Disney is continuing to pump out the Frozen-inspired shorts, announcing today the upcoming premiere of Once Upon A Snowman. As the name suggests, the all-new animated short will star everybody's favorite summer-loving snowman, Olaf.
Once Upon A Snowman will serve as an origin story, which seems a bit of an odd premise given that Olaf is a snowman. But the folks at Walt Disney Animation Studios somehow make it sound rather intriguing.
The film follows Olaf’s first steps as he comes to life and searches for his identity in the snowy mountains outside Arendelle.
Once Upon A Snowman will chronicle Olaf's off-screen moments in 2013's film Frozen during the period of time between when Elsa creates him and heads off into the mountains to build her ice palace, and when Anna and Kristoff first meet him in the forest. It's hinted that during this time we'll discover how Olaf learned to love Summer.
Josh Gad will be returning to voice Olaf for the short, which is directed by veterans Trent Correy, animation supervisor for Olaf in Frozen 2, and Dan Abraham, storyboard artist for Olaf's "When I Am Older" musical sequence in the sequel film.
“This is an idea that started to form when I was an animator on the first Frozen,” said director Trent Correy.” “Dan Abraham and I are so grateful and excited to have had the opportunity to direct this short, working with our incredible colleagues at Walt Disney Animation Studios.”
“Josh Gad gives one of the great animated voice performances as Olaf through the ‘Frozen’ films,” added director Dan Abraham. “To have the opportunity to work with him in the recording booth was such a privilege and career highlight.”
Once Upon A Snowman will premiere on October 23, 2020 exclusively on Disney+. Earlier this year, Disney debuted a series of weekly animated shorts called At Home With Olaf which featured the beloved snowman in various silly scenarios.