According to one theory, there is a connection between Disney’s Frozen and Tangled that hints at Anna and Elsa being related to Rapunzel. 2010’s Tangled is the most expensive animated movie of all time, and it was worth every bit of its $260 million production budget. Loosely based on the German Brothers Grimm fairytale of Rapunzel, Tangled follows a young lost princess with magical blonde hair as she defies her adopted mother, finally leaving her tower for the first time in her life with the help of the outlaw Flynn Rider. The movie was a critical and commercial success.

Tangled’s animation style made it one of the best Disney movies at the time of its release. However, three years later, Frozen overtook this classic. The movie earned an astonishing $1.280 billion at the worldwide box office, a feat Disney has failed to beat since Frozen. The movie follows Princess Anna, as she sets out to find her estranged magical sister, Elsa, with the help of friends to reverse the kingdom’s eternal winter. While Tangled and Frozen are entirely separate stories, there is no denying their similarities, and there’s even a theory that could tie the films together.

Rapunzel Is Seen At Elsa’s Coronation

Disney Included A Surprising Tangled Cameo

Animated movies often have a trend of cameos and references in their films, especially from Pixar. Near the beginning of Frozen, during Anna’s song “For The First Time In Forever,” she whizzes through the halls of her home, excited about Elsa’s coronation, and when Anna exits the gates, eagle-eyed viewers might notice a cameo appearance of two characters from another animated Disney movie. At the bottom left of the screen, you can see Flynn and Rapunzel entering Arendelle, standing just in front of Anna, donning their classic outfits from Tangled. Thus, it appears Disney has copied Pixar’s Easter egg trend.

Considering Rapunzel’s hair is notably short and brown, it hints that the events of Frozen take place after the end of Tangled, as that is when Flynn cuts her hair. Flynn’s royal clothing and general appearance alongside Rapunzel only solidifies this. While it makes sense that, as royals, Rapunzel and Flynn are likely to make an appearance at anyone’s coronation, the theory goes even further in suggesting that Rapunzel may actually be related to Anna and Elsa. This is all due to the films’ respective timelines, as Frozen and Tangled were released exactly three years apart, almost to the day.

It’s Also Believed That Anna & Elsa’s Parents Died While Going To Rapunzel’s Wedding

Frozen & Tangled’s Royals Might Be Related

If Tangled and Frozen are actually set three years apart, just like their real-life release dates, this would give way to an even darker fan theory for Disney’s animated movies. In Frozen, when Anna exhibits ice powers for the first time, the King and Queen of Arendelle set out on a ship for “two weeks.” Unfortunately, due to a storm, the royals never return and are presumed ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. Some say that this shipwreck mirrors the ones seen in Tarzan and The Little Mermaid, which would suggest that Tarzan is Elsa and Anna’s brother. However, evidence supporting this connection is flimsy.

The lack of explanation for Elsa and Anna’s parents’ two-week voyage led to many theories, yet one stands out above the rest. For a long time, it was largely believed that the King and Queen of Arendelle were heading to Rapunzel’s wedding. Given the similar character designs in Tangled and Frozen, and Rapunzel and Flynn’s cameo at the coronation, the two films are definitely set in the same universe. Furthermore, the two queens look eerily similar, having the same face shape and hair color, suggesting they may be related. Thus explaining why Arendelle’s royals would be going to Rapunzel’s wedding.

Given that the two Disney movies were released three years apart, and the main plot of Frozen happens after Anna and Elsa’s parents’ unfortunate voyage, the timelines of Tangled and Frozen do line up. While this theory was supported for a long time, with people who worked on Frozen seemingly confirming the idea, sadly, Frozen 2 explained that their parents were searching for the answers to Anna’s powers, and not going to Rapunzel’s wedding after all. Nevertheless, the Tangled and Frozen connection theory is an interesting one to ponder, especially given Rapunzel and Flynn’s mysterious cameo in the 2013 movie.