Who wrote the screenplay for Disney’s 2013 animated film Frozen?

Jennifer Lee wrote the screenplay for Disney’s 2013 animated film Frozen.

Lee developed the screenplay from an earlier version of the project, which had been inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s 1844 fairy tale The Snow Queen. The film’s story changed substantially during development, especially when Elsa became a sympathetic protagonist rather than a conventional villain.

Lee also co-directed Frozen with Chris Buck, making her the first woman to solely direct a Walt Disney Animation Studios feature. The screenplay centers on the relationship between sisters Anna and Elsa, with the plot resolving through an act of familial love rather than a romantic rescue.

A common mix-up is crediting Chris Buck alone because he shared directing duties. Buck was a director, while Lee received the screenplay credit and later co-directed Frozen II.