Ignore the bad reviews. Clearly written by people who didn’t understand the point of the film at all. I loved the first one but the sequel is leagues ahead in every respect: story, character development, message, music, animation quality... it’s visually stunning and it’s an important reflection on love through the lens of change, how growing up and changing interpersonal relationships aren’t something to fear. It’s not just a simple kid’s movie. There are powerful messages about learning to cope with change, dealing with loss and grief, and being true to who you are, as well as the effects of colonisation and the erasure of indigenous cultures (representatives of the indigenous Sámi culture of Finland & Scandinavia collaborated with Disney in their portrayal of the Northuldra) - but Anna and Elsa, and their bond, remain the story’s emotional core once again. It was an intensely personal film for a lot of the team - for example the animators who worked on Show Yourself had lost their own mothers and could channel their own personal experiences of grief into Elsa’s reconnection with her mother, and the songwriters reflected on co-director Chris Buck losing his son when writing The Next Right Thing. It really wasn’t just a cash grab. It has become exceptionally clear how important this world and these characters are to Jen Lee and the team. The sequel leans quite a bit more heavily into metaphor & symbolism than your typical Disney film and for that reason might be a bit more complex for some people to follow, but in my eyes, Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck and the whole team of exceptional artists, animators, storytellers and phenomenal voice talent together truly created one of the best animated films of all time.