Top 10 Underrated Disney Animated Movie Sequels
#10: “Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas” (1997)
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The original “Beauty and the Beast” is a Disney masterpiece – so it’s no surprise that its sequel had some pretty big shoes to fill. At the time, “Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas” didn’t quite feel up to snuff in most critics’ opinions. But in retrospect, this enchanted Christmas adventure is a pretty good watch, filled with lovely songs and a new, genuinely terrifying villain. Forte – a court composer who has been cursed into a pipe organ – is sure to give children nightmares and has one of the better villain songs in the entire Disney canon – whether it be a sequel or an original.
#9: “Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch” (2005)
Who would have thought that a movie about a little blue alien would create a franchise? Well, “Lilo & Stitch” did. The 2002 animated movie was a huge hit, endearing kids and parents alike with its off-kilter humor and tender heart. When this sequel came out in 2005, audiences were understandably a little let down – how do you measure up to perfection? But revisiting “Lilo & Stitch 2,” it’s definitely got more to offer than you might remember. Stitch’s titular glitch is a pretty great source of tension for the plot, and only serves to strengthen his relationship with Lilo.
#8: “Return to Never Land” (2002)
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Sometimes, a place is so great you can’t wait to get back – and Never Land is definitely one of those places. “Return to Never Land '' came out nearly 50 years after the original “Peter Pan,” and it turns out, time might be the magic ingredient to making a great sequel. This film centers around Jane, Wendy Darling’s daughter, and her adventures with Peter and the Lost Boys in Neverland. The story has a lot of high points – it interrogates the hardships of growing up, much like the original – but it also offers an empathetic look at the mother/daughter relationship between Wendy and Jane – bringing something new to a classic.
#7: “Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure” (2001)
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Speaking of mothers and daughters, how about fathers and sons? “Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure” takes place after Lady and Tramp have found their happy ending and settled down with Jim Dear and Darling. The pair have four pups – three sweet daughters, and one troublemaking son, Scamp. Driven by his need for independence – and of course, his crush on a girl – Scamp runs off to join the Junkyard dogs, learning a lot about himself and his father’s past in the process. This movie is a blast, featuring an interesting story, wonderful songs, and even a couple of famous voice cast members, like Alyssa Milano. And after all, who doesn’t love dogs?
#6: “101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure” (2003)
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For this sequel, Disney thought: what if we made “Home Alone,” but with dogs? In “101 Dalmatians II,” the Radcliffes take their canine army and move to the countryside. But they forget one tiny little detail – Patch. During the move, Patch ends up getting lost in the fray. But instead of trying to find his family, Patch decides to take on the big city and audition for his favorite TV show. Of course, Patch’s adventure takes a turn, and he spends the rest of the movie learning about the value of family and individuality. The story isn’t that unique, but it’s well-executed, and who wouldn’t want to hang out with a bunch of dalmatians for an hour or two?
#5: “Aladdin and the King of Thieves” (1996)
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If we had three wishes, we might wish for … no, not a sequel – but how about a threequel? “Aladdin and the King of Thieves” is the third installment in the “Aladdin” franchise – and in our opinion, the better sequel. The second film – “The Return of Jafar” – has a few high points, but the lack of a certain voice actor (ahem, Robin Williams) is pretty glaring. Luckily, Williams came back for the third film, and his presence – combined with some great songs and a stellar father/son storyline – makes for a pretty great film.
#4: “Cinderella III: A Twist in Time” (2007)
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“Cinderella” is the quintessential classic Disney film – but it also has a pretty good track record with sequels. “Cinderella II: Dreams Come True” might be a bit better than some folks remember, but there’s no denying that “Cinderella III: A Twist in Time” is the better entry. In the third installment in the franchise, Cinderella’s evil stepmother finds a way to turn back time and make it so her daughter, Anastasia, marries the prince instead of Cinderella. The film actually has pretty interesting things to say about fate and love, making it a worthy entry in the Disney sequel canon.
#3: “The Lion King 1 ½” (2004)
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It’s no surprise that “The Lion King” is one of the better key trilogies in Disney history. The first one is obviously a masterpiece, and the second film, “The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride”[xref] is a wonderful follow-up. But it’s the franchise’s third entry where things start to get a little crazy. “The Lion King ½” serves as the origin story for Timon and Pumba’s friendship, showing us how the unlikely duo got to be so close. But not only does the movie dive into the importance of friendship and acceptance, but also has a lot to say about family and how hard it can feel to be the odd one out. Sure, it’s funny – but the emotion is what keeps us coming back.
#2: “Monsters University” (2013)
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Speaking of unlikely duos – after Timon and Pumba came Mike and Sulley. In the original “Monsters Inc.,” we met Mike and Sulley after they had already become the best of friends. But in the prequel, “Monsters University,” we get to see the actual formation of their friendship – and things weren’t always so hunky dory. In the movie, we learn that this loyal duo started out as bitter rivals. Knowing that their friendship was so hard won makes watching the relationship in the first movie all the better. This is also the rare animated sequel that makes us appreciate the first one more, but for all the right reasons. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea” (2000) Like the First One, but Backwards “Bambi II” (2006) The Prince of the Forest Is Back & Better Than Ever “An Extremely Goofy Movie” (2000) This One’s Cheddar, Man “Hercules: Zero to Hero” (1999) Every God Needs an Education “Tangled: Before Ever After” (2017) Sometimes Ever After Takes a Bit of Time
#1: “Toy Story 2” (1999)
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And now, we’ve arrived at the cream of the crop. When “Toy Story” graced our screens in 1995, it was a massive hit. There was no way a sequel could be anywhere near as beloved, right? Wrong! When “Toy Story 2” hit theaters, it received just as much critical acclaim as the first movie – even earning a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. This sequel does what all good sequels do – takes what works about the first film – things like budding friendship, growing up, and family – and just continues to build on a solid foundation. We couldn’t love it more.
