Inside the Animation Magic of Frozen 2 at Walt Disney Animation Studios

Walt Disney Animation Studios pulls back the curtain on how Frozen 2 came to life, from the directors' vision sessions to the six-month development of the mythical water spirit Nokk. The highly anticipated sequel arrives in theaters November 22, 2019.

With Frozen 2 barreling toward its November 22, 2019 theatrical debut, Walt Disney Animation Studios is offering a deeper look at the intricate animation process that turned directors' visions into one of the studio's most ambitious sequels to date. From acting out scenes at home to spending months crafting a single water spirit, the Frozen 2 team poured relentless craftsmanship into every frame.

From Issuing to Blocking: How a Scene Comes to Life

The animation pipeline starts with "issuing," a collaborative session where directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck lay out the vision for each scene. Animators then explore characters by acting out the action themselves. "I actually act the scene out or my daughters will act the scene out, or even my husband will act the scene out," Co-Head of Animation Becky Bresee shared. "Everyone is affected by it."

Next comes blocking, where animators pose characters in "golden poses" that capture tentpole moments for director approval, according to Co-Head of Animation Tony Smeed. Only after that buy-in do the artists close the gaps to smooth the motion into final footage. Supervising Animators shepherd individual characters throughout, ensuring consistency across the animators' varied styles.

Creating the Nokk, a Six-Month Water Spirit

Among Frozen 2's mythical new characters, none proved more demanding than the Nokk, a powerful water horse encountered by Elsa. Head of Effects Animation Marlon West revealed the creature took roughly six months of development with half a dozen artists meeting almost daily. "The character has to be believable above water and under water. Most of the things that make the Nokk look like water is his tail and his mane," West explained.

Effects That Push the Studio Forward

West described Frozen 2 as "an effects animator's dream come true," noting that every sequence presented its own daunting challenge. The intricate work will eventually find its way to streaming through Disney+ via the accompanying docuseries Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2, giving fans another lens into how this modern Disney classic was built.

What This Means for Disney+ Fans

Frozen 2's technical achievements cement its place as a landmark entry in the Walt Disney Animation Studios canon. When the film eventually arrives on Disney+, fans will be able to revisit every meticulously crafted frame and dive into companion content that celebrates the craftspeople who brought Arendelle's next chapter to life.