Watch the trailers for Frozen and Shrek 3. Compare how they are similar and different.
Characters
Both Frozen and Shrek include a misunderstood protagonist
who hides themselves away from everyone as they are often seen by others as
being evil, either for the way they look or the powers they process. In the end,
however, both characters are accepted by
the others for who they.
Both films include a red-headed princess who goes against an
audience’s expectations of a sweet and loving princess as both are prone to
losing their temper and resorting to physical violence.
Both films also include an antagonist who doesn’t follow the
usual conventions of a villain but instead would suit the part of the hero as
both villains are actually handsome princes, though driven to evil actions
after not receiving the attention that they feel they deserve.
Narrative
Similiarly, both films open with the films protagonist being woken by another character (Elsa is woken by her sister Anna and Shrek is woken by Donkey). Both films then present a montage to show the main characters so the audience have an understanding of them, although this is done for different reasons; Frozen is doing it to establish who these characters are as they are new to the audience whilst Shrek's characters have been developed over the last two films, so this montage is done for comedic effect as it shows how Shrek and Fiona struggle with their new Royal life through a series of slapstick moments. Both films, coincidently, then move onto the subject of a Royal death. In Frozen, the King and Queen of Arendelle and the protagonists parents die in a shipwreck - this scene is silent except for the atmospheric music as it is meant to trigger an emotional responce from the audience and create pathos. Meanwhile, the King of Far Far Away and the protagonists father-in-law dies of old age - this scene is made less dramatic and more comical as the scene is stretched the character seems to 'die' three times in the scene before continuing with his speech.
In Frozen, Anna sets off on a mission to find her sister to return to Arandelle and bring back summer, whilst Shrek sets off to find his brother-in-law Arthur to return to Far Far Away to be the new ruler. Both Anna and Shrek are joined by other characters along the journey. Meanwhile, the films antagonists set up their plot to take over as rulers of these kingdoms whilst their current rulers are away on their journeys.
Themes
Both Frozen and Shrek 3 share the themes and morals of being accepted despite of you flaws, not to judge someone just because they may be different and to accept responcibility and trust yourself even if you're not sure if you're ready for the task.
