Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2

With only 11 months until the world premiere, Frozen 2 filmmakers screen their current, rough version of the film to their fellow Disney Animation directors and artists. It's clear there is much work to do with little time to do it, particularly on "Show Yourself" - while "Some Things Never Change" and "Into the Unknown" kick off cast and orchestra recordings.

Songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez propose an 80s rock ballad-inspired song for Kristoff, "Lost in the Woods," much to the joy of directors Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck and actor Jonathan Groff. With the next internal screening a few weeks away, "Show Yourself" continues to be a challenge, with filmmakers and songwriters all having a tough conversation about its place within the film.

Frozen 2's March internal screening at Disney Animation proves to be a "live-or-die" moment for two songs: "See The Sky" and "Show Yourself." Sterling K. Brown and Evan Rachel Wood record for their characters, Mattias and Iduna, as Kristen Bell and director Chris Buck share the deep meaning and emotional resonance behind Anna's song, "The Next Right Thing."

Just as the official Frozen 2 trailer makes its public debut in June, the first audience preview screening takes place. Just five months until the film's world premiere, the stakes couldn't be higher, with the audience seeing an unfinished version of the film and providing their feedback. Directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee and producer Peter Del Vecho nervously hope the preview audience embraces the film. With little time to make changes, the team of filmmakers exhaustively work and rework scenes to ensure the story is clear, the comedy sharp, and the emotion earned.

As the whole filmmaking team works overtime every day to make changes to the film, bringing more comedy and clarity to the story, preparations are underway for D23 Expo. Disney's biggest fan event, D23 Expo is always home to big announcements and showstopping performances. It is here that, even though film is still not finished, an audience of over 7,000 people will first see the final version of "Into the Unknown," meet new Frozen 2 cast members Sterling K. Brown and Evan Rachel Wood, and see Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad and Jonathan Groff sing together for the first time "Some Things Never Change." Directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck and producer Peter Del Vecho interact with Frozen fans and cosplayers. At Disney Animation, Lee and Buck collaborate with the talented artists in visual development, animation, effects, technical animation and lighting on what they hope will be an iconic dress transformation for Elsa in "Show Yourself."

An incredible journey reaches its end. With the world premiere at last around the corner, and animation finishing their final shots, the work of the sound designers and Foley artists is just beginning as they create the sound of every footstep, every reindeer, and every moment of icy magic in the film. Orchestrator Dave Metzger arranges "Show Yourself" for the final orchestra record, with the Lopezes and Idina Menzel in attendance. Meanwhile, editor Jeff Draheim is preparing the final film mix for directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck to review. All of these last efforts put the finishing touches on Frozen 2, which will first be screened by the crew at their wrap party. From there, the billboards go up, the cast's talk show appearances begin, and the public first sees the film at the premiere. Then, the film releases in theaters around the world. The efforts of hundreds of artists, musicians and technicians, over the course of several years, have at last, created final film, destined to become the #1 animated film of all time.