#arendelle

this fan art is gorgeous. i can’t wait to see my girl again 🤍

Hello Anon and thank you for your question!

There are basically two main but wildly opposing theories about the age of the Kingdom or Arendelle:

1 - It is a "young" kingdom formed less than a century before Frozen. This is supported by some of the novels making references to Runeard and his people "arriving in Arendelle and building themselves a castle".

Excerpts from the Frozen II The Junior Novel Prologue and Dangerous Secrets, ch. 6.

2 - It is an "old" kingdom many centuries old. Some of the novels make references to Aren of Arendelle, a legendary hero and ruler from "the time before time" who settled by the Arenfjord with his people and founded the kingdom. This idea which is very much in line with the history of Arendelle's real-life Nordic neighbours Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Several books and comics make references to ancient relatives of Anna and Elsa and there being at least "ten rulers of Arendelle" who would not exist without it being a kingdom centuries old.

Excerpt from Polar Nights, ch. 10.

A list of known royals and relatives of Anna and Elsa from our 2023 project "Anna and Elsa’s lost family members".

The idea of Runeard as "the founder and builder of the castle" seems to originate around the time of the release of Frozen II and related novels (Forest of Shadows and Dangerous Secrets). Both novels contain some vague references about Runeard and his role in the construction of the castle and possibly in the founding of the kingdom itself (it's not said directly). It's very likely that Runeard's role in Arendelle's history was more fleshed out in some early draft of the movie script but as changes were made, these details were watered down and only traces remain in some books.

In the later novel Polar Nights, nothing is mentioned about Ruenard's connections to Arendelle's past and instead, Aren is credited as the ruler of "Arendelle of old", suggesting Arendelle did in fact pre-date Runeard's rule.

In the anthology-novel All is Found, in the chapter A Midsummer's Song and Dance, there are some references to Runeard being responsible for building the castle but nothing is said about him being the founder of the kingdom.

Our takeaway from this conflicting information is that Disney authors and editors have not been given clear instructions about how to treat the history of Arendelle. It's also impossible to say whether the filmmakers will preserve any of these ideas in Frozen III and Frozen IV.

Below, you will find links to our previous articles on the matter. To make a long story short, depending on the source, Arendelle could have formed as a kingdom as late as the mid/late 18th century or as early as the 6th century AD or even earlier! It depends heavily how you choose to interpret the very limited information we have about Arendelle's history.

Annals of Frozen

Anna and Elsa’s lost family members

Arendelle’s family tree!

Frozen: The History of Arendelle (in collaboration with geekritique)

How old is Arendelle?

Arendelle: Speculations about history

Once Upon A Time + Costumes

Princess Ingrid of Arendelle's white & silver dress in Season 04, Episode 06, 08, 09 & 11.

Words couldn't describe how excited I am by everything we got during this D23! We were truly blessed, not only but new visuals and a new song, but also a whole animated sequence taking place during Anna and Kristoff's wedding (YAAAAYYYYY FINALLY) but also introducing a new mystery... and even a new character!

My goal here isn't to analyse every aspect of the scene (my mind is still processing what I saw lol) but instead I will share with you my first impressions, details I noticed and theories about the story!

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Ok first, seeing my beloved Arendelle again is enough to make me smile. Even better: if you look closely (too bad for the quality) you can spot wedding flags, probably pictuing the silouhettes of Kristoff and Anna, just like they did with Elsa during F1. (Although I'm wondering: where is Agnarr and Iduna's statue? Shouldn't it be where I circled in green?)

Anyways, the shot continues to the castle (LET US SEE MORE OF THE INTERIOR PLEASE) decorated with wedding/spring decorations.

Another banner is hanged above the south garden door, again probably representing our royal couple. And there's a huge buffet near the stables.

Oaken is here! Yoo-hoo! But where are the trolls? They wouldn't miss Kristoff's wedding! I'm positive we'll see them (it can be convenient for the story also, since trolls are northern lights experts)

So we enter the south garden, which was "extended" with this huge wooden platform decorated with cherry trees planted in pots. Visibly, the whole kingdom was invited, showing how Anna loves her subjects (no dignitaries nor big boats in the fjord, this is a more "intimate" event, which I love). We also have this wooden arch which personnally reminds me of kristoff and the trolls, but also a bit of Arendelle's triangular architecture.

AAAND here goes our first fully rendered main character! Elsa, in her reddish pink bridesmaid gown. Notice she wears her usual braid (which DOES NOT undo her progression as a fifth spirit; she's at her sister's wedding, not running in the forest the wind in her hair!) but the braid is on her back, not her shoulder. Of course she's surprised seeing this frozen magic not coming from her). I LOVE her bare shoulder dress with the detached cape, it's classy but also retains her 5th spirit patterns!

The whole gang is here! "They were doing the mouth to mouth stuff" LMAO Olaf. Anna jumps down so rapidly from Sven's back she must think her sister is in trouble again (we don't know yet why Elsa called her back; did she heard Ahtohallan again? Or just felt something was off with the Northern lights?) Poor Kristoff trying to be chevaleresque while his wife is already down (after all he's KING NOW!) Maybe they will recycle his cancelled arc from F2 where he tries to fit the royal life but doesn't enjoy it. It would be so appropriate now that he's the queen's husband!

While Anna was more calm and apprehensive in F2 given the circumstances (fear of change, fear of loosing everything she new) here we can see more of her messy/dorky/clumsy/speedy side from F1 (adding to her on her possible stress on her wedding day!). As much as I ADORE Anna in F2, I kinda missed this side so it's nice to see it again!

The whole gang is back! And we get a better view on the outfits. I must say, I had pictured Anna's wedding dress a bit more fancy (I had like 13 years to imagine it lol) but at the end of the day I LOVE IT. It's so simple yet elegant, and the motives on the skirt and the train are soooo pretty and in line with Arendelle's patterns (we'll talk about it later). As for Elsa, this may already be in my top 3 Elsa outfits ever! So classy! Kristoff, Sven and Olaf weren't a big surprise since their outfits are spring versions of their F2 epilogue outfits, but it's also very pretty and match the sisters.

So, the gang is going back "Into the unknoooown" (sorry), this time in an aurora borealis! We knew from the first concept art these would play an important part, with a possible realm inside it. Although I wonder how the guests don't seem to be bothered by their queen and her friends entering an aurora borealis 😂

Anna give me so much "I was born ready" from F1 vibes in this moment. Kristoff is so helpless, he doesn't know what to do with her train 😂

Anna being a bossy drama queen is quite unexpected, but it might be because, again, it's her wedding day.

We get a better view at her hairstyle in this scene and OH GOSH IT'S JUST SO PRETTY. Her hair got longer since F2; she has her coronation bun but with hair flowing from it instead of tied tightly. Like Elsa, it's the first time we see her wearing long earrings (althought she wrore short ones in F2, like Elsa). Another lovely detail is her crown, which, if you look closely, is a mix between traditionnal norwegian wedding crowns and her queen tiara!

"You"re a terrible husband" made me laugh, I must admit. althought it's played for jokes, I'm predicting this will be part of Kristoff's arc exploring his struggles as a new royal and husband. before marrying Anna, he sleeped ina barn and was "free" to be his commoner self, except for occasionnak big events. How will he adapt to this new life and responsabilities?

After becoming engaged to Agnarr, Iduna began spending more time in a court of ponies — where her reindeer features stood out. Her antlers and chest tuft went from attributes she took pride and found beauty in to consistent sources of undesired attention, building resentment within her. Eventually, she opted to spare herself the grief by shearing her antlers and excess fluff off.

Since many in pony society do not know much about reindeers, let alone that they can be winged, Iduna is thereforward able to pass as a pegasus. She felt relief when both her daughters closely resembled ponies, and hoped they may never feel the isolation she felt borne of her differences.

Also, a bit about reindeer-pony babies and the features they exhibit. Pony genes are pretty strong!