Direct answer: who sings Anna in Frozen
In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen (2013) and Frozen II (2019), Princess Anna is primarily voiced and sung by American actor and singer Kristen Bell. Bell performs Anna’s speaking and singing lines in the main English-language version of the films. Key songs such as “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”, “For the First Time in Forever”, and “Love Is an Open Door” feature her voice. In other language releases, Anna is sung by different dubbing artists; for example, the Dutch musical dubbing is by Willemijn Verkaik. On stage, the Broadway and West End musicals originated with Patti Murin as Anna, followed by Caissie Levy and other actresses.
Film credits versus stage credits
It is helpful to separate film credits from stage credits when clarifying who sings Anna. In the animated films, the singing voice is attached to the language version, while on stage the role is performed by a rotating cast of musical theatre performers. Below is a concise comparison of notable performers and their context.
| Performer | Context | Notable songs performed | Source type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kristen Bell | Anna (speaking and singing) in Frozen (2013) and Frozen II (2019) | “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”, “For the First Time in Forever”, “Love Is an Open Door” | Film credit |
| Willemijn Verkaik | Dutch singing dubbing for Anna in Frozen musical Dutch version | Dutch recordings of “Let It Go” and other songs | Language dubbing credit |
| Patti Murin | Originated Anna on Broadway in Frozen: The Musical (2018) | Stage versions of “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”, “For the First Time in Forever” | Theatre credit |
| Caissie Levy | Broadway and West End Anna after originating the role | Stage renditions of main Anna songs | Theatre credit |
Kristen Bell’s involvement and recording process
Kristen Bell was cast as Anna both as a voice actor and as the singing voice. In production, animators used performance capture for some elements, but Bell delivered the vocal performances for the primary English soundtrack. She has discussed recording sessions, layering harmonies, and timing challenges in interviews. Her interpretations shaped the emotional tone of key moments, especially in “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and the duet “Love Is an Open Door.”
International and stage variations
Because Frozen is a global franchise, Anna has been sung by multiple artists in different languages and formats. On stage, the role originated with Patti Murin on Broadway and later Caissie Levy in Broadway and West End productions. In localized dubs, such as Dutch, Willemijn Verkaik performed Anna’s songs. These variations reflect musical theatre traditions and regional casting choices rather than changes to the core film characterization.
Notable Anna songs and context
Certain tracks define Anna’s arc across the Frozen films and stage adaptations. Below are key songs and the primary performer in the main English-language film version.
- “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” — Kristen Bell (film); stage productions vary by cast recording
- “For the First Time in Forever” — Kristen Bell (film); Patti Murin and Caissie Levy on stage
- “Love Is an Open Door” — Kristen Bell (film); stage duets follow the cast’s arrangement
- Dutch dubbing by Willemijn Verkaik for musical releases in the Netherlands
Common misconceptions and clarifications
Misconceptions often arise because Anna appears in multiple formats with different performers. Some assume Idina Menzel or another Frozen vocalist sings Anna, but Bell is the primary English film singer. On stage, the singing line changes with each cast, so credits depend on the specific production. It is also a common error to conflate dubbing artists in foreign-language versions with the original film recording.