Which Disney film is based on The Snow Queen?

Which Disney film is based on The Snow Queen? The answer is Frozen.

Disney’s Frozen, released in 2013, is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s 1844 fairy tale “The Snow Queen.” The connection is especially visible in Elsa’s ice powers, the wintry setting, and the story’s focus on a powerful woman whose abilities isolate her from others.

The finished film differs greatly from Andersen’s tale. In the original story, the Snow Queen is a mysterious supernatural figure, while Frozen reimagines the central conflict through sisters Elsa and Anna. Anna’s journey to reach Elsa replaces the fairy tale’s quest by Gerda to rescue Kai, and the film makes sisterly love—not a romantic rescue—the key expression of true love.

Disney had explored adapting The Snow Queen for decades, including development attempts in the 1940s and late 1990s. The project changed substantially before becoming Frozen, with Anna and Elsa’s relationship helping the story finally take shape. The film’s Scandinavian-inspired kingdom, Arendelle, also reflects Norwegian architecture, clothing, food, and landscapes.