In 2013 the beloved Olaf (Josh Gad) was brought to life through a magical process at the hands of Elsa (Idina Menzel). However, the process by which he came to befriend both Elsa and Anna (Kristen Bell) has been a mystery to the entire world. Once Upon a Snowman depicts the creation of Olaf, but further details the journey that he embarked on before he found his lifelong friends. Full of energy and life, Olaf is determined to find himself a nose in order to fully complete the snowman ensemble, but, in typical Olaf fashion, comedic trouble is always just around the corner.
Josh Gad has a personality that makes people want to be friends with him. He appears genuine in everything that he does, and he finds unique ways to entertain viewers through his interviews and virtual reunions. Furthermore, these enamoring qualities always manage to translate well between Gad himself and the characters that he portrays on screen. Disney has found an incredible talent to portray both Olaf and LeFou (in the 2017 live-action remake Beauty and the Beast) and appear to aim to utilize that talent as much as possible. As the hysterically naive, but brilliantly insightful Olaf wanders the world for the first time, his eccentricity shines as bright as ever and provides young audiences with the laughs they very much deserve. What is so incredible about Gad’s portrayal of Olaf is the fact that mature viewers are able to let it go throughout the performance and appreciate the silly but acutely funny quips made by the snowy creature. Gad lives up to his own expectations and delivers a short (less than eight minutes) but fully immersive journey of laughs and self discovery known as Once Upon a Snowman.
Frozen has taken the world by storm and the obsession with Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven have been in the spotlight longer than any other Disney character in recent history. Once Upon a Snowman attempts to capitalize on the success of the insane popularity of Olaf. Living up to the hype that Olaf has provided in the past is a tall task, but that’s something that executives at Disney have always been willing to attack head on, often in something spectacular. Once Upon a Snowman just feels incredibly Disney. That means that while geared toward children and younger audiences, adults are capable of being attracted to the story and the humor and finding relevance in what is being said.
As well as any other Disney film, Once Upon a Snowman finds a balance between silly and informative. In typical Olaf fashion, the journey in which he embarks on is full of twists and turns, difficulties and a sense of self. Olaf, as usual, becomes more than just an animation used to entertain; he manages to become a teacher as well. Olaf, characteristically of the famed Charles Chaplin, finds himself in trouble that results in a series of slapstick-esque jokes. However, through these charades Olaf is able to inform viewers (both young and old). He encourages viewers to question everything, come to their own conclusions and attempt to understand who they are as a person, strengthening his presence as an informative and relatable character within the Disney family.
With the recent release of Frozen II, it is difficult to believe that Once Upon a Snowman can live up to the hype that surrounds this particular franchise. However, with as big of an influence as Olaf (and Gad) has become, this short film exceeds expectations and both expresses the origin story and continues the legacy of this beloved character. In just about seven minutes, Olaf recaptures the hearts of audiences everywhere and does a wonderful job of immersing both young and mature viewers in an innocent but informative winter wonderland.
Directed by Dan Abraham & Trent Correy. Starring Josh Gad, Chris Williams, Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell & Jonathan Groff.
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