The direct-to-DVD sequels ofDisneydon’t exactly have the best reputation, but there are some real hidden gems hidden among the iconic animation studio’s catalog of straight-to-video films. The best movies ofDisney’s golden agehave paid dividends for the company in terms of marketable IP, but few of them were given sequels worthy of their individual franchise’s names. That being said,a few of Disney’s lesser-known follow-up films have managed to be soliddespite their faults, or even great on occasion.
Admittedly, Disney did not allot much budget to their direct-to-DVD sequels, often leaving them with weaker voice casts, animation, and writing compared to their famous older siblings. That being said, unlikeDisney’s live-action remakes, the seldom-seensequels were often able to go in more dramatic, interesting directions compared to the theatrical releases. While many of these stories were misses, a select number of them stand out as clever continuations of the classic stories.
The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride
Cast
The Lion King 2, also known as The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride, is a direct-to-video release unveiled in 1998 that acted as a direct sequel to the original Disney feature film. This title sees Simba and Nala’s daughter Kiara rebelling against her father’s overprotective nature and branching out where she meets another cub from a far away place.
The Lion Kingis one of Disney’s most ferociously celebrated classics from its legendary run of animated films in the 90s, so it makes sense that the sequels were a few of the rare successes among the direct-to-DVD stock. Whereas the original adapted William Shakespeare’sHamletfor the animal kingdom,the second installment instead pivots toRomeo and Juliet.Here, Simba’s daughter, Kiara, falls in love with Kovu, a formerly banished lion once loyal to the traitorous Scar.
Whereas the original adapted William Shakespeare’sHamletfor the animal kingdom, the second installment instead pivots toRomeo and Juliet.
Like any straight-to-video sequel, the animation ofThe Lion King II: Simba’s Prideisn’t quite on the same level as the first movie, but very nearly keeps up despite its leaner budget.The original cast all return, a rarity for sequels of this standard, and the addition of the scheming Zira makes for a great villainess worthy of replacing the unforgettable Scar. It helps that Zira’s signature song,My Lullaby,can stand toe-to-toe with thebest Disney villain songsfrom the mainline films.
The Lion King 1 1/2
Timon and Pumba reveal the main story of their lives, how they met in the past and also how they later came to know Simba and become friends with him.
Many Disney video sequels could be classified as “midquels”, taking place in between the beginning and ending of their original films rather than directly afterward.The Lion King 1 1/2does the concept one better by being at once a midquel and a prequel toThe Lion King,as seen from Timon and Pumbaa’s perspective. Keeping with the Shakespeare theme of the franchise, this film takes inspiration fromRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a modern play that re-tellsHamletfrom the perspective of two minor characters.
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Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella return once more to lend their voices to the lovable meerkat and warthog duo, finally getting their deserved time to shine in a dedicated movie. The animation ofThe Lion King 1 1/2is shockingly close to being on par with that of the original, with a few genuinely enchanting shots.The fourth-wall-breaking frame story reminiscent ofMystery Science Theater 3000is also a nice touch of originality, withThe Emperor’s New Groovebeing the only other Disney movie to employ a similar device.
In many cases, Disney took advantage of their direct-to-video sequels to act as a springboard for spin-off series similarly to howStar Wars: The Clone Warskicked off the 3-DClone Warsanimated series. Sadly, these extended pilot features didn’t always manifest into a working TV show, as was the case forAtlantis: Milo’s Return.Still, the follow-up to one ofDisney’s most underrated moviesworks as a short but sweet mini-anthology film.
The movie has Milo and Kida re-uniting with the gang of mercenaries from the first film to go on three distinct adventures.Each vignette is based in legends similar to that of Atlantiswhile still presenting more supernatural forces for the crew to encounter, taking inspiration from Native American folklore, Norse mythology, and even the works of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft.
The animation might not hold a candle to that ofAtlantis: The Lost Empire,but still provides enough thrills to keepAtlantis: Milo’s Returnto be worth a watch for fans of the first film. The eclectic personalities of the mercenary gang get even more moments to shine, although not all of them return for each short story.
Mulan II
Mulan II is a direct-to-video sequel to Disney’s 1998 film Mulan. Directed by Darrell Rooney and Lynne Southerland, it follows Mulan and her fiancé General Shang as they embark on a mission to escort the Emperor’s daughters to a distant province. The film explores themes of duty, love, and the balance between personal desires and societal obligations. Starring Ming-Na Wen and BD Wong, it continues the tale of the beloved heroine.
One of Disney’s best-made princess movies, despite not technically featuring a princess at all,Mulanhas stood the test of time as a venerated classic. Even if its sequel falls short in some regards,some of the same mastery on display from the first film does manage to sneak its way through.
The film picks up the story of the ongoing Hun invasion, with Mulan and Shang on the precipice of marrying. When Wushu realizes that he’ll lose his lofty title as family guardian upon Mulan taking Shang’s name, he panicks, sabotaging their relationship. Admittedly,Mulan IIis a deeply flawed film, with Wushu’s sudden turn as the antagonist assassinating his character arc from the previous film.
However, the true gold of the film comes from Mulan and Shang’s mission to escort the emperor’s daughters to their arranged marriages, only for each of them to fall in love with the comedic trio of soldiers from the first film. As bad as the A plot is, the adorable three romances presented inMulan II,not to mention the sharp-as-ever comedy, still keep it above average quality compared to other Disney sequels.
Pulling double duty,An Extremely Goofy Movieserves at once as both the sequel toA Goofy Movieand the series finale tothe beloved animated show,Goof Troop.Despite this dual responsibility,the film still astonishingly manages to work as a stand-alone film, easily presenting one of the best direct-to-video Disney sequels that nearly outclasses its predecessor.
The story this time focuses more on Goofy, as he follows his son to college after getting fired in order to improve his career.An Extremely Goofy Movieimproves upon Max’s story by allowing him to grow in college, while giving Goofy himself more of an arc to complete this time around.
Phenomenal character additions like Goofy’s love interest Sylvia, the beatnik poetry girl, and Max’s hilarious rival, Bradley Uppercrust III, keep things fresh in the new college setting.An Extremely Goofy Moviealso works as an adorable time capsule of the early 2000s, with slang, fashion, and a love for extreme sports only that particular era could come up with.
Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch
Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch follows the continued adventures of Lilo and her extraterrestrial friend Stitch. Directed by Michael LaBash and Tony Leondis, the film explores the technical malfunction that threatens Stitch’s existence while Lilo prepares for a hula contest. Voiced by original cast members, the movie delves into themes of friendship, family, and overcoming obstacles.
Despite its title,Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitchisn’t actually the first sequel to the originalLilo & Stitch, taking place after the original but before the series pilot filmStitch! The Movie.As the title might imply,the film centers on Stitch’s sudden “glitches” that occur as a result of his genetic manufacturing by Jumba, causing him to terrorize his family in bursts of uncontrollable rage.
This destructive behavior soon threatens Lilo’s hula competition, a very important event for the young Hawaiian girl. The conflict inLilo & Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitchcan get quite heartbreaking, echoing some of the same intense emotions as the first film.
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The groundedelements of Hawaiian culture are respectfully portrayedin the climactic hula competition, whereas the fictional alien world is built upon further in increasingly creative ways. A specific standout is the continued antagonization of Lilo’s classmate Mertle, who is always enjoyably petty and fun to watch get her comeuppance.
Aladdin and the King of Thieves
Aladdin and the King of Thieves is the third installment in Disney’s Aladdin series. Released in 1996, the film follows Aladdin as he discovers his long-lost father, Cassim, the King of Thieves. Along with Jasmine, the Genie, and his friends, Aladdin embarks on an adventure to stop a dangerous plot and uncover a legendary treasure. The film features voice performances by Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, and John Rhys-Davies.
While the previous film in theAladdinseries,The Return of Jafar,might be more famous for being the first ever direct-to-DVD Disney sequel, it’s hopelessly outclassed byAladdin and the King of Thieves.Wedged within the canon ofAladdin: The Series(which isn’t required viewing to enjoy),Aladdin and the King of Thievesincorporates elements from other classic Arabic folk tales from the famous repository of such,One Thousand and One Nights.
When Aladdin meets his estranged father, Cassim, the two embark on a journey for the legendary artifact, the Midas Touch.Aladdin and the King of Thievesisnotable for being the onlyAladdinspin-off to feature an all-new soundtrack rather than just recycle the hit songs of the original.
It’s also famed for being the only time outside the first film that Robin Williams returned as the voice of the Genie, who was previously handled byDan Castellaneta of Homer Simpson fame. They dynamic between Aladdin and his deadbeat dad is also a unique relationship not commonly seen in Disney movies, ending with a heartwarming realization.
Not to be confused with the bizarre live-action follow-up102 Dalmatians, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventureis a surprisingly great action adventure romp. This time around, the focus is on a single of the puppies, Patch, something of an outcast among the horde of spotted dogs. After being forgotten behind when the Radcliffes move,Patch leaves his home to help his hero, a dog that plays a superhero on TV called Thunderbolt, with a publicity campaign.
Meanwhile, Cruella de Vil resumes her hunt for the puppies with the aid of a French beatnik artist. If the plot of101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventuresounds familiar, it’s because it bearsan uncanny similarity to another Disney film, 2008’sBolt,with the titular super-dog even having a similar name to Patch’s idol.
Weirdly, the101 Dalmationssequel does this premise way better, getting far more mileage out of the idea of a superhero dog actor while enjoying better writing and beautiful 2D animation. Cruella is also as entertainingly evil as ever, terrifying her new creative partner the second she reveals the true depths of her obsession with the dogs.
It’s not often that Disney makes a sequel that’s arguably better than its predecessor, let alone among the hordes of straight-to-DVD filler released in the early-to-mid 2000s. YetCinderella III: A Twist in Timejust might outdo the original Disney classic narratively, if not artistically.
Set a year after the events of the first film,Cinderella III: A Twist in Timerevolves around the fallout of a magical time-rewinding spell cast by her wicked stepmother, Lady Tremaine, revising events so that her step-sister Anastasia is the one to fit her shoe into the glass slipper.Cinderella III: A Twist in Timeis almost better than the firstCinderellafor a variety of reasons.
Cinderella III: A Twist in Timehas a Rotten Tomatoes critics' score of 75%.
For one, Cinderella has far more agency in this story, having to actually take matters into her own hands with her fairy godmother’s powers being stolen away. Cinderella, her stepsister, and especially the Prince are all also given far better personalities here than in either of the previous twoCinderellafilms, making for a strange but clever experience that feels more rich in character than Disney’s earliest princess outings.
Considering Tinkerbell is the one to appear in Disney’s classic intro, the importance ofPeter Pancan’t be understated to the franchise. Luckily, Disney’s take on the classic stage play gets its just deserts with the sequel,Return to Neverland,one of the better straight-to-video affairs.
ThoughReturn to Neverlandis quite similar to the film that came before it, in many ways it works as a more focused, stripped down version of the original story.
Many years after the first film, a now grown-up Wendy struggles to get by in World War II England, only for her daughter Jane to be captured and brought back to Neverland by Captain Hook’s pirate crew. ThoughReturn to Neverlandisquite similar to the film that came before it, in many ways it works as a more focused, stripped down version of the original story.
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Without the racist Native American stereotypes or bloated cast ofPeter Pan,Jane and Peter’s relationship gets plenty of room to grow, with the lovable Tinkerbell being just as petty as ever in the background. Even if it’s not the most original thing in the world, fewDisneysequels are, andReturn to Neverlandhas plenty of high-flying action and wonderful songs to offer.
