The Emperor's New Groove (franchise)
A llama? He's supposed to be dead!
The Emperor's New Groove franchise is a comedic animated series of films produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, beginning with the 2000 theatrical release of *The Emperor's New Groove*. Known for its irreverent humor, slapstick style, and fourth-wall-breaking narration, the franchise follows the misadventures of the self-centered Incan Emperor Kuzco, who is transformed into a llama by his former advisor Yzma. The series includes direct-to-video sequels and a television spin-off, maintaining a cult following for its witty dialogue and distinctive animation.
- first_release
- 2000 (The Emperor's New Groove)
- total_films
- 3
- main_protagonist
- Emperor Kuzco
- primary_antagonist
- Yzma
- voice_cast_highlights
- David Spade (Kuzco), Eartha Kitt (Yzma), John Goodman (Pacha)
- box_office_gross
- $169 million (first film worldwide)
- franchise_status
- Completed (no further films announced)
Lore & Background
The franchise originated from a dramatically different concept titled *Kingdom of the Sun*, which was planned as a more traditional musical epic set in pre-Columbian Peru. After creative struggles and budget constraints, the project was radically reworked into a lighthearted comedy, with only a few elements—such as the llama transformation—carried over. The final film was released in 2000 to modest box office but strong home video sales, leading to two direct-to-video sequels: *Kronk's New Groove* (2005) and *The Emperor's New Groove: The Great Jungle Game* (2006). A television series, *The Emperor's New School*, aired from 2006 to 2008, expanding on Kuzco's attempts to earn his graduation from a magical academy.
Reader's Guide
The Emperor's New Groove franchise is significant for its unusual production history, evolving from a planned epic musical (Kingdom of the Sun) into a comedic buddy film. The documentary The Sweatbox captures the creative-executive conflicts during this transformation. The franchise expanded with a direct-to-video sequel, a television series, video games, and appearances in other Disney media such as House of Mouse and Once Upon a Studio (2023). Its legacy includes a soundtrack with an Academy Award-nominated song, 'My Funny Friend and Me' by Sting, and a deleted villain song, 'Snuff out the Light,' from the original Kingdom of the Sun concept. The franchise's characters have also appeared in the video game Disney Magic Kingdoms, with new storylines that continue the film's narrative while ignoring other franchise material.
Did You Know?
- Eartha Kitt, who voiced Yzma, originally auditioned for the role of the villainess in *The Lion King* before being cast here.
- The character of Kronk was originally written as a minor role, but Patrick Warburton's improvisation expanded his screen time significantly.
- The film's budget was slashed from an initial $100 million to roughly $35 million during production, forcing the shift from a musical to a comedy.
- David Spade ad-libbed many of Kuzco's lines, including the iconic 'Boom, baby!' catchphrase.
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