D52–The Emperor’s New Groove

Releasing at the end of 2000, The Emperor’s New Groove was a large stylistic departure for Disney. Originally developed as a more straightforward and serious take on Incan history titled Kingdom of the Sun, the existing work was scrapped late in the production schedule and transformed into the film which was eventually released to the public. It takes the bombastic humour of Aladdin and Hercules and makes it even more outrageous, and it is the first Disney animated film to break the fourth wall.

Despite it’s vastly shortened production schedule, nearly everything about this film just works. The jokes come at a breakneck pace and are consistently funny. The performances of the voice cast are perfectly suited to the material. Visually, it manages to be highly stylized, lush and detailed all at once. The direction keeps the plot moving at just the right pace. Though the story is sparse and ridiculous, the audience never feels cheated because the world is so fully realized and filled with immensely likable characters.

From the first time I watched it, I thoroughly enjoyed The Emperor’s New Groove. Twelve years later, it hasn’t lost any of its charm, mainly due to the fact that it is so different not only from other Disney films but also from mainstream animation in general. Young viewers will love the bright visuals and the various sight gags and physical humour, while adults will get a lot out of the smart dialogue and performance driven humour. It remains one of the better known late catalogue Disney films, and deservedly so.

Original thearical trailer

Up next: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)