Animated sequels rarely live up to the standards of the original, especially since many animated classics are left as standalone movies. It’s only in the 21st century that animated sequels have become more popular. Before this shift, animated movies were either left untouched or given direct-to-video sequels with little fanfare, as was the case with many Disney classics. The landscape of animated movies is much different now.
The 21st century has seen the rise of long-running animated franchises such asShrek, Toy StoryandKung Fu Panda.Still, sequels can be tricky business, with studios struggling to come up with storylines as vibrant as those in the original movies. However, there are some exceptions where a sequel can strike upon a brilliant idea. In these cases, some sequels can even improve upon the animated classics which inspired them.
Why Walt Disney Didn’t Make Sequels To His Animated Movies
None of the animated movies Walt Disney was involved in got sequels during his lifetime, and he had strong reasons to not want sequels.
Pixar has been leading the way with animated sequels for years,and they continued this streak in 2024.Inside Out 2shattered box office recordsnine years after the first movie came out, becoming the highest-grossing animated movie of all time.Inside Out 2crams a few new emotions into Riley’s crowded mind, and there are some other creative quirks, like the Sense of Self, which controls Riley as she goes through puberty.
The firstInside Outis a coming-of-age story viewed from an unorthodox angle, and the sequel builds upon this idea as Riley becomes more emotionally complex.
The firstInside Outis a coming-of-age story viewed from an unorthodox angle, and the sequel builds upon this idea as Riley becomes more emotionally complex. The new characters create some interesting problems inside Riley’s mind, as everything gets a little more chaotic and harder to control.Inside Out 2doesn’t let its philosophy overshadow its humor too much, however.
Pixar’s record with sequelsisn’t without a few blemishes.Cars 2could be the studio’s worst movie of all, and others such asMonsters UniversityandFinding Dorydidn’t quite live up to the high standards of the originals.Incredibles 2also seemed like a disappointment at the time, but time has been kind to the superhero sequel. It isn’t exactly what some people were expecting.
Time has been kind to the superhero sequel.
One of the common criticisms levied atIncredibles 2is that the villain, Screenslaver, has a slightly muddled philosophy. While Syndrome was a tough act to follow, Screenslaver is a little underrated, and an interesting twist villain. Aside from some more explosive action and great gags,Incredibles 2is also noteworthy for being gorgeously stylish, with a retrofuturist swagger that seems ripped from the pages of old superhero comics.
Frozenwas one of the movies that pushed Disney forward into a new era of animation, so a sequel was always going to be a difficult project.While Frozen 2is generally considered the inferior of the two, it’s still a worthy successor. The story follows the characters as they seek to uncover the source of Elsa’s powers, making it a sort of origin story. There’s plenty more magic and mythology to keep things interesting.
Frozen 2is even more visually ambitious than the first.
One of the challenges thatFrozen 2faced was creating a soundtrack as iconic as that of the first movie.The showstopper this time round is “Into the Unknown,“and Idina Menzel delivers another astounding vocal performance. In keeping with this song’s title,Frozen 2is even more visually ambitious than the first, with new creatures, new landscapes and some clever directorial choices which invite the audience deeper into Arendelle and its surrounding regions.Frozen 3is currently in the works.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wishtook over a decade to produce after repeated setbacks, but its time spent in development hell turned out to be well worth it.The Last Wishsurpasses the originalPuss in Bootsby a mile. It can be enjoyed without watching the original, since it’s so inventive and self-assured.The Last Wishtakes inspiration from Westerns, particularlyThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly,as Puss sets out on a journey to restore his nine lives.
The Last Wishsurpasses the originalPuss in Bootsby a mile.
Like all the other movies in theShrekfranchise,The Last Wishputs a spin on some beloved fairy tale characters, including Goldilocks and the three bears. The story and the humor are both joyous, but what really makesThe Last Wishstand out is the way thatits unorthodox animation style makes the action scenes pop.Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’s endingsets upShrek 5,and this sequel will have a lot of potential if it borrows from the same playbook.
Kung Fu Pandashows Po’s journey from regular schmo to Dragon Warrior. It’s a great standalone movie, but theKung Fu Pandafranchiseessentially hinged on the quality of the first sequel. Fortunately, Po turned out to be just as funny in his new role, alongside Master Shifu and the rest of the Furious Five.Kung Fu Panda 2digs deeper into Po’s backstory, and it gets fairly dark at times.
Kung Fu Panda 2digs deeper into Po’s backstory, and it gets fairly dark at times.
Replacing Tai Lung as the main villain is Lord Shen, a genocidal white peacock voiced by veteran bad guy actor Gary Oldman. Shen’s army of wolves presents a different kind of challenge to Po, and it gives the sequel a new dynamic.Shen is a great villain.He has a balletic fighting style, and a beautiful character design. There are a few fights without Shen that also leap off of the screen.
Pixar’s first sequel proved thatToy Storywas no fluke. With another movie that explored Buzz and Woody’s relationship with humor and heart,Toy Story 2gave rise to one of the most successful animated movie franchises of all time. The story splits the duo up for a long time, as Woody is stolen by a greedy toy collector who wants to sell him as part of a complete set to a museum in Japan.
Toy Story 2features one of Pixar’s best villains.
Toy Story 2features one ofPixar’s best villains, as Kelsey Grammar’s Stinky Pete shifts from a lovable elder to a violent, manipulative antagonist. Elsewhere, Buzz has a hilarious storyline with another Buzz Lightyear toy, which plays on his deep insecurities. Overall,Toy Story 2is on par with the original movie, and it showed that there was a future for its beloved characters.
Shrek 2remains thebestShreksequel, and it may even eclipse the original. With Shrek slightly less misanthropic than he was before he met Donkey and Fiona,Shrek 2sends him to the kingdom of Far Far Away to meet Fiona’s parents. There are plenty of great jokes as Shrek struggles to mind his manners in polite society, but the story is kicked up another notch with the introductions of Prince Charming and the Fairy Godmother.
Shrek 2remains the bestShreksequel, and it may even eclipse the original.
Replacing Lord Farquaad, Prince Charming and the Fairy Godmother are the perfect villains forShrek 2.They provide a hilarious mixture of preening, entitled ego and volatile, savvy danger, making them worth hating and fearing in equal measure.Shrek 2also benefits from the introduction of Puss in Boots, and the spectacular final showdown, with a 50-foot tall Gingerbread Man storming the castle to Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero”.
How to Train Your Dragon2doubles down on everything that made the first movie so popular, but it also represents a leap forward in terms of ambition. The breathtaking aerial fight scenes and the sweeping landscapes are both rendered beautifully. Legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins, who has been nominated for 16 Academy Awards, served as visual consultant, and it shows.
How to Train Your Dragon2doubles down on everything that made the first movie so popular.
How to Train Your Dragon 2is set five years after the events of the orignal. This allows it to tell a slightly different story. While the first movie offers a heartwarming coming-of-age tale, Hiccup is more mature and ready to take on more responsibility in the sequel.How to Train Your Dragon 2doesn’t play it safe,but its blend of family drama and epic action makes for a winning combination.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verseshook up the landscape of animated movies when it came out in 2018. After many years of homogenized big-budget animation, with Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, Illumination and more studios producing movies which generally look the same, the Spider-Verse movies have led a new wave of animation that dares to be different.Across the Spider-Verseis the movie which shows that the creators still have plenty of tricks up their sleeves.
Across the Spider-Verse,like the first movie, is a creative patchwork of different visual influences.
Across the Spider-Verse,like the first movie, is a creative patchwork of different visual influences, referencing the different characters and universes. Overall, the film’s punchy editing and comic book visuals give it a unique appeal. This enhances the comedic beats, but it works best in the sci-fi fight scenes.Across the Spider-Verse’s excruciating cliffhanger ending sets upBeyond the Spider-Verse,which seems set for a 2026 release.
Beyond obviously being Pixar’s best sequel,Toy Storyis one of Pixar’s best movies overall.The third movie in theToy Storyfranchise seemed like it would provide a finale for the characters at the time, beforeToy Story 4andToy Story 5became real possibilities.Toy Story 3shows Andy growing up and moving on, and his toys face the prospect of a life without him. They endure a hellish daycare center under the thumb of a villainous teddy bear.
Toy Story 3has just as much humor as the franchise’s previous two entries, but it’s even more emotionally resonant.
Toy Story 3has just as much humor as the franchise’s previous two entries, but it’s even more emotionally resonant.Toy Story 3came out 15 years after the first movie, so it provided a way for its audience to say farewell to some of the characters they grew up with. Andy transitions into adulthood and accepts a bittersweet ending, while the toys are left with some sorrow but plenty of hope for a happy future.
