She’s the blonde bombshell of the moment and set to be hot property this Christmas – which is kind of ironic considering her propensity for Polar-like places in Disney’s animated smash hit Frozen. But of course, Princess Elsa is the sweetheart who melts hearts.
With long flowing locks and extra big Manga-style eyes, this interactive doll has two modes, one for talking and one for singing. She is also bi-lingual: at the flick of a switch, she can converse and sings Se acabó (Let it go) in Spanish. To see her in chatty action, simply press her magical snowflake necklace, and she will utter one of 15 phrases from the film, including “I’m Princess Elsa of Arendelle”, “I can do snow magic, wanna see?”, “That was fun!”, “My sister Anna and I love to play in the snow”, and “Do you wanna build a snowman?” (And you can bet that fans of the movie can’t hear that last phrase without bursting into Anna’s signature sing-along song). When Elsa raises her arm with a theatrical flourish, she is ready to burst into her big show-stopper performance.
In song mode, Elsa belts out the Academy Award-winning tune Let It Go in the authentic tones of Idina Menzel (this is the only doll with a licence to use Menzel’s vocals) and of course everyone in the house will want to sing-along!
To add ‘glow’ to your snow, Elsa’s dress also lights up in a flurry of dazzling sparkles and her necklace glitters and gleams in a luminous light show. Elsa also comes with ‘fashion’ accessories including shoes and tiara, as well as a play figure of Elsa’s snowy sidekick Olaf for hours of pretend play (what’s more, there’s no danger of this snowman ever melting…)
Good For… Imaginative pretend play, social and language skills, and musical prowess.
Keep in Mind… The repetitive nature of Elsa’s phrases and tuneful warbling… Of course, you may find that you are the one being politely requested to desist from singing. You might want to invest in the new Frozen Sing-Along Edition DVD to make sure everyone is word – and note – perfect.
What Kids Love Disney Princesses have eternal appeal, and Elsa is the latest in a long line of royal role models to capture young hearts. The liberal sprinkling of glitter and twinkling lights is also likely to go down well in some quarters.
What Parents Love It’s easy to knock the ‘Disney magic’, but this little gem of a doll really does emit a feel-good glow, and the fact that it is using the authentic vocals helps the feel-good factor too.
Awards & Accolades Snow Glow Elsa features in the Top 12 Dream Toys 2014, compiled by the Toy Retailers Association and the British Toy & Hobby Association, while Frozen, Disney’s 53rd animated film, won a raft of prestigious awards, including Oscars for both Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song; a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film, and a BAFTA for Best Animated Feature Film. Interestingly, no animated Disney movie has won more than two Oscars. Pinocchio (1940), The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), The Lion King (1994) and Pocahontas (1995) are all double Oscar winners for Best Score and Original Song. Beauty and the Beast (1991) was the first animated film ever to be nominated for Best Picture. Disney Pixar’s Up (2009) and Toy Story 3 (2010) also received Best Picture nominations.