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For almost as long as Disney has been making beloved animated movies that have warmed the childhoods of generations of viewers, they have been making sequels to those beloved animated movies that, for the most part, go straight-to-DVD and are consequently made with vastly smaller budgets.
Many of these sequels are notorious among Disney fans for their poor quality and are seen as little more than an attempt to cash in on the success. Many of these cash grabs have extremely poor reviews. Nonetheless, there are some that have greater merit than may appear, and are better than their reputation would suggest.
10 The Lion King 2 Is A Satisfactory Story That Is Overshadowed By Greatness
The Lion King is one of the most iconic Disney films ever and is widely considered to be one of the most popular films of all time. It was predictable that it would get a sequel. Unlike many Disney films, however, this sequel, The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride, is considered by some to be a watchable movie in its own right.
It is compared unfavorably with The Lion King, but so are a lot of films. Simba’s Pride has received praise for its story and its new characters, while reviewers acknowledge that its animation and music pale in comparison to its predecessor, but the movie itself still tells a good story that will entertain the family.
9 The Little Mermaid II Is Fun, If Derivative
A common format for Disney sequels is for them to focus on the children of the protagonists of the first movie, often ending up in eerily similar situations to those faced by their parents. In The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, Ariel has a daughter named Melody, who lives on the land and dreams of getting to explore the ocean.
The film was savaged on release for being little more than a flipped version of The Little Mermaid‘s premise, up to having the same voice actor for the villain. Over time, however, it has become appreciated for its still decent quality, and for introducing the character of Melody, who many fans enjoy.
8 Aladdin And The King Of Thieves Holds Its Own
Some Disney films receive a wider universe after their release. Aladdin is one, receiving two sequel films and a TV series. None of these are considered close to being as good as the original, but neither are any considered as poor as the direct sequel, The Return of Jaffar.
Instead, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, the third film and the grand finale of the television series is well-liked by fans. It adapts another tale from the 1001 Arabian Nights, that of Ali Baba. Despite criticism for its worse music and worse animation, it was considered to be of a typical non-Disney standard for an animated affair;- enjoyable, if not enduringly so.
7 The Great Prince Of The Forest Fills The Blanks In Bambi’s Life
Bambi is considered to be the gold standard for emotionally-affecting children’s movies that retain poignance and resonance for older audiences. Nobody would consider Bambi and The Great Prince of the Forest to be as good, but it is often enjoyed by fans of its first film.
Taking place between the death of Bambi’s mother and Bambi’s maturing into a buck when he is raised by his father, the touching on themes of grief and parental inadequacy, it manages some touching moments of its own, without feeling like a cash-in or a rehash of Bambi.
6 Stitch Gets A Glitch Can Earn A Few Laughs
No Disney film has more sequels than Lilo & Stitch, with a clear attempt to cash in on the first film’s heartwarming message, intriguing universe, and humor that can appeal to multiple generations. Many of these are considered poor, with one exception.
Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Gets A Glitch follows after the happy ending of the first film but focuses on Stitch worrying about turning evil once more and causing wanton destruction. Boasting a few moments of genuine humor and genuine emotion, it is considered worth a watch once.
5 The Enchanted Christmas Isn’t Wholly Enchanting, But It’s Okay
In a strange format, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas uses the time after the original film as its framing device, but mostly sheds light on events that happened during the first film, in particular, revolving around the Christmas that happened whilst Belle was a prisoner of the Beast.
It is a film that largely relies on your love for the original to work, but with that in place, it does deliver some genuinely emotional moments and has a plot that is at least somewhat engaging. Although not nearly as great as the original, it is far from a bad watch.
4 Tangled: Before Ever After More Than Satisfies
Tangled was considered an unexpected smash hit for Disney after something of a downturn, with its version of the Rapunzel tale instantly warming the hearts of many, and being very funny for all ages to boot.
RELATED: 10 Standalone Films That Would Have Gotten Sequels If They Came Out Today
In the continued vein of surprises, many found Tangled: Before Ever After to be a solid watch. It is somewhat hampered by being a feature-length episode of a television series, rather than a standalone film, but many still found it solidly amusing, enjoyable, and it received praise for a shift to a two-dimensional art style that handled a lower budget better.
3 The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning Has Its Own Merits
Prequels to films aren’t quite as ubiquitous amongst the Disney straight-to-DVD catalogue as direct sequels, but there are still plenty of them to go around. One of the best is The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning.
Making use of an entirely new story rather than anything that relates to the original, it deals with Triton’s grief over the death of his wife, Athena, and resulting harsh policies he puts in place. Although it doesn’t hit the emotional mark it seeks, its voice acting and musical sequences received praise, as did showing more of Ariel’s story.
2 The Lion King 1 1/2 Has Its Own Brand Of Wit
The Lion King earned itself a second sequel, and one that many consider to be a solid film in its own right. Told during the events of the original movie, The Lion King 1 1/2 instead flips its perspective to focus on Timone and Pumba, telling the story from their point of view.
The film received unexpectedly positive reviews from critics, with many considering it to be a good addition to the Disney canon in its own right. In particular, its humor was praised, as was its fairly seamless fit with the original The Lion King.
1 Patch’s London Adventure Etches Out Its Own Identity
It is rare for a Disney sequel to make itself something of its own, and not just something beholden to its original. It is even rarer for a Disney sequel to do this when it uses the exact same villain of the first film, with the exact same plan and end goal. And yet, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure manages to do just that.
Shifting to Patch, one of the 101 titular dalmatians, the film focuses on his attempts to prove himself worthy of replacing his hero in a television show when he struggles with feeling unique in such a large family. Although it features a return of Cruella and her vile coat plans, the film lives and dies on Patch’s emotional turmoil, and won itself several awards.
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