While we kind of got to explore Olaf's origin story in 2013's Frozen, Once Upon a Snowman tells the untold story of the loveable snowman as he searches for his identity in the snowy mountains surrounding Arendelle. Taking place at the same time as a number of key events in that now animated classic, this charming short comes at a perfect time with the holidays fast approaching.
Directors Trent Correy (the animation supervisor for Olaf in Frozen 2) and Dan Abraham (a veteran story artist who did the storyboards for Olaf's "When I Am Older" song in the sequel) definitely make an impact with this eight-minute short, and there are a lot of big laughs, inspired visuals, and clever cameos to be found. As we mentioned, with Olaf's origin story taking place during the events of Frozen, the snowman is inserted into a number of key scenes from that, some of which actually add a new layer to what we saw back in 2013. However, he also gets to spend time with other familiar faces, and that's perhaps when this movie is at its best.
At this point, it should go without saying that Josh Gad is terrific as the voice of Olaf, and he brings his all to this short film, as per usual. Olaf is a character everyone seems to love (quite rightly), and the credit for that is split between Disney Animation's enjoyable visual style and Gad's performance.
This short movie is big on heart, but a little light on leaving a lasting impact on viewers. Unlike a lot of Disney and Pixar shorts, there's nothing in Once Upon a Snowman that will really stick with you for long after watching. It's definitely an enjoyable, heart-warming experience, but also a somewhat simplistic one. However, if you're a Frozen fan, you're going to love it, and kids will have a blast with this latest visit to the world these beloved characters inhabit.
Once Upon a Snowman is another heart-warming Frozen adventure, and while it's a simple tale, it's also one that fans of this franchise will no doubt have a (snow)ball with.