History WhatCouldHaveBeen / Frozen

* During the development of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in the 1970s, one of the intended rides for ''Fantasyland'' was to be based on the fairy tale, including [[https://waltdatedworld.com/id205.htm a piece of concept art]] by Marc Davis.
* Creator/GlenKeane was involved in during attempts to develop the film in the 1990s, but left the project in 2002 in order to start development work on what would become ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}''.

* According to the DeletedScenes, an early idea for Kristoff's arc was having him secretly growing more and more uneasy with his life in Arendelle and everything that's expected of him now that he's dating royalty, which came to a head after they met the Nøkk and it attempted to drown Kristoff for not being truthful.

** At one point in development, Elsa's [[GoodHairEvilHair hair was going to be black]] in order to contrast her even more with her strawberry-blonde sister Anna. Her hair was also spikey in most designs, including the one they were going to go with if they had kept Elsa a villain (the {{fan nickname}}d "Onion Elsa"). Later concept art (such as the ones from ''VideoGame/DisneyInfinity'') and models for 'onion Elsa' kept the spikey hairstyle but gave her platinum blonde hair.

* Back in 2014, Creator/SantinoFontana [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRApwIY98F4 had been informed]] by the writers of ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' that they wanted to bring back Hans and redeem him if a sequel was greenlit. The idea was ultimately dropped when the ultimate storyline was formed, though Hans is mentioned several times in the finished film and some of his dialogue from the original is reused when [[spoiler:he appears as one of Ahtohallan's memories]].

* [[http://collider.com/frozen-movie-secrets/ Some drafts]] of the film did not have an engagement between Anna and Hans, but instead had Anna approaching Elsa alone and asking her to give Hans a job. It was ultimately decided by the filmmakers that Anna immediately wanting to marry Hans would better justify Elsa's refusal and make the resulting argument feel more organic. They also realised that, when seen from Elsa's perspective, Hans not being present for this conversation unintentionally gave off the impression that Anna was talking about an ''imaginary boyfriend'', so they decided to add him into the scene to frame as a visual rift between the sisters.

* [[http://collider.com/frozen-movie-secrets/ Some drafts]] of the film did not have an engagement between Anna and Hans, but "rather Anna approached Elsa alone, telling her that she just met a guy who might 'really like her', and asked that Elsa give Hans a job." This was changed because the creators felt it "seemed too much like Anna was talking about an 'imaginary boyfriend'. In the end, they decided that if Anna and Hans were engaged it would cause more of the threat that Elsa might lose her sister. Hans was then added to the sequence and framed as a visual representation of the rift between the sisters."

*** The second half is a DarkReprise, where the townspeople start to distrust 12 year old Elsa due to her powers. It also shows a less empathetic version of Anna and Elsa's parents than the final version. In this version, Agnarr calls Elsa a "burden," and he and Iduna tell Anna that if she loves Elsa, it's her responsibility to set an example for her older sister. Anna tries to do this, becoming [[LessonsInSophistication more prim as they are taught to be]], while Elsa remains a RebelliousPrincess, and the rest of the song showing the two girls becoming more distant. The townspeople befriend and like Anna but ostracize her sister and see Elsa as a freak. The second half can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enblcH0MaOY here]].
*** * The CutSong "We Know Better"

* In at least one early draft Anna and Elsa referred to their parents as "Mother" and "Father" (during the full version of "We Know Better"), rather than "Mama" and "Papa". This fits the time period (the 1840s, possibly 1830s depending on the time of the scene) and their regal background. It also [[ParentalTitleCharacterization shows their relationship]] to their daughters. It's implied in the same song that they didn't like the RebelliousPrincess personality Elsa had in this draft and were trying to craft both of their children into {{Princess Classic}}s. Elsa and Anna were explicitly shown getting [[LessonsInSophistication princess-related lessons]]:
-->'''Elsa:''' They say a princess learns elegance in school.\\
'''Teacher:''' Chin up, eyes bright!\\
'''Elsa:''' She's trained in etiquette and follows every rule.\\
'''Anna:''' Spoon on the right.\\
'''Elsa:''' They teach a princess to...\\
'''Both:''' ''[drone-like]'' Copy word for word.\\
'''Elsa:''' They teach a princess to be...\\
'''Both:''' ''[drone-like]'' Seen and never heard.\\
'''Elsa:''' They she doesn't dare or dream.\\
'''Elsa:''' They say she doesn't plan or scheme.\\
'''Elsa:''' Or go to any big extreme, to reunite a princess team.\\
'''Elsa:''' But you and me...\\
'''Both:''' We know better.

** "We Know Better" was sung by Elsa and Anna, starting with Anna's birth and going throughout their childhood into their young adulthood. It starts with Elsa at age 3 seeing baby Anna for the first time, and bonding with her. The song would then cut to the girls at different ages Elsa at 7, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 22. And Anna: 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 19. The first half of the song was released on the deluxe soundtrack and can be heard [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G21o_Jgpf8 here]]. The second half is a DarkReprise, where the townspeople start to distrust 12 year old Elsa due to her powers so the King and Queen tell 9 year old Anna to try and set a better example for her sister, resulting in the rest of the song showing the two girls becoming more distant. The townspeople befriend and like Anna but ostracize her sister and see Elsa as a freak. The second half can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enblcH0MaOY here]].

* The CutSong "We Know Better" show a less empathetic version of Anna and Elsa's parents. In the song's DarkReprise, Agnarr calls Elsa a "burden," and he and Iduna tell Anna that if she loves Elsa, it's her responsibility to set an example for her older sister.

* The CutSong "We Know Better" implies that Anna and Elsa's parents are a mild example of AbusiveParents. In the song's DarkReprise, Agnarr mentions Elsa being a "burden"

** In the earliest drafts, she was going to be a villain ([[AdaptationalVillainy more so than in the original story]]), playing the GodSaveUsFromTheQueen trope straight and even ''killing'' people with her powers. She went through various visual and story designs before it was finally decided to make her a sympathetic character instead.

** At one point, the film would have had an opening narration by a troll with a Brooklyn accent explaining the origin of Elsa's powers. It was initially going to be revealed that a child is born with ice magic 1,000 years after [[WhenThePlanetsAlign a certain alignment with Saturn]], but it was decided that explaining this would have caused more questions to be raised on the universe's rules of magic, and would be irrelevant and distracting from the film's actual story and message. This information was ultimately left out of the film itself and became a case of AllThereInTheManual instead, and [[RetCon a new explanation behind Elsa's powers]] was later devised [[WesternAnimation/FrozenII for the second film]].

* [[http://collider.com/frozen-movie-secrets/ Some drafts]] of the film did not have an engagement between Anna and Hans, but "rather Anna approached Elsa alone, telling her that she just met a guy who might really like her', and asked that Elsa give Hans a job." This was changed because the creators felt it "seemed too much like Anna was talking about an 'imaginary boyfriend'. In the end, they decided that if Anna and Hans were engaged it would cause more of the threat that Elsa might lose her sister. Hans was then added to the sequence and framed as a visual representation of the rift between the sisters."

* Kristoff's introduction was also initially going to have him come off [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWXC378cwao as a lot more of a jerk, helping out purely because of payment,]] rather than the grouchy guy who accepted for some climbing equipment and a few carrots. The cut scene also has him giving his last name as 'Bjorgman', A line from the "Disney on Ice Presents Frozen" show [[DevelopmentGag seems to reference this scene]]:

* Concept art shows at one point Elsa's and Anna's mother was a blonde instead of having black hair. This implied Elsa's hair is naturally blonde while the final product implies [[PowerDyesYourHair it's a product of her powers]], much like with Rapunzel from ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}''.
* Iduna was also dressed in a Russian outfit, implying that she was from Russia

** "We Know Better" was sung by Elsa and Anna, starting with Anna's birth and going throughout their childhood into their young adulthood. It starts with Elsa at age 3 seeing baby Anna for the first time, and bonding with her. The song would then cut to the girls at different ages Elsa at 7, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 22. And Anna: 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 19. The first half of the song was released on the deluxe soundtrack and can be heard [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G21o_Jgpf8 here]]. The second half is a DarkReprise, where the townspeople start to distrust 12 year old Elsa due to her powers so the King and Queen tell 9 year old Anna to try and be more lady-like to set a better example for her sister, resulting in the rest of the song showing the two girls becoming more distant. The townspeople befriend and like Anna but ostracize her sister and see Elsa as a freak. The second half can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enblcH0MaOY here]].

* The CutSong "We Know Better" implies that Anna and Elsa's parents are a mild example of AbusiveParents. In the song's DarkReprise, they call Elsa a "burden" and tell Anna that she isn't doing enough to set a good example for her sister.

* A deleted scene, the idea of which was later reused in the tie-in novel ''Forest Of Shadows'', had Olaf showing Elsa and Anna a secret room in the castle, where their parents had been studying books on magic and tracking the progress of Elsa's powers. Anna would also acknowledge that Iduna's writing includes Northuldra language that's forbidden in Arendelle, [[spoiler:foreshadowing their mother's true heritage and King Runeard's [[EvilAllAlong true motivation]]]].

* The song "All Is Found" contains a sweeping orchestral rise, coinciding with a TimeSkip to the present. The song originally played as a soft lullaby the whole way through, lacking the orchestral rise. This alternate version of the song can be found in the deluxe soundtrack.

* Back in 2014, Creator/SantinoFontana [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRApwIY98F4 had been informed]] by the writers of ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' that they wanted to bring back Hans and redeem him if a sequel was greenlighted. The idea was ultimately dropped when the storyline was formed, [[spoiler:though Hans is mentioned several times and briefly appears as one of Ahtohallan's memories in the finished film. However, the memory of him reuses dialogue from the previous film and Santino did not record any new lines.]]

* For the Japanese dub of the movie, Creator/YuiIshikawa almost got the role of Princess Anna, as she was [[TheOtherDarrin Darrin'd]] out by Sayaka Kanda later on.

** Creator/GlenKeane was involved in during attempts to develop the film in the 1990s, but left the project in 2002 in order to start development work on what would become ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}''.

** Eisner at one point suggested doing the film with John Lasseter at Creator/{{Pixar}}, when the two studios would get their contracts renewed. Furthermore, Alan Menken and Glenn Slater were originally tasked with writing the songs. One of those songs, "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVADjGMBnMs Love Can't Be Denied]]," received a public release before Menken left the project.

* At one point in development, [[spoiler:the tidal wave would have destroyed the castle]]. The epilogue would then show [[spoiler: the reconstruction of the castle to incorporate both Northuldra and Arendellian architecture]].
* In this earlier draft, [[spoiler:the reunion scene after the castle's destruction would have had Elsa showing Anna a memory from Ahtohallan, where Iduna and Agnarr agreed to tell Anna the truth about Elsa's powers [[TemptingFate once they returned from the Dark Sea]]]].
* After [[spoiler:reading the lines for his death scene]], Josh Gad reportedly ''begged'' the Creative Team to [[spoiler:[[KilledOffForReal not bring Olaf back in the ending]]]], but ultimately came about to it.

* Back in 2014, Creator/SantinoFontana [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRApwIY98F4 had been informed]] by the writers of ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' that they wanted to bring back Hans and redeem him if a sequel was greenlighted. The idea was ultimately dropped when the storyline was formed, [[spoiler:though Hans is mentioned several times and briefly appears as one of Ahtohallan's memories in the finished film.]]

* At one point in development, [[spoiler:Elsa would have let the tidal wave destroy the castle to save the rest of the kingdom, [[AllThereInTheManual as it was originally built by King Runeard to be a symbol of power]]]]. The epilogue would then show [[spoiler:Anna overseeing the reconstruction of the castle to incorporate both Northuldra and Arendellian architecture]].

* When the group meet the Northuldra and Mattias' soliders, there was originally meant to be a musical number that explained the situation. It wasn't well-received by test audiences, so the creators had to find another way to get the new characters on the same page as everyone else, ultimately resulting in the sequence where Olaf dramatically recaps the first film for them.

* The comedy sequence of Olaf summarising the plot of the first film for the people in the Enchanted Forest was added in after test audiences found the film too dark.

* A deleted scene has Olaf showing Elsa and Anna a secret room in the castle, where their parents had been studying books on magic and tracking the progress of Elsa's powers. The element of a hidden room would later be re-used for the movie's tie-in novel, ''Forest of Shadows''. The scene would also state that the Northuldra language is forbidden in Arendelle, [[spoiler: foreshadowing that Runeard was EvilAllAlong]].

* An alternate ending involved Arendelle Castle [[spoiler:being rebuilt in a combination of the Northuldra and Arendellian styles after being hit by a wave. It was also going to be rebuilt on a series of islands connected by many bridges]].
* Josh Gad had suggested to the Creative Team that [[spoiler: Olaf not be resurrected after the dam fell, but came about to having Olaf be resurrected]].
* In an additional scene, after [[spoiler:Elsa reunited with Anna after the dam fell, Elsa showed Anna a memory she had uncovered in Ahtohallan, revealing that Queen Iduna had convinced King Agnarr that, once they returned from the Dark Sea, they should tell Anna the truth about Elsa's powers. Agnarr, realizing the whole "Conceal, don't feel" mantra wasn't working out, accepted that Anna's love may be the key to helping her control her powers.]]

* A deleted scene has Olaf showing Elsa and Anna a secret room in the castle, where their parents had been studying books on magic and tracking the progress of Elsa's powers. The element of a hidden room would later be re-used for the movie's tie-in novel, ''Forest of Shadows''.

* Back in 2014, Creator/SantinoFontana [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRApwIY98F4 had been informed]] by the writers of ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' that they wanted to bring back Hans and redeem him if a sequel was greenlighted. The idea was evidently dropped [[spoiler:yet Hans still appears as a snowy manifestation in the finished film.]]

* Another cut song, "Home", was planned for early on in the film. In the song, Anna sings about how much she loves Arendelle. The song may have had a DarkReprise in the third act, [[spoiler:when Anna realizes that they would need to destroy the dam to save Northuldra, thus destroying Arendelle.]] The original song was replaced by "Some Things Never Change", and the reprise was replaced by "The Next Right Thing".

* Another cut song, "Home", was planned for early on in the film. In the song, Anna sings about how much she loves Arendelle. The song may have had a DarkReprise in the third act, when Anna realizes that they would need to destroy the dam to save Northuldra, thus destroying Arendelle. The original song was replaced by "Some Things Never Change", and the reprise was replaced by "The Next Right Thing".