Frozen: Part V

[Jay]

I think it's a shame that Anna's sales are being compared unfavorably to Elsa's. Disney needs to get a grip and face the fact that Elsa is not "just" a princess character. She's more of a one-of-a-kind character for them that transcends the film itself, similar to Maleficent, Tinker Bell, Genie, Stitch, and several others. I would imagine Anna is doing well right now compared to some of the other princesses though, although not as well as Cinderella and Ariel, of course. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if in the coming years, Anna filters towards the bottom along with Belle, Tiana, Pocahontas, Mulan, Jasmine, and Merida. <---Where Aurora should be.

I agree. Elsa has become an iconic character a la Tinkerbell, Maleficent ect. She is very different from all the other princesses before her. I wonder when Elsa and Anna are officially added to the line up if we will ever see them merchandised separately. Elsa probably will be but will Anna ever be slapped on a backpack without Elsa? I can't imagine Anna filtering down to Pocahontas and Mulan territory. And Belle and Jasmine are both quite popular. I wonder if Elsa will remain mega popular or will her star fade? Cindy, Ariel and Rapunzel are definitely the most popular in the line up. Elsa will join them when she is added.

Elsa
Ariel
Cinderella
Rapunzel
Anna
Belle
Snow White
Aurora
Jasmine
Merida
Tiana
Mulan
Pocahontas

[Disney's Divinity]

I hope this is true, because last Christmas a lot of retailers run out of Elsa dolls and dresses and parents were literally crying because they couldn't find the Christmas present for their children. It was very sad!

Aww, that is sad. I feel sorry for my mother buying for me as a child since Disney merchandise tends to be overpriced. Even something as simple as Disney balloons/paper plates are always priced higher than the other options.

@Jay: I think Anna will sell more than those others just because she has a similar look to the most popular ones, but I still see her as being below Ariel, Cinderella, Elsa, Rapunzel, and Aurora for some reason. Snow White is kind of the dividing point. I think she sells to people who normally might not care about Disney princesses since SW&tSD is a historical film, unlike some of the others, which is why I wouldn't think she'd be near the bottom. Belle is another one that probably appeals to adults more than children. I believe Elsa is in a similar relationship to Ariel as far as standing out among the others because she has magical powers--like Ariel is a mermaid.

[Lady Cluck]

I think it's a shame that Anna's sales are being compared unfavorably to Elsa's. Disney needs to get a grip and face the fact that Elsa is not "just" a princess character. She's more of a one-of-a-kind character for them that transcends the film itself, similar to Maleficent, Tinker Bell, Genie, Stitch, and several others. I would imagine Anna is doing well right now compared to some of the other princesses though, although not as well as Cinderella and Ariel, of course. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if in the coming years, Anna filters towards the bottom along with Belle, Tiana, Pocahontas, Mulan, Jasmine, and Merida. <---Where Aurora should be.

Cindy, Ariel and Rapunzel are definitely the most popular in the line up. Elsa will join them when she is added.

I've heard Rapunzel's star is fading more quickly than anyone's. She'll be a nobody in a few years, whereas Elsa and Anna achieved pop culture icon status.

[sunhuntin]

one thing ive noticed with the merchandise on some items is elsa always looks better/more on model than anna. one store recently got what i can only assume to be garden ornaments. they are too big and clunky to be general ornaments, though kids wouldnt care.
there are two different styles for elsa, one for anna and one for olaf. anna looks hideous! if i didnt know better, id say she was a cheap chinese knock-off. olaf doesnt look much better either as they have his head facing sideways. would have looked better facing forward. the two elsa ones are both really well done, both in her ice dress, one with the long cape/train and the other without.

if they were cheap enough, i would buy elsa and the only reason i would get anna is that "have to have the pair!" feeling. lol.

[DisneyFan09]

There's no doubt that Elsa is more popular than Anna. Just look up both of them on Facebook and you'll see that Elsa is indeed the more popular one.

While that being said, I prefer Anna myself, because I think she's a more fulfilled character and that's because she gets more screentime. And because of her spunky, likeable personality. However, I do think that Elsa should have been the main character, considering that she is after all the main catalyst for the events of the movie. So why not having her be the main protagonist?

However, I do think the choice of letting Elsa being the secondary character hurt her characterization, considering that she gets less screentime. I'm probably going to get a lot of flack for this, but I don't think Elsa is a particularly memorable or engaging character. Disney have made several outcast characters before (Dumbo, Quasimodo, Aladdin, Belle and various others), but at least they were likeable and endearing. Elsa is an outcast for reasons that weren't exactly her fault, but she acts like a passive victim through most of the film (with the exception of "Let it Go"). Therefore I think Elsa is frankly one of the less likeable outcast characters that Disney has ever created. Sorry Elsa purists.

[disneyprincess11]

but I don't think Elsa is a particularly memorable or engaging character. Disney have made several outcast characters before (Dumbo, Quasimodo, Aladdin, Belle and various others), but at least they were likeable and endearing. Elsa is an outcast for reasons that weren't exactly her fault, but she acts like a passive victim through most of the film (with the exception of "Let it Go"). Therefore I think Elsa is frankly one of the less likeable outcast characters that Disney has ever created. Sorry Elsa purists.

I actually agree with you on this. i like Elsa, but besides Let It Go, she doesn't do anything special. We hardly get to know her. When she was in that room for 13 years or w/e, was all that she did was sitting there and feel bad for herself? What did she like to do? Read, play chess, make dolls, ice skate? She was a pretty badly developed character and I blame the writers. I like that she is scared of herself, but after Let It Go, when she saying that she's cool with herself, nope, she's immediately scared of herself AGAIN. That useless time with Oaken and the trolls could have been made for development of Elsa. What's sad is that if Elsa was evil (like she should have been, IMHO), we would have gotten a much developed and enjoyable character.

[DisneyFan09]

I actually agree with you on this. i like Elsa, but besides Let It Go, she doesn't do anything special. We hardly get to know her. When she was in that room for 13 years or w/e, was all that she did was sitting there and feel bad for herself? What did she like to do? Read, play chess, make dolls, ice skate? She was a pretty badly developed character and I blame the writers. I like that she is scared of herself, but after Let It Go, when she saying that she's cool with herself, nope, she's immediately scared of herself AGAIN. That useless time with Oaken and the trolls could have been made for development of Elsa. What's sad is that if Elsa was evil (like she should have been, IMHO), we would have gotten a much developed and enjoyable character.

Well said.

Elsa is supposed to be Anna's Yin, yet she's quite a personality-deprived character and her most significant trait is her inner angst/struggle. I don't mind that Elsa wasn't the villain and that she was, in true Disney-fashion, the misunderstood loner, but she could have gotten more screentime for my aforementioned reasons.

But sure, an evil Elsa would be fun.

[Disney's Divinity]

I don't think Elsa is a badly-developed character, although what the story requires of her outside "Let It Go" is one-note. It's necessary though, since the next time we see her is when she learns from Anna that she "caused" a snow storm (ie, she can never escape hurting others, in Elsa's mind). Moreover, even though the main point of "Let It Go" is a good message (Elsa should let go of the fear others have made her feel about something she has no power over), the other side of the song is negative in that she shouldn't sever ties with her sister or her responsibilities to others as Queen.

Personally, I think Elsa is probably the best of their outcast characters after Beast, Dumbo, Ariel, and Cinderella (in that order).

[DisneyJedi]

Personally, I think Elsa is probably the best of their outcast characters after Beast, Dumbo, Ariel, and Cinderella (in that order).

Don't you think you're missing another outcast? Would a little "hunch" help?

[blackcauldron85]

Frozen could outsell Barbie:
http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/11/25/froze ... toys-elsa/

[unprincess]

^yeah but Monster High is outselling Barbie too. Barbie's in a slump right now.

also my niece actually prefers Anna to Elsa, go figure...I think Elsa is more popular b/c she appeals to older fans in addition to younger ones.

[PatrickvD]

Barbie needs to work on its image.

Elsa may look similar in the sense that she's also a skinny blonde doll, but she's a figure of empowerment (Anna as well). This cannot be said about Barbie.

[blackcauldron85]

In Barbie's defense (I'm a big fan of hers, too), she is a model of empowerment, too. She can be an astronaut, President, vet, Olympian, and the list goes on. She shows girls that they can do different jobs. (We won't talk about the "math is hard" thing...). If you mean her image as in she's too skinny... Well, as much as we all love them, Disney heroines, anyone?

[unprincess]

Barbie is in a huge creative slump. Ive been a doll collector for 20 years now and I rarely buy Barbies any more and the ones I do buy are often older releases from the 90's/early 2000's, the last time they were making good dolls. They need to stop with the regurgitated princess fairy mermaid crap, its so tired... stop making career dolls with inappropriate outfits for the field/career (an Astronaut NEEDS GLOVES!) Enough models and pop singers. Horses that dont look like horses. Stop the disgusting leaking glue that gets all over the hair...Molded bodices...glitter everywhere.

these problems have also plagued their Disney princess line and I wonder if thats one of the reasons they eventually lost the liscence to Hasbro. Its really more a Mattel problem than a Barbie problem.

*end doll collector rant*

[Mooky]

^^ Yes to all of the above. Remember when dolls' fashions and accessories were of a variety of fabrics and colors? Now it's nothing but cheap pink synthetics. And the products look so gaudy. The less said about Mattel's current Disney dolls, the better. Aside from face molds, their Frozen dolls were some of the poorest toys ever made - molded clothes and no bendable legs. I've seen knock-off action figures with more points of articulation than that. I guess all their attention is focused on the Monster High line now, so Barbie gets the short end of the stick.

[Mach Full Force]

Barbie needs to work on its image.

Elsa may look similar in the sense that she's also a skinny blonde doll, but she's a figure of empowerment (Anna as well). This cannot be said about Barbie.

Except Barbie's had thousands of different jobs, went to the moon before that was even a thing, and her brand's slogan is literally "Be who you wanna be". If that's not empowering, I don't know what is.

[Disney's Divinity]

"Be who you wanna be. Girls above size 00 not included."

But I do miss when Barbies were a hot commodity. What dolls are popular these days? I know there were those ugly Bratz things... (Which, imo, were worse than Barbie as far as strong examples for girls go.)

[bruno_wbt]

What dolls are popular these days?

Well, as that article says, the most popular dolls right now are the "Frozen" dolls.

Ice Skating Anna & Elsa Dolls by Mattel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3gQZ1pZRiU

Then we have: Monster High (the daughters of the monsters), Ever After High (the daughters of the classic Fairy Tale characters), Equestria Girls (the My Little Pony "girls"), Barbie and, of course, the Disney Princesses.

[DisneyFan09]

To be honest, I like the "Frozen" dolls from Mattel better than the actual characters. The designs for the dolls are way more interesting and superior to the "Tangled" dolls. I agree that the regular Princess dolls are bland and uninteresting, but usually I like their new releases.

[blackcauldron85]

Parents panic as shops run out of Disney Frozen doll: Retailers unable to keep up with demand for £34.99 Elsa toy that sings, speaks and lights up
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ts-up.html