With Pixar in a bit of a tailspin following their triple-decker slump in quality (Cars 2, Brave, Monsters University), “rival” studios like Disney (who actually owns Pixar, but that’s neither here nor there) and Dreamworks have been given more of a chance to step into the spotlight and try and carve out their own day in the spotlight. It seems clear that Monsters University, Despicable Me 2, and The Croods are shoe-ins for Best Animated Picture nominations but none of them seem primed to take home gold. Considering this largely lackluster spread of animated features (the best of which, in my opinion, has been Turbo), Disney’s Frozen stands a good chance at nabbing the coveted top spot come award’s season.

Directed by Chris Buck (Tarzan, Surf’s Up) and Jennifer Lee (in her first directorial gig), Frozen follows Anna, a fearless optimist, who teams up with Kristoff in an epic journey, encounters Everest-like conditions, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna’s sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.

At this point, what sets Frozen aside from the approach of many other similar budget animated features is the voice talent (or lack their of.) While most animation studios these days spend a pretty penny on well-known celebrity voices, Frozen‘s vocal department is characterized by Hollywood outsiders, but cult-favorites, Kristen Bell and Alan Tudyk.

Frozen is directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee and stars Kristen Bell, Alan Tudyk, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad. It hits theaters on November 27, 2013.

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