments for kids.

Disturbing scenes from classic Disney movies often include moments that might be upsetting to younger viewers. For instance, Bambi’s mother being fatally shot by a hunter in “Bambi,” Snow White running through a forest filled with fear in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” and Pinocchio experiencing the ordeal of being swallowed by a blue whale and transformed into a donkey on Pleasure Island in “Pinocchio.” More recent Disney films contain scenes that may also be traumatic for children, such as Frollo’s attempt to kill Quasimodo in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” Gaston’s confrontation with the Beast in “Beauty and the Beast,” and Scar’s gruesome killing of Mufasa in front of Simba in “The Lion King.

Disney hasn’t hesitated to provide significant fright moments for its viewers in the past, and it’s perfectly fine to feel scared, even if you’re young. However, Disney possibly made a wise choice in toning down Olaf’s demise in “Frozen 2” to make it less intense.

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2025-01-28 15:30