In Olaf Presents (which arrived on Disney+ today), Olaf steps into the spotlight and goes from snowman to showman as he takes on the roles of producer, actor, costumer and set builder for his unique "retelling" of five favourite Disney animated tales. The charismatic and versatile Olaf demonstrates his theatrical flair, taking on such iconic roles as a mermaid, a genie, and a lion king, as he entertains Arendelle with his delightful abbreviated versions of these beloved tales.
Among the stories set to be retold by the beloved Frozen character are The Little Mermaid, Moana, The Lion King, Aladdin, and Tangled, and we recently attended the global press conference to learn more about the shorts. Josh Gad (Olaf), director Hyrum Osmond, and producer Jennifer Newfield were in attendance, and the actor explained why it was a "dream come true" to be part of these retellings.
"Revisiting moments from all of the films was a joy. But specifically, the movies I grew up with, selfishly," Gad explained. "So, I was at that perfect age during the second golden age of Disney Animation. I remember seeing The Little Mermaid in the theatre and saying, 'It feels like a Broadway show on screen.' "It was like the first time I can remember applauding in a theatre after the songs were done. So, getting to go back and specifically revisit those films was a dream come true."
"Getting to play in the footsteps of my idol, Robin Williams in the world of Aladdin," he continued, "Hyrum and Jen can tell you that that was a pinch myself, very emotional experience for me."
Newfield added to that, saying: "I think mine was gonna be listening to Josh sing 'A Whole New World' [Laughs] but in Olaf's voice. We knew that we could take liberties, which is not often the case, especially in animation. We have to be very precise with our decisions. I think the playfulness the whole way through, from the scriptwriting to the recording sessions, all the way to animators really being able to kind of take the reins a little bit and be able to just enjoy that freedom is so nice."
It's fascinating to hear about the work that went into reimagining these classic Disney Animation stories, and the challenge of putting an Olaf-style spin on such beloved franchise icons is clearly one Gad embraced. The shorts are a lot of fun, so we'd recommend checking them out this weekend!
Olaf Presents is now streaming on Disney+ as part of the Disney+ Day celebrations.