8 Olaf’s Frozen Adventure Fun Facts

You can’t help but smile when you think of Olaf from the movie Frozen. He’s just such a happy snowman. So I was thrilled when I learned that they were making a featurette entitled Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. Then I was double thrilled when I learned you could watch it before Coco! We were able to interview Directors Stevie Wermers-Skelton & Kevin Deters, Producer Roy Conli and Songwriters Elyssa Samsel & Kate Anderson about the making of this joyful featurette. Here are 8 fun facts about Olaf’s Frozen Adventure.

Thank you, Disney, for inviting me to the #PixarCocoEvent and providing travel and accommodations. All opinions about how adorable Olaf is in Olaf’s Frozen Adventure are my own.

8 Olaf’s Frozen Adventure Fun Facts

1. Olaf’s Frozen Adventure is 21 minutes long! (Yes, seriously.) More for your money, people. They had a hard time cutting it down, because there was so much story.

2. The theme of Olaf’s Frozen Adventure is family. Incorporated into this theme are holiday traditions (look out for traditions from different cultures and countries), friendships, and welcoming friends and loved ones to our inner circles.

3. It took 1 1/2 years to make Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. Don’t take animation for granted, friends.

4. In the movie there is a knitted sequence where you get a glimpse into what Olaf’s thinking and his memories. They appear like a Christmas sweater pattern, which was inspired by ugly Christmas sweaters. Each stitch on each frame had to be hand painted!

5. There are 4 original songs in Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. When We Are Together, the song at the end of the featurette, went through 4 or 5 versions until they came up with the final version. After all, John Lasseter did tell Elyssa and Kate to write the next Silent Night. They rose to the challenge.

6. There are Easter eggs! See how many you can find. I’ll give you a hint on one. Look for Baymax’s fist on a sleigh, but they say there are many. There are also references to Prep and Landing.

7. Elyssa Samsel (one of the songwriters) is the voice of a kitten in the song, That Time of Year, in Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. It’s probably one of the most adorable sounds you’ll hear, and we got to hear it live.

8. Oaken is back!! And he’s as funny as ever. They even had to cut his part, which I was a little sad to hear. I’m making a formal request for an Oaken featurette.

Bring tissues. Yes, I cried when I watched Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. Are you surprised? Plus you’ll need them for Coco. It’s such a sweet story, and basically anything that is meaningful and that makes me grateful for my family makes me cry. If your kids loved Frozen, they’ll love Olaf’s Frozen Adventure.

Plus Olaf does give the best hugs.

What is Olaf’s Frozen Adventure About?

Olaf (voice of Josh Gad) teams up with Sven on a merry mission in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 21-minute featurette “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure.” It’s the first holiday season since the gates reopened and Anna (voice of Kristen Bell) and Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel) host a celebration for all of Arendelle. When the townspeople unexpectedly leave early to enjoy their individual holiday customs, the sisters realize they have no family traditions of their own. So, Olaf sets out to comb the kingdom to bring home the best traditions and save this first Christmas for his friends.

“Olaf’s Frozen Adventure” opens in front of Disney•Pixar’s Coco in theaters on Nov. 22, 2017.