Hayao Miyazaki has stated that this film is one of his inspirations to work in animation. When he started his career, Miyazaki had a rough start and was thinking of leaving animation. But when he saw The Snow Queen, he admired it and continued working in anime.
When this movie was released in the U.S. a live-action prologue featuring TV personality Art Linkletter was added. He introduced the movie and recited a rhyme: "One snowflake, two / three snowflakes, four / and now you'll see the Snow Queen / if you add a million more." When he finished the rhyme, the movie began.
The Snow Queen was the ninth animated feature film produced by the Soyuzmultfilm Animation Studio. Director Lev Atamanov simplified the story by Hans Christian Andersen to make a sharp and clear animated version of it.