Frozen has spawned much franchise buzz spanning all arms of the Walt Disney Company following its wildly popular November 2013 debut. Theme parks, merchandise, television, and everything in between has been utilized to its maximized potential, fast and furious.
But there’s been one department that’s been (understandably) left out of the ongoing adaptations: the makers of Frozen themselves, Walt Disney Animation Studios. Until now.
Frozen Fever, a new short, will premiere spring 2015. It will reunite the original voice cast and (are you sitting down for this one?) an all-new song.
It is currently unknown the capacity of the short (theatrical release? TV?) or which filmmakers are behind the scenes right now making the magic. The production schedule of Frozen Fever follows closely the pattern of the short film Tangled Ever After following in January 2012 after Tangled‘s November 2010 hit. Tangled Ever After was directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, directors of the original film.
The news was revealed during the telecast of The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic tonight on ABC. The capacity for such an announcement (kept under wraps for a prerecorded special in a world of rapid communication and secret spillage) is unprecedented. Also teased during the program were projects already known to exist, such as Disney On Ice’s Frozen production (whose tour kicks off this week) and a future Broadway musical. Nothing was mentioned concerning confirmation of rumors of a Frozen overlay to Epcot’s Maelstrom attraction. Considering that ride is slated for undisclosed closure (not known whether temporary or permanent) at the end of September, it’s only a matter of time before that development surfaces true of false.
This is it, Frozen fans. You’ve stuck with us since the very first teaser trailer, throughout all of #Frozember, and during this glorious bliss of continual synergy. These projects are the payoff we’ve been waiting for. Are you ready?