The Lion King
More than any other animation studio out there , Disneyis renowned for its product of stagily release animated flick that become clamant cultural classics . For about a century now , Disney has been develop narrative of princesses and prince , legendary mythic heroes and talking animals , families and friends and making love stories likewise . class after year , Disney films are released and become darling and immortalized within the mankind of the Disney canon .
Starting in the mid 1990s , however , Disney commence to try out with something else : the art contour experience as the unmediated - to - video ( and later direct - to - DVD ) sequel . Some of its most successful theatrical releases - both from the modern era , and the classic titles - began to get lineal - to - domicile sacking proceed the tale of the beloved films . Here , we go over the best and worst entries into the Disney canon from these habitation releases .
Best: The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride
The Lion Kingremains one of the most successful and beloved Disney celluloid of all time , even after all these years . introduce iconic characters like Simba , Nala , Timon , and Pumbaa to the world , the cultural contribution thatThe Lion Kingmade can not be overstated . It was also one of the rare Disney films to be lucky enough to receive a unmediated - to - TV subsequence suitable of stick out its predecessor ’s name .
The 1998 verbatim - to - video filmThe Lion King II : Simba ’s Pridecontinues the write up ofThe Lion King , nibble up with the next propagation of theatrical role , include Simba and Nala ’s daughter Kiara and the groundless , unexpected love interest Kovu . The movie explore a forbidden love between the next generation of the Pridelands and the Shadowlands , and offers a more nuanced overall story of betrayal and repurchase than most mainstream Disney films have .
Avoid: Cinderella II: Dreams Come True
Cinderellais one of the most beloved of all the Graeco-Roman Disney films . Released nearly 70 years ago in 1950 , the movie has stood the test of clip and remain one of the most iconic representation of fairytale , princesses , and love story alike . It assume 52 year for a direct - to - video sequel to be made - but based on just how bad the sequel itself is , Disney would have been better off never create one at all .
The 2002 unmediated - to - video releaseCinderella II : Dreams total Trueis both fundamentally mistaken and horribly boring . Split into three segments , the film pursue the day to daylight liveliness of Cinderella , Jaq , and Anastasia . Cinderella ’s segment revolve around her learning her stereotypical duties as a fair sex in the imperial house ; Jaq ’s plot line features him being transform into a human being for a daytime ; and Anastasia get entirely out - of - lineament arcs that boast her being redeemed through the love of a misfortunate Isle of Man .
Best: The Return of Jafar
Long before Disney was think about adapting its successful invigorate filmAladdininto a live action version , it used the movie to navigate its direct - to - video recording pic series . The first direct - to - video sequel , The Return of Jafar , was released by Disney in 1994 , and featured some storytelling that stand out as some of the most sophisticated dangerous undertaking and character development in all of the Disney canyon .
While hinder by the fact that it does n’t feature Robin Williams reprise his function as the Genie , The Return of Jafarnevertheless features a compelling return of the villainous Jafar ; a truly amusing and ill-chosen new villain in Jason Alexander ’s Abis Mal ; a true redemption arc for the loyal sidekick Iago ; and authoritative emotional increase for Aladdin and Jasmine both , as their relationship spring up stronger .
Avoid: Tarzan & Jane
The 1999 theatrically released filmTarzanremains one of the most underrated concealed gem that Disney has produced to this day . regrettably , the same can not be say for the 2002 direct - to - television sequel , Tarzan & Jane . Beyond featuring much more simplified and less nuanced animation , Tarzan & Janealso features really lacklustre stories , and downright objectionable character .
The cinema ’s overarching narrative of Tarzan and Jane ’s wedding party anniversary is gratifying , and would make for a cunning story book , if not an integral feature film . But the three contain stories told within the full film ’s tale innovate loathsome part after loathsome fiber , continuing the film ’s central conceit of outsider as terror to the stableness of Tarzan ’s existence , without offering any meaningful character reference development or brainwave .
Best: The Lion King 1 1/2
WhileThe Lion King II : Simba ’s Pridecontinues the story ofThe Lion Kingwhere it leave off , The Lion King 1 1/2represents a truly new venture for Disney , and stands as one of its most thematically creative films to date . Released in 2004 , the film features the linear perspective of everyone ’s favourite meerkat and warthog duo , Timon and Pumbaa , and their metatextual narration and full point of prospect of the firstThe Lion Kingfilm .
The moving picture itself contain the narrative of Timon and Pumbaa watch the movie in a movie dramatic art , fast forwarding and rewinding the picture to get to fit they want to talk about or " say the truth about , " and offering their own comedic spin on some of the movie ’s more serious moments . It ’s unlike any Disney motion picture that came before it , or has come since its freeing , and it ’s full of laugh from beginning to finish .
Avoid: Kronk’s New Groove
The 2000 Disney filmThe Emperor ’s New Grooveis an unbelievably quirky and darkly humourous entry in Disney ’s post - Renaissance canyon , featuring countless vibrant characters and incredible part acting performances . One of the best characters and performances alike come from Patrick Warburton in the role of the dim - witted but sound - natured henchman , Kronk . In 2005 , Disney make Kronk his own unmediated - to - television continuation , Kronk ’s New Groove .
regrettably , while Kronk may have been a real highlighting of the original film , he serves as the biggest balk to the direct - to - picture continuation . Kronk is n’t interesting enough to sustain his own film , as it goes on to watch over his adventures as a cantonment counselor and his many attempts at earning his male parent ’s approval . These are unexpended storyline to tell in a Disney animated cinema - peculiarly with a character who was never taken badly before .
Best: The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea
As yet another direct - to - video subsequence that plunk up with the next generation of the original film ’s beloved characters , The Little Mermaid II : take back to the Seafollows a truly emotionally compelling narrative , almost as compelling as the originalThe Little Mermaidfilm itself . Now rivet on Princess Melody , the girl of Ariel and Prince Eric , The Little Mermaid IIexplores the paired problem that Ariel had : how is Melody supposed to choose between life on land or underwater , when she ’s never been able to inhabit underwater the way her mother did ?
The film also features a fearsome villain in the form of Ursula ’s sister , Morgana , and some truly lovable new supporting characters , including a penguin name Tip and a sea horse name Dash . Melody is one of Disney ’s most compelling young female heroines , postdate perfectly in her parent ' footsteps .
Avoid: Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World
The Disney classic filmPocahontasmight not be the most historically accurate of diachronic films , but it has nevertheless become a beloved member of Disney canyon and fandom alike . The same is not straight for the slimly more historically faithful but truly unbearable subsequence , Pocahontas II : Journey to a New World .
The originalPocahontasmay have been riddle with historical inaccuracies , especially in the bod of the sweeping ill - doom Latinian language between Pocahontas and John Smith . But its storylines were profoundly emotional and beautifully portrayed . By contrast , the characters inPocahontas IIfeel deeply flat , devoid of the vibrance that made the original film so truly mesmerizing - and the more historically faithful romance between Pocahontas and John Rolfe just truly never equate .
Best: Aladdin and the King of Thieves
The Return of Jafarwas a great subsequence to the hit filmAladdin , but the third picture show in theAladdintrilogy , Aladdin and the King of Thieves , takes the dealership to new emotionally sophisticated heights . free in 1996 , the photographic film also feature the of import return of Robin Williams as Genie , following his absence seizure from the old subsequence film . Aladdin and the King of Thievesintroduces an important part of Aladdin ’s backstory in the form of his absentee forefather , Cassim .
A womb-to-tomb stealer and outlaw , Cassim has worked his way up to the condition of King of Thieves , and thus present a material conflict for Aladdin to deal with , as his own royal hymeneals is approaching and his Church Father is a wanted man . Cassim learns to prioritise family over money , and Aladdin is finally capable to reconcile his bare past with his approaching futurity .
Avoid: Mulan II
The 1998 animate filmMulanis perhaps one of the closest to completely perfect films that Disney has ever made . From its firm cast of characters , to its stunning visuals , to its rousing soundtrack , it ’s all but impossible to bump any faults or flaws in the film . alas , Mulan IImight just be one of the worst motion picture Disney has ever made , in terms of misleading animation , useless newfangled characters , and the full destruction of characters who had been in the original film .
Perhaps the worst part of the film overall is its handling of Mushu . Once a fast and beloved companion , Mushu is portrayed as entirely selfish , becoming a quasi opponent as he works to prevent Mulan and Shang from getting espouse out of the fear that Mulan will no longer need his ancestral guidance . Much of the cinema is dependent upon the work-shy normal of failures to intercommunicate , making it more than difficult to get through .
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