Pictures move message off target

Rating: 5/10 (1 March 2015)

Observing children's reactions on the characters of the movie shows that the strong visual impressions moves the story off the target.
Let's look at the two main characters: Elsa, she gives up, leaves her kingdom alone and celebrates self-pity. Her focus on her own freedom could be interpreted as kind of a displacement activity. Not necessarily a role model.
Anna, realizes the situation and risks a lot to rescue the kingdom and her sister. Also, she never complains to be "second" but stands to her dominating sister. Many positive characteristics. In my eyes, she's the real hero of the movie.
Now let's look how children react on the two characters: The children I observed (girls from family and friends) definitely recognize Elsa as the main hero of the movie. They remember Elsa's name, but not Anna's. They sing Elsas songs, but not Anna's. The draw pictures of Elsa, but not Anna. I can only guess why: Likely because of Elsa's appearance. She much more looks like a princess or queen. Anna is dressed in a usual way, acts like a usual girl, nothing spectacular.
It's a pity that pictures and characters are misaligned. There would have been such a good potential in the story to deliver the values of Anna to children. But the pictures talk differently and obfuscate the valuable message. And all after the fact explanations of parents don't help much here, as you likely know.
So: Pictures move message off target.
Technically, the movie if very good. Personally, I'm not a fan of musicals, but that doesn't count here.