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The Earth Giants are a race that appear in Disney's 2019 animated feature film, Frozen II. They are mountain-sized rock spirits from the Enchanted Forest representing the element of earth.

Background[]

The Earth Giants are one of four elemental spirits in the Enchanted Forest, the others being the fire spirit Bruni, the water spirit Nokk, and the wind spirit Gale.[1] They typically only roam the forest at night. During the daytime, they can be found sleeping near a raging river. Their dormant states resemble rocky mountains.

Like the other spirits, the Earth Giants were once on peaceful terms with the Northuldra tribe. When a war between the Northuldra and neighboring Arendellians broke out, however, the Earth Giants became hostile and turned against the humans that brought destruction to their forest. Only by destroying the source of the conflict—a dam commissioned by King Runeard—can the giants be tamed.

Physical appearance[]

The Earth Giants resemble large stone golems. Their bodies are composed mostly of black rock, although some members have hides of moss and lichen growing on their backs.

Role in the film[]

After taming both Gale and Bruni, Elsa thinks that she can handle the Earth Giants as well when they appear and stomp past the Northuldra encampment, but Anna warns her against pressing her luck, letting them pass without seeing anyone. Later, Elsa sends Anna and Olaf drifting down a river, into the Earth Giants' territory, to keep them safe and avoid upsetting the balance while she traveled alone to Ahtohallan. The duo desperately tries to keep quiet so not to disturb the spirits, who are now fast asleep, and find an escape route into a cave leading to an underground cavern.

Elsa, meanwhile, ventures to Ahtohallan and discovers that she is the Fifth Spirit. She also discovers the source of the conflict between Arendelle and the Northuldra; King Runeard had constructed a dam to weaken the forest’s magic, and he also killed the Northuldra leader in cold blood. As she discovers this, Elsa ventures too deep into Ahtohallan and begins to freeze due to Ahtohallan's curse. Before she is completely frozen, she manages to inform Anna that it is necessary to destroy the dam in order to free the Enchanted Forest from its curse. Anna draws the attention of the Earth Giants, who grow hostile from being disturbed from their sleep by her shouting at them to wake up and pursue her towards Runeard's dam, leading them to fling heavy rocks which destroy the structure, ripping it apart and compromising its structural integrity by the heavy impacts. With the dam obliterated, the Earth Giants are once again at peace and make amends with the Northuldra and Arendellians. Their first showing of good will at having the dam destroyed and the bane of their rage gone is approaching Anna and Elsa (who had been revived by the destruction of the dam). The lead Earth Giant leans down so Anna and Elsa can touch its nose, showing the newfound peace and support between the spirits and Elsa and thanking them for restoring the unity between Arendelle and the Enchanted Forest, while the other two watch and smile. The lead Earth Giant is later seen helping Elsa and the Nokk up a cliff so they can travel to Ahtohallan while watching Ryder Nattura and Honeymaren take their reindeer herd out for a run, waving to Elsa as she passes them.

Gallery[]

Screenshots[]

Miscellaneous[]

Trivia[]

  • Unique among the elemental spirits, who each have a sole individual embodying them, the element of Earth is embodied by multiple Earth Giants rather than a single Earth Giant.
  • The Earth Giants share similarities with trolls from Scandinavian mythology/folklore. Whereas the trolls in the Valley of the Living Rock are based on benevolent depictions of trolls, the Earth Giants are based on depictions of trolls as being giants. Large stones in Scandinavia have been attributed to either being trolls who have turned to stone after being exposed to sunlight or to having been tossed by trolls.
    • The directors asked visual development artist Manu Arenas to incorporate elements of the trolls from Valley of the Living Rock into the giants.[2]
  • It is very possible that they are also inspired by the Jötunn of Norse/Scandinavian mythology and folklore who are giants often depicted as having power over (or being composed of) rock and frost; even personifying mountains and hillsides in some cases.
    • Larger trolls and Jötunn are very similar just as smaller trolls and Huldrefolk ("hidden folk") are very similar. In fact, the names troll and Jötunn have been used interchangeably.
  • They may also be inspired by golems, creatures of Hebrew mythology that are created from the earth.
  • In real-life European elemental theology, rocks and earth are represented through gnomes rather than giants.
  • They are the only spirits Elsa did not tame before the curse was lifted.

References[]

  1. Spirits of Nature
  2. Knight, Rosie (November 5, 2019). "Frozen 2: Breaking Down the New Characters" (Article). IGN.

External links[]

v - e - d
Frozen Logo
Media
Films: Frozen (video/soundtrack) • Frozen II (video/soundtrack) • Frozen IIIFrozen IV

Shorts: Frozen FeverOlaf's Frozen Adventure (soundtrack) • Arendelle Castle Yule LogMyth: A Frozen Tale (soundtrack) • Once Upon a Snowman
Shows: At Home With OlafOlaf Presents
Video games: Frozen: Double TroubleFrozen: Olaf's QuestFrozen Free FallDisney Infinity/2.0 Edition/3.0 EditionDisney Enchanted TalesDisney Emoji BlitzKingdom Hearts IIIFrozen AdventuresDisney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney POP TOWNDisney Dreamlight ValleyDisney Speedstorm
Books: The Art of Frozen/IIA Sister More Like MePhantoms of ArendelleA Frozen HeartAnna and Elsa's Secret PlaytimeAcross the SeaFrozen Spring FeverComic BooksAnna & Elsa: Sisterhood is the Strongest Magic:Disney Princess Beginnings

Disney Parks
World of Frozen (Hong Kong, Paris) • Fantasy SpringsAnna and Elsa's Frozen FantasyAnna and Elsa's Frozen JourneyCastle of Magical DreamsCountry Bear Musical JamboreeEnchanted Storybook CastleDisney Animation BuildingFrozen Ever AfterIt's a Small WorldPLAY!Storybook Land Canal BoatsWandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs

Entertainment: Believe! Sea of DreamsDisney Dreams: An Enchanted ClassicFantasmic!Follow Your DreamsFor the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along CelebrationFrozen: Live at the HyperionGolden Fairytale FanfareMickey's Magical Music WorldMickey's Royal Friendship FaireMickey and the MagicianMickey and the Wondrous BookPlayhouse in the WoodsRoyal TheatreWhen You Wish
Restaurants: Bayside WharfForest FareOaken’s OK FoodsRoyal Banquet of ArendelleThe Golden Crocus
Shops: Anna & Elsa's BoutiqueNorthern DelightsTick Tock Toys & CollectiblesTraveling Traders
Parades: Disney Magic on ParadeDisney Stars on ParadeDisney StarlightFestival of Fantasy ParadeFrozen Royal Welcome ParadeMagic HappensMickey's Storybook ExpressPaint the Night ParadeTokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade: DreamLights
Fireworks: Celebrate the MagicDisney Dreams!Disney EnchantmentDisneyland ForeverFrozen ForeverHappily Ever AfterHarmoniousIlluminate! A Nighttime CelebrationIgnite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and LightMickey's Mix MagicMomentousOnce Upon a TimeWonderful World of AnimationWorld of Color: Celebrate!Wondrous Journeys
Summer: Frozen Summer Fun!
Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy ParadeA Frozen Holiday WishDisney Christmas StoriesDisney Dreams! of ChristmasDisney Winter Magic CavalcadeMinnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks"Frozen" Christmas Tree Lighting CeremonyWorld of Color: Winter DreamsFrozen Holiday Surprise

Characters
Frozen: AnnaElsaKristoffHansOlafSvenThe Duke of WeseltonGrand PabbieMarshmallowKing AgnarrQueen IdunaErik and FrancisTrollsBuldaOakenSitronWolvesKaiCastle GuardsHans' Brothers

Frozen Fever: Snowgies
Frozen II: Lieutenant MattiasNorthuldraYelanaHoneymarenRyderThe NokkBruniGaleEarth GiantsKing RuneardSpirits of the Enchanted Forest

Locations
ArendelleElsa's Ice PalaceThe Southern IslesWeseltonArendelle CastleValley of the Living RockArendelle ChapelWandering Oaken's Trading Post and SaunaThe North MountainThe Enchanted ForestAhtohallan
Songs
Frozen: VuelieFrozen HeartDo You Want to Build a Snowman?For the First Time in ForeverLove is an Open DoorLet It GoReindeer(s) Are Better Than PeopleIn SummerFixer Upper

Frozen Fever: Making Today a Perfect Day
Olaf's Frozen Adventure: Ring in the SeasonThe Ballad of FlemmingradThat Time of YearWhen We're Together
Frozen II: All Is FoundSome Things Never ChangeInto the UnknownWhen I Am OlderLost in the WoodsShow YourselfThe Next Right Thing
Musical: Let the Sun Shine OnA Little Bit of YouHidden FolkHans of the Southern IslesQueen AnointedDangerous to DreamWhat Do You Know About Love?HyggeI Can't Lose YouKristoff LullabyMonsterTrue LoveColder by the Minute
At Home with Olaf: I Am With You
Deleted: Love Can't Be DeniedWe Know BetterSpring PageantMore Than Just the SpareYou're YouLife's Too ShortReindeer(s) RemixWhen Everything Falls ApartResolutionHomeI Seek the TruthUnmeltable MeGet This RightSee the Sky

Objects
Kristoff's SledRoyal ShipElsa's TiaraYule BellIduna's ScarfRuneard's Dam
See also
MusicalThe Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated ClassicFrozen: The Official MagazineDisney On IceAs Told by EmojiFrozen: Northern LightsInto the Unknown: Making Frozen IIThe Making of Frozen: A Return to Arendelle
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