Here I come defending Cinderella II. As a child, I really enjoyed getting to see the "daily lives" of Cinderella and the other characters. I loved how it was a story about daily, mundane things, it made me feel like I actually entered the world of Cinderella. And seeing her struggle and overcome her insecurities? Amazing
Yes! I felt the same way as a kid. The main reason why I preferred watching this one over the original is so I wouldn't have to watch that brutal scene where the stepsisters ripped apart her dress. It didn't make me cry (at least not that I can recall), but it made me very upset. So yeah, Cinderella II was my comfort zone. It really marked the early 2000s for me. I still watched the original movie, though, just not as much as the first sequel. But really, the biggest disappointment about that anthology sequel is that they still chose not to characterise the Prince. They gave us three stories and yet he was completely wasted - again! I would argue his character got downgraded in this one, cuz at least in the original he yawned, throwing shade at his dad, lol; he initially didn't want to be there a the Ball. Oh well, at least we have Cinderella III XD.
I definitely have a bit of a soft spot for Cinderella II, even if I think III is FAR superior. I don’t really like the anthology format in the sequels, but this is definitely the best instance of it. The first story was always my favourite and I love the message. The second story on the other hand was my least favourite, but I found it entertaining enough as a child. Then again, I haven’t seen this movie in years, so I’m not sure if it still holds up now that I’m 18. The third story was also really solid, even if I preference the first story over it.
@@MikaMoonlight no exactly like the character development, the plot, the timing, like it was so unironically good, like the way they actually made me like prince charming is so good on their part.
I had no idea mulan 2 was hated so much As a child i was obsessed with it I really liked the new romances in the movie and the guys going from “i want a girl who can cook or someone who adores”to realistic standards for love interest I also loved the dynamic with the sisters and their song
the songs are totally solid and the princesses are the best parts of the film. my frustration was always with mushu! he just schemed Too. Hard. for my childhood self to understand.
Right? The movie's entire premise is 'this is why it's important to make sure children can still have a childhood when living through the horrors of traumatic events like war'. Like...kids get a little uptight in those situations.
I 100% agree. The war made it so that kids couldn’t be kids anymore. They had to learn how to survive, and witnessed the truest horrors of war firsthand.
Right like in the very beginning, like literally seconds in, the narrator literally said "It's hard to be a child in these times". Nothing against the video, but the entire point of the movie seems to have flew right over her head (pun unintended)
Ariel’s new look from The little Mermaid Two should be talked about more. Purple is a seldom used color on Disney protagonists and it looks so good on her! I also matches her character development as a mother.
@@vetarlittorf1807 Purple is the color of royalty. Ariel's dress in the original film is pink, but that color is now assigned Melody as it's more youthful. Ariel is Queen now. She is more serious and more dignified. The change makes sense. It's not so much saying she's older, but rather saying that she has totally embraced her role as queen.
@@ArmednotTriggered Royal color depends on the culture though. In the Mediterranean (the novelization reveals that Eric's kingdom is an island kingdom called Tirulia, located by the southeastern coast of Italy), which is where the story is set, blue is the royal color. That's why I always thought Ariel's "kiss the girl" scene dress was blue. Although Ariel is no longer carefree and bubbly in the sequel, I never thought of her dress being what reinforces her new refined personality, but rather how her hair is now in a bun. You have a point about Melody's pink dress. Though I think that dress was a mistake. I mean, she's so tomboyish compared to Ariel. Not to mention pink doesn't really go well with black hair. I wish her yellow dress she wore at the end of the film was her main dress.
I'm glad to see someone else who likes The Little Mermaid 2. Even if it is just nostalgia, that movie has a special place in my heart. Also THANK YOU for not dissing Ariel for trying to protect her daughter by keeping her away from the sea. She wasn't nearly as nasty as King Triton was and had a very good reason to do so because, you know, Ursula's evil sister tired to feed her to a shark! It annoys me to no end when people hate on her for wanting to protect her daughter. (and yes, I understand that Triton also wanted to protect his children, but his reasoning was much less direct and he was a lot more cruel about it going as far as to break Ariel's things for example.)
they don't know that triton protected ariel in the first movie but in the second movie ariel [protected melody from going to the sea, what i would want to do is see both of them talking about how ariel disobeyed her father.
Ariel's mom was hunted by humans. That's why he was so protective of his daughter and why he reacted so strongly to her desire to associate with them. I like the second movie as well though.
@@viviennemorgan7217 Yeah, Ariel's mom saved them from humans. And then the Little Mermaid happens after that, and Triton freaks out on Ariel when he realizes Ariel had been getting close to humans and hoarding their things. Which is why he destroys them. My point is that although Triton's anger is more frightening than Ariel's overprotectiveness, he and and Ariel have essentially mirrored arcs. I think the symmetry was great at demonstring how with time we all tend to become our parents. Which I bring up to refute the argument that Ariel's overprotectiveness is better than Tritons. Especially since the seccond movie is basically an allegory for immigrant parents who try to train their kids to reject their cultural heritage to fit in. Which is not better than breaking a statue.
@@Thehouseoffail yep triton did destory all of ariel's human collection but at the end of the movie, he lets her go to the human World to be with Eric and they got married.
I related to Jane so much as a kid. She was forced by trauma and mental stress to grow up way too fast and had not one second to breathe. There was always something that needed doing. She didn't have a chance to be a kid and enjoy doing "nothing" because she was literally growing up and trying to survive in the middle of a war. I, thankfully, didn't grow up during a war but I my mother was often sick and required hospital visits and medication I had to learn about to hand to her, while also being extremely abusive. I was forced to grow up way too fast and had no time to just be a kid
I liked that she was complex and of course, fearing for her dad's life. But I hated the way she treated her brother and Wendy. During the dark times, stories are like candles than can lighten up the mood - so her being this aggressive about her brother liking stories feels too harsh and makes her unlikeable.
@@z2yn oh absolutely. It was bratty and childish. Which is why I think it worked so well. She's like what, 10-11, during WW1. The only way she can feel in control of anything is to be as grown up as possible and a younger brother would be annoying to the best of us. Who hasn't lashed out when scared and overwhelmed? As much as it's awful to see, I think it was quite accurate
I would love a Princess and the Frog direct to streaming that's a "cooking show." Food is such a big part of that movie that having something that's an exploration of Creole and Cajun food would be amazing. Especially since Disney has the Blue Bayou restaurant in Disneyland, it would basically be marketing. Also I love the Atlantis spin off, and I'm so upset it never became a TV show exploring different myths and cultures.
@@RedRoseSeptember22 I wouldn't say that. The reason they came up with Ariel having a daughter is most likely because Ariel wouldn't have any reason to return to the sea unless there was some sort of emergency. But giving her a daughter actually did wonders for her character. She ceased to be a sexless fairy tale princess and became an actual woman.
If you include the TV show she left behind soooo many friends. She had every reason to return and keep contact. If the writers had incorporated character from it, it could have been an amazing movie. I like it, but if they had had Gabriela, Spot and Urchin all grown up I would love it, hands down.
@@azurastar3223 I dunno. Don't you think the movie would be overstuffed with characters? I mean, the movie is focusing on both Ariel and Melody already and the runtime didn't really allow for more characters. Although I suppose those you mentioned could have made cameos either at Melody's christening at the beginning or the union of the two worlds at the end. Although for the movie to be amazing, it would have to have a bigger budget, hire a script doctor to fix the few plot holes (like why Ariel was searching for Melody in the ocean if she didn't know she had become a mermaid or how Melody made it so fast from Italy to the Arctic on a rowboat), rely less on visual callbacks, get Alan Menken to write the songs, completely scrap out Tip and Dash, scrap Morgana and simply have Ursula return through the use of some horcrux-like magic, have Ariel show more concern for Melody and have either Ariel or her sisters be the ones who save Melody from drowning, slow down the pacing and explore Ariel and Melody's relationship further and show more moments of Melody struggling with her social anxiety and emphasize more on how she realizes that being a mermaid doesn't change who she is. Melody is an amazing character, an even better character than Ariel, but she deserves a better movie. The movie that we got had heart, but it needed a stronger identity. I just wish the movie had been made by the artistic-driven Walt Disney Animation Studios rather than the market-driven DisneyToon Studios.
My favourite Disney DTV sequel is probably "Return to Neverland." Jane is a relatable, headstrong and feisty protagonist, serious and mature where her mother Wendy was nurturing and dreamy. The new songs were catchy, and there were some genuinely tearjerking moments.
Peter Pan 2 has such a special place in my heart. I think it’s a very wonderful story about the importance of childhood especially during times of hardship.
Listen- Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride absolutely SLAPPED. My sister and I played “lions” all the time and re-enacted scenes from the movie. And I will not tolerate and “Upendi” slander! That was my favorite part of the movie
I know my lion king blinders are on but its crazy how the creator flew through the plot of it, didn’t give the movie any credit for bringing back the full OG cast except Zazu, ignored how they got Suzanne Pleshette - a Hollywood icon - to voice Zira, and seemed annoyed to even talk about the movie and it seemed like pulling teeth to say anything kind about the movie. I turned the video off before finishing it lol.
Honestly I love how people suddenly remembered Cinderella 3, just because the clip of the Prince jumping out the window started circulating. I am not even mad, it is a great clip from an also great movie.
Melody will always have a special spot in my heart bc I relate to her story so much. Esp with no prince really involved and just wanting to escape to the sea. 🧜🏽♀️
Melody is a great character who deserves a better movie. I especially love how she grows out of her insecurity simply by accepting who she is after she realizes that being a mermaid won't change who she is.
@@-i_own_you_- I don't think so. Other than having affinity with the ocean, they have little in common. Moana was comfortable with who she was. Whereas Melody was insecure and loathed herself.
@@vetarlittorf1807 with moana her issues are more subtle, she had her grandma but she had a different problem in which she felt like something was wrong with her like why is she the one intrigued with the reef and why everyone doesn't support it and instead has her reject any thoughts on it kind of like melody of "don't go to sea", she basically felt isolated in everyone.
How dare you, I actually remember every song from lion king 2: simbas pride. Also, Zira’s vengeance and hatred is completely warranted. Also, all the new character’s personalities fit so well in the story without adding too many for the entire movie.
I watched it more than the original when I was younger, and I still like it. I’m also still scarred by the fight scene in the rain where it looks like everyone’s chins are dripping off
Encanto should have a fun family drama series that explores more of the characters who didn't get a lot of screen time in the movie. I would love to see how they have grown as a family and perhaps give some backstory to villagers who may need problems solved by the Madrigals. The coffee kid, what is his deal and how can we can an episode about him.
Definitely, such a rich and charismatic cast, would love to see more of their individual personalities and internal struggles. Especially Pepa and Isabela, they're such delightfully dramatic ladies. Dolores too.
I think The Little Mermaid 2 was such a great story. The story about feeling pressure to live up to a certain standard, feeling like your parents don't understand you, feeling trapped wanting to be free. I also like that they showed how the parents felt, Ariel in particular. It was just a really good story dealing with a rather mature subject.
I don't see how Zira's hatred and thirst for vengeance could have been unwarranted before her son dies : she says her clan was exiled to the musty dusty neverland they live on by Simba's, in a place that clearly doesn't have tons of food. She's also convinced they killed her partner and father of her kid
Also, the outlanders are basically a cult so their hatred _is_ going to be kinda irrational. (And I can buy that Nuka is Scar’s son bc of his age and appearance but where tf did Vitani come from 💀)
The Jungle Book 2 was actually also a theatrical sequel. I know this because I was one of the approximately 30 people who actually saw it when it came out 😂 so that’s almost definitely why that proposed third film was never made
I also saw it in the cinema. I think it was one of my classmates/cousin's birthdays or something. I enjoyed it well enough as a kid but it doesn't hold up particularly well in my memory. I never much liked the ending of the first one. I never wanted him to choose the Man Villiage but rather to stay and grow up a protector of the jungle.
Lion King 1 1/2 literally changed my life. The special features included a “virtual safari” where Timon and Pumbaa make a theme park ride that goes wrong. I was fascinated by the scene where the hyena’s scary eyes turn out to be lights on sticks when the power comes on, and now I work in scenic work in theme parks!
Fun fact: Snow White actually WAS planned to have a sequel, using the same “disney character has a kid” formula by giving Snow White a daughter named rose… something I don’t remember lol. I’m pretty sure it got cancelled since it was at the tail of of the 2000’s when the sequels fell out of favor Walt disney himself also considered making a sequel short called Snow White’s return in the 40’s I think but it got abandoned
that sequel idea in the 40s was something walt rejected personally and made a statement that they wouldn't be anything to show which he was right and at the time the movies were more emotional movies where it's not the characters or the story but rather the emotional impact of the scenes so a madeup sequel in that format that feels organic would basically be impossible
Actually before his death, Walt Disney said “no sequels” which is why none ever got one until the Rescuers Down Under. Most of the sequels were ok to meh, except Pocahontas 2. That one was just insulting and beyond disrespectful to the original tale. Don’t care about the real story, given how much Disney had already changed. It was so wrong to force Pocahontas to choose her historically correct husband after everything John Smith did for her, including almost dying to save her dad
@@kristinahuchison2511 if you thought Pocahontas 2 was bad cinderella 2 and belle's magical world are just 3-5 random episode pilots of a tv show that didn't happen also 1st pocahuntus film wasn't really good anyway so the sequel feels less of an insult then say mulan 2
There was a live action Rose Red film planned by Disney at one point I believe but now they are doing traditional remake. I am glad Snow White never got an animated sequel since Walt was against them (even if I do like several of these sequels although many are terrible). Movie which would have most benefited from a sequel is Sword in the Stone. We really would have needed more Arthur actually being King Arthur and showing why he deserves the throne. There is so much potential story material to use so I don’t know why they didn’t do it. And Merlin and Madam Mim were amazing.
I absolutely love the way they went with the prince in Cinderella 3. The scene where he straight up yeets out the window plays on loop in my brain regularily.
I give Bambi II a higher rating despite not caring much for the original because when I first watched it in college - that scene when Bambi is lured out into the open by the deer call legitimately creeps me out and even affected my perspective of hunting as a hobby
I loved Little Mermaid 2, was one of my fav Disney movies as a kid (way above the actual Little Mermaid). Related waaay more with the weird brunette who wants to be a Mermaid, then a mermaid wanting to be human
Looking back, the weird mix of early CGI and 2D animation probably added to that inexplicable creep factor. He still stands out to me as a villain and I only saw the movie once
i have always Loved the lion king 2, almost more than the first one, and i have such an insane soft spot for all of the music and character designs, i think it still remains one of my favourite movies of all time
@@dandylion3987 same, i even owned the video for it back in the day. understand why some people might not like it and it has its flaws, but i hold it very close to the heart. i personally love how mushu's initial attempts to strain mulan and shang's relationship fail bc mulan is just someone who knows how to make light of any situation, i.e that one scene where he burns up their food and she still eats it like "hmmmm, so yummy!".
melody deserves this praise. literally, as a kid, whose parents often bought knock-off VHS's of disney films & the direct-to-video sequels cuz they were more affordable i think?? lmao, i watched that sequel to the Little Mermaid soooo much as a kid. & Melody legit was & honestly still is the Disney princess i feel i relate to the most xD
I feel like the supposition that original animated Jasmine was ever supposed to be "weak" as put forth by the Live Action version clearly came from people who had never seen the sequels or the television show. As a guy and 90s kid, her knocking this huge dude out (even if it was a sucker punch) for ruining her wedding was indented into my memory as one of the first times I realized a "girly girl" could also kick a$$, and she would also use some form of martial arts later in the same movie as well as several times in the Disney Afternoon series, including against crazy powerful Mozenrath. So I dunno where people ever got the idea the original was a passive DiD (and the original film version wasn't even that). Probably due to the DP franchise or something
@@vetarlittorf1807 Yeah I feel like that comes from people who either have never seen the movie or who just watch it very passively. Hard to believe that before Mulan came along Jasmine was probably seen by most people in the 90s to be by far the toughest of the Princesses not only because she had a tiger and a boyfriend with a genie but because - based on her showings in the series - she clearly knew how to hold her own in an actual fight.
Fr! Original Jasmine was kind, but she also KNEW she was a princess and wouldn’t let herself be disrespected. She called out Aladdin’s lie as soon as he slipped up.
And she outright tells Jafar that she can't wait to become queen so she can get rid of him and stop him executing any more innocent people. Not to mention her awesome moment where she calls Aladdin, Jafar and the Sultan out for deciding her future and declaring "I am not a prize to be won!"
KRONK'S NEW GROOVE BEING THAT LOW............. Also calling Jane "too uptight" when there's a literal war going on and her father is out there in war 😭😭😭
Cinderella 3 is easily my favorite of the direct to dvd sequel’s esports fixing stuff from the original like giving the prince character or focusing on Cinderella instead of the mice. Also tremaine being a pretty good villain now and the redemption of Anastasia
Many kudos to Tessa and the team for compiling this hour long video, it's a Christmas present that we didn't know that we needed. Happy Christmas, everyone! 🎄🎁🎊
I think Ariel's beginning is great 1.Maybe when she was younger, all her interest was music, when she gets older she started get into human world. It's understandable. 2. She gives her voice to sea witch, when she loves music so much, makes her sacrifice for Eric greater.
I think that in Ariel’s prequel movie after having brought music back to her land she probably set her eyes on actually exploring the land outside of the sea since the former hobby was now something she did daily and no longer something to explore I could see her growing tired of it and setting her eyes on a new hobby to hyper fixate on
I love Brother Bear 2 🥺💖 I love the art, I love the songs, the romance and the ambience. I love Nitta, Kenai and Koda together as a family ❤️ Best sequele ever!!
I’m not big into Brother Bear, but I don’t know why a lot of fans hated it. I actually loved Nita was willing to become a bear just to be with Kenai after understanding how important Koda was.
Jane from return to never-land remind me a lot of the fan fiction story of Susan in the chronicles of Narnia I do think Jane was relatable bc a lot of children (especially a lot of young girls) during world war 2 and as a result there was severe economic struggles bc of that Jane has much more baggage than Wendy. I love the dynamic between Jane and Wendy
I jumped to the little mermaid sequel part and i was happy to find out that we both have a soft spot for it now I'm back at the start and am reminded of the third Aladdin movie which i totally forgot existed
Thank you for the comment/compliment emphasis on the “excellent kiss scene” 26:30 from ‘TLM2: Return from the Sea’. It’s a scene of Ariel and Prince Eric that I 2D animated for the film. I was often chosen to animate romantic or intimate/emotional scenes with the leading ladies and princesses. To prepare to animate the new kiss… I studied the original film’s kiss between Ariel and Prince Eric, which I love, and noted that they do look into each other’s eyes before and as they start to close in to kiss. Though both have their eyes closed by the time their lips meet, and they both stay closed. This formal kiss freezes into a static “magical” moment, likely due to the needs of the cross dissolve, from the beach kiss into their wedding day kiss. Till they are abruptly interrupted by Max (the dog), opening their eyes to look at Max (though not at each other). I love and understand the choice here, for Max has a big supporting role in bringing them together in the first film, and of course they both love him as family. I wanted to build on the original film’s kiss as my direct inspiration. In my scene, Ariel looks at Eric’s face and lips as she closes in, her eyes though heavy lidded stay open for a brief moment, fully closing only after their lips meet. This to me shows she knows exactly who she’s kissing, and choosing with love that person to be Eric. I started Eric’s eyes closed so he can open them wide with surprise as Ariel launches from the water into Eric’s surprised askew arms that catch her in his embrace. His eyes close and his brows knit with the intensity of their kiss, both cushioning into each other as Ariel pulls him even closer, with her left hand supporting his head, her right caressing his ear and jawline I love this moment showing there’s still surprise and discovery shared between them in this embrace. I wanted movement during their kiss, giving the opportunity for 3 beats in their kiss, a passionate first contact, an intense lip locked middle moment almost pushing against each other, followed by a gentle relax of their kiss into mutual smiles. I kept their eyes closed for a moment after their lips part, as they savour the moment, Ariel relaxing her hand from Eric’s head, before they then look into each other’s eyes, with a deeply shared happiness, contentment, security and love for each other. The original storyboarded time for this kiss was much shorter, but the Animation Director allowed me to run the kiss as long as needed for the scene. Though I do remember it running just a little longer so that each of their faces fully part in silhouette, but that was likely cut as it was already going longer and cut into following scenes. When animating for the Disney sequels, we animators had less time then at Feature Animation, that had a footage expectation on 2-3 foot per week. The Disney studio I worked at in Australia started at 22 foot per week, then over its almost 18 years in Sydney as the animators grew in experience, the footage expectation was reduced to 20, then 15, then finally to 10 foot per week. Below is my Instagram, where I have this scene isolated to show: instagram.com/reel/Csn28kcJuMH/?igshid=Ymt2MnU3c2toaDVy These days, I’m a sculptor/creator/producer of my own fashion doll line, called the GlamourOZ Dolls. I’ve released them to come in dressed editions. They’re scaled nicely so they can wear fashions from the 17” DisneyStore Princess dolls. 😍💕
Sleeping beauty did kinda get a sequel! I remember watching it as a kid , it was apart of a dvd collection called “enchanted tales “ I believe , and sleeping beauty’s song “keys to the kingdom “ was a bop
My favourite of the home video animated sequels is The Lion King 2. The difference in quality between it and it's predecessor was much less noticeable than for some of the others. The story was compelling, well balanced and the songs memorable. The characters also made sense given their past experiences. Simba was obviously dealing with some trauma issues which made his overproteciveness towards Kiara and his hostility towards Scar's loyalists fit. Compare that with Ariel who forbade her daughter from going in the sea and both never explained why and chose to continue to live on the coast!
Mulan 2 is more decent, that movie could still pass my vibe check rather than the 2020 remake. Also, i want to mention about Cinderella 3: a Twist in Time! One of my favorite disney sequels out all of them along with Return to Neverland.
It was the Cinderella sequels that cemented Anastasia as one of my favorite Disney characters. She was such a different character from the other movies at the time and I loved seeing her redemption arc. She stood out as her own person.
Same! Cinderella 3 isn’t my favorite, but her character growth is what made the story awesome! I really love how she discovers on her own this isn’t what she truly wants, whatever mother wants. She wants someone who actually loves her for her, and not because she’s pretending to be someone else. Like I think the royal life isn’t suited for her either, given her goofy and loud personality. Like the Baker and Anastasia is probably my second favorite sequel couple because of how adorable they are!
I once saw a neat perspective that Anastasia wasn't quite as nasty as Priscilla or their mother - more like she did what the other two did (probably to avoid getting picked on herself). Now it's been a jillion years since I've seen any of them so I really don't remember myself, but if true it would make more sense to be kinder and give her an arc over her sister!
Dude Mulan 2 was awesome! They hardly ever show an “Imperfect” relationship in Disney movies(or at least they didn’t used to) and seeing them have conflict over their own insecurities, or show how not everyone gets to marry for love, it was a great movie with a good message! Marry for love, stay true to your heart, and kick ass. The little Mermaid 2: I’ll admit this ones a bit iffy, but I really enjoyed it as a kid because you NEVER get to see what happens after the princess gets married and you never get to see whether or not they have children. It was a fresh take, and the only reason it didn’t do well was because of the poor script. Basically a copy and paste of the first movie with some things rearranged, but still really enjoyable to children who have yet to become movie critics. Cinderella 2: Ngl, I didn’t know this movie existed until the commercials for twist in time were showing on other dvds/tv. So when I finally watched it, ngl I was actually really happy about it. I never liked how the step-sisters were just portrayed as evil and unredeemable for being… well, not as attractive as the main character. Seeing Anastasia find love with the baker boy was so heartwarming and lovely, and they seem like a really good fit for each other. Also the message for the movie was overall very beautiful, letting younger girls know that beauty isn’t everything and that there is someone for everyone, and to overall just be yourself. I loved this movie ❤️ Atlantis 2?: I remember watching this while staying at my mom’s boyfriend’s house. I never knew the movie existed before then, but was genuinely surprised and excited to watch it! The only real problem I had with this movie(and most of the other sequels) was how they didn’t have the same good quality as their original counterparts. But that was it, I would’ve liked to see these two go on more cool adventures together!
Would really recommend Xiran Jay Zhao's video on Mulan II for a Chinese perspective on the film! It does pick it apart but I think you would appreciate her knowledge on culture and history surriunding the era given your own content 😇 I would also really recommend her looking at the cultural influences of ATLA, they really enrich an already incredible series 💙💚❤
I’m surprised someone love Mulan 2 as much as I did. I remember when it came on DVD and I literally ran to the store to buy it. I watched it all the time haha. And Cinderella 3 was a solid pick. I loved that one too
Me out here being forever loyal to the Aladdin sequels. My first movie at 3 years old was Aladdin and I remember my mom surprising my sister and I with the tapes of the sequels. 100% wonderful nostalgia. Also in love with the impossible to find cartoon
I’m glad there’s someone else who enjoyed the second Little Mermaid movie. I related to Melody so much as a kid, and it kinda made me obsessed with mermaids (still am, honestly, haha).
As a child I loved the Lion King II. In general, The Lion King is my favourite movie ever and the sequels gave me more to love. Also I was way too traumatized by Mufasa's death scene as a child, that the sequel gave me a way to enjoy Lion King without having to hide for a certain part of the movie. With Timon and Pumba being my favourite characters, I just loved the Lion King 1½.
Finally someone who thinks Mulan 2 is good like me. Most people miss the fact that Mushu called on the treaty without the marriage as the dragon of unity. Shang was absolutely right about the marriage being more important to secure the alliance but after seeing his fiancée offer herself up so the Princesses could be happy moved him to at least try to stop the marriage in the finale. While Mulan did her obligations out of duty in the first movie(even trying to go for an arranged marriage), I interpret her infamous “duty is to my heart” line as she broke the rules to save her father, the same way the Princesses are doing now. Not out of character for Mulan and for those who think it is, after Shang “dies”, Mulan puts her duty to complete the mission as a priority. Something she would have done in the first movie
this video just made me wanna go back and watch ariel’s beginning again because that movie was my CHILDHOOD. it may just be footloose slightly to the left but it seriously had such good music, animation, and characters. the villain was so fun, and the relationships between the sisters were realistic
I had just turned 11 when hurricane Katrina hit, and our VHS tapes that survived the storm were some of the only entertainment my sister and I had while our parents dealt with the aftermath. I vividly remember watching the Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Lion King sequels over and over again on a tiny CRT TV when we got power back.
I love The Lion King 2 it feels like the most competent continuation of the story and didn't feel cheap or phoned in, I also think Cinderella 3 went above and beyond what they could do with a sequel to Cinderella
I really like your analysis of Return to Neverland (and the Disney Princess video!) and what I'm about to say is in NO WAY meant to make you feel bad, just a small bit of insight based on my own personal experience: Jane's "uptight/strict" attitude is very common for kids who's parents get deployed. When I saw this movie at the age of 5, my dad had recently been deployed to Afghanistan and I really struggled with the concept of things like war and the fact that he might not come back (he did! don't worry.) So when I saw this film, it was really cathartic for me to see another kid going through similar things and having those similar feelings as I did where I questioned the validity of "silly" things like fairytales (again, at the age of FIVE). So not only seeing the dad leave early in the film and come back later, as well as see Jane grow to appreciate things outside of practicality had a really big effect on me. Again, I'm aware that the way I view this film is based on a niche experience of mine, but I did want to offer some context for Jane's characterization.
Finally someone rightfully defending The Little Mermaid 2! It’s more than just a rehash of the first film, and it doesn’t butcher the characters like some of these DTV sequels are guilty of. Melody is such a perfect mix of her parents, as well as a great character on her own. You can say im biased because the original is my favorite Disney film, but I don’t like the third movie. THAT movie makes everyone act out of character except for Triton. Who, speaking of, was the main antagonist of the story which is why I don’t mind Marina being such a weak villain because the film doesn’t need one. I don’t wonder if maybe the reason they chose not to focus on Triton’s hatred of humans is because the film wouldn’t have had a resolution because that carries over into the first film, whereas him banning music can be resolved within the films runtime, giving the movie a climax. But Ariel’s obsession with the human world is a baffling omission, and it’s creepy that they made her mother look exactly like her. I know it’s to explain why he’s so protective of her, but she was already the youngest so in my mind that didn’t need explaining. And some people say she’s the favorite so her being a carbon copy of her mom can explain that too, but the tv series implied she got her red hair from her father so again this didn’t need explaining. There’s also no way Sebastian would run a speakeasy, or Flounder would attend one *before* meeting Ariel. He’s always trying to talk her *out of* trouble, but in this one it’s basically the other way around. It’s like this plot was written for a different sequel but they re-worked it because The Little Mermaid is arguably their most famous princess. The story being so bad is so frustrating because the animation is stellar, the music is catchy, and introducing Ariel’s mother and fleshing out her sisters is a great idea.
I'm honestly surprised you didn't mention The Rescuers Down Under, which imo is one of the best Disney sequels. And that Little Mermaid prequel wasn't Sally Field's first voice acting gig. She was also the voice of Sassy in the Homeward Bound movies. Just thought I'd mention that.
Scamp's Adventure was always my favorite movie as a kid (especially never having seen the original film even today at 22) because I was in a weird position of relating to both Scamp and Angel; Angel who was the "tomboy" who was explicitly down-on-her-luck and underprivileged in similar ways to how I grew up and Scamp who was raised very sheltered and struggled to find ways to express himself and feel free within his own life without disrupting everyone else and getting punished for it, which as a trans masculine person I resonated with a lot as a kid even when I didn't have words to describe why I always felt like that I never really see people talk about that movie a lot and it always seemed so odd to me since it was such a big deal to me growing up and I never really thought about how someone in entirely different shoes wouldn't see Scamp in the same light and even find his behavior obnoxious
I have to defend peter pan 2. It does have a lot of nostalgia for me bcs I watched it a lot as a kid, but I still loved the animation, the lost kids, and I really liked peter and wendy's different personalities that led into intresting interactions, being her responsible and a center person, and peter very playful and a free spirit (and kind of a jerk sometimes). It holds a place in my heart ❤️
Quick thought about Cinderella 2, Re: Anastasia. The step-mother is abusive and manipulates her daughters to improve her own standing in society. She couldn't care less about her daughters. I think Anastasia realizes this now that her and her sister have to endure what Cinderella did all those years. She realizes that Cinderella was treated unfairly but still struggles to stand against her mother, and from a realistic standpoint it's super difficult to unlearn toxic habits learned from parents. TLDR: I think the other message her story communicates is that you don't know what someone has gone through until you walk a mile in their 'glass slippers'. It's also about overcoming your upbringing to be a better person.
my favorites as a kid were return to the sea and return to neverland. i really loved ariels purple dress, even if its a weird choice for her, and as a kid i would scrunch down my socks to make them look like janes because i just love her character design
I saw Return to Neverland in theaters with my mom when it first came out. We were like the only ones in the theater from what I remember lol but we had a good time with it!
Ok I was OBSESSED with Scamp’s Adventure as a kid. The story is adorable and the animation is still beautiful. The characters are fun and have lonely dynamics, the songs can be heart wrenching or heartwarming, and Angel as a character is complex and strong. Her and Scamp’s friendship was always my favorite. That movie is so underrated and it holds a dear place in my heart.
FINALLY I found someone here who loved this movie as much as me, I get it doesn’t shine as bright as others because the original isn’t a fav for many people but UGH I love this movie so much
I'm so happy you were so thorough on this topic! I watched it while I wrapped all our Christmas gifts and it was the perfect legth for me to get it all done! I can't believe I've never seen so many of these!
Lilo and Stitch is probably one of the only Disney DVD franchises where all movies look like they’re from the same movie. No dip in animation quality and a consistent art style.
Pocahontas 2 is a Disney sequel I wish never got created. Her deciding to leave Smith after we watched all the crap they went through to be together in the first one makes me so mad.
@@catandrobbyflores Not to be mean, but Disney should’ve just rolled with their own mess instead of stupidly trying to be more historically correct. Legit she was already married to Rolfe with her son Thomas before even going to England, let alone reuniting with John Smith, but sadly she died at age 20. He was only kept alive to force Pocahontas into another damn love triangle, and Disney f*cking rubbed it in that she doesn’t get a happily ever after with John Smith by ever so stupidly making her choose Rolfe instead. Like Pocahontas and John Smith had been my favorite Disney couple as a kid, and the sad ending completely broke my heart watching MY favorite Disney couple being the ONLY couple who didn’t get a happy ending. I didn’t even know about the sequel for a while until I was say 22 or so. Oh man, I was beyond furious at the ending. Not only was the movie beyond boring aside Where Do I Go, Rolfe is so boring and ugly and the complete opposite of John Smith in so many ways and flat out just did not fit Pocahontas at all, but the REAL John Smith we all know and love was forcibly changed into an immature jealous ex to make Rolfe look like the better choice who actually cared about Pocahontas’s feelings and loyalty to her people, while John Smith apparently cared more about himself and exploring than her. Like I could easily write an entire book about how much I hate that movie. Like the ONLY good parts were Where Do I Go and her adorable winter clothes. In a nutshell, the thing that completely ruined Pocahontas 2 was the fact she didn’t become Pocahontas Smith in the end. Like the sequel doesn’t even mention her English name Rebecca Rolfe, so what was the point?
Yes!!!! John Smith willingly jumped in front of a bullet knowing it would kill him to save her dad, let alone to prevent a damn war. And she chose an ugly racist, sexist jerk who took the entire film trying to change her into who he wanted. Pocahontas freaking cheated on John Smith 😭
@@kristinahuchison2511 well Disney couldn't just say he was a tobacco farmer or that she was basically kidnapped as a teen after setting up the romance. It's bad.
@@catandrobbyflores I actually learned about the real Matoaka before I even watched Pocahontas lol. If Disney had used different names entirely and fixed a few racist issues in the story, it’d be a lot more popular. Even I agree to a point Pocahontas should not have been made, given how Indigenous people were treated for a long time. Like even watching depictions in old cartoons its very stereotypical. Did you know Disney actually wasn’t the first to romanticize Pocahontas and John Smith: Popeye Wigwam Whoopee What I am saying is after how much Disney had already changed for their own story, they should’ve just rolled with their own mess instead of drastically course correcting to force her to end up with John Rolfe instead. Like the sequel only used 3 facts: her going to London, marrying Rolfe, and eventually reuniting with John Smith one more time. Like the sequel skipped a lot of facts. Like even those who hated the original hated the sequel even more because of how half assed it was. Legit before the part she boarded the ship, a lot of scenes had been copied and pasted from the original: the bears, deer spirits, her dad can apparently wind bend too to help get the ship going. I think that’s partly why Brother Bear was made, to be a much more respectful and accurate depiction of Native Alaskan culture and beliefs.
The Best Disney Sequel (my opinion) Aladdin and the King of Thieves The Return of Jafar The Lion King Simba Pride The Little mermaid 2 Ariel Beginning Cinderella 2 Cinderella 3 The Jungle Book 2 Mulan 2 The Goofy movie 2 Lilo and Stitch 2
I like to see Cinderella 3 getting some love. I actually really enjoyed that one and I think it holds up well. Parts of it may be a bit silly, but it has more personality than charm than even the original film did, in my opinion. That said, I still personally enjoy King of Thieves and Return to Neverland quite a bit as well. Jane's arc is well done, I think. The story is all about a little girl who had to grow up too fast because of outside circumstances, and over the course of the film she has to finally let loose and learn to be a kid. I found it touching.
I don't see how Zira's hatred and thirst for vengeance could have been unwarranted before her son dies : she says her clan was exiled to the musty dusty neverland they live on by Simba's, in a place that clearly doesn't have tons of food. She's also convinced they killed her partner and father of her kid
it's so interesting how different two people's opinions on the same movie can be! i love bambi II's soundtrack, and a couple parts of it give me chills every time. i have a little nostalgia for it so maybe that's part of it, but i do genuinely think it works for me in its own right as well. idk. i can understand your point though, as it's a VERY different style to the original film. but i think that sort of works for me too, considering the VERY different time periods they came out in and the ways the visual style has changed. overall i actually enjoy bambi II more than the original 😅it's surely not as technically impressive of a movie, but i find its character-focused story WAY more entertaining to watch than the slower paced pseudo-nature-documentary that the original was, even though i'm a huge animation fan and i know how insanely impressive the original was for its time. the midquel just appeals to my tastes better, i guess.
There is actually a reason why the Octopus replaced the Crocodile in Peter Pan 2. Colin LookBack explained in his Disney Villains retrospective, but basically the animators for the movie felt they couldn’t top the energy of the crocodile, so they wanted to try a different approach.
the jungle book two really is LEAGUES ahead of the original. i watched it over and over as a child without ever even having seen the first. YOU CAN HIGHTAIL IT OUTTA THE JUNGLE BUT IT NEVER LEAVES YOUR HEART!!!!
Fun Fact! Aladdin and the 40 thief was going to be different, it was going to include Mozenrath, a character from the tv series but sadly the actor passed away. Supposedly in the movie Mozenrath was going to be revealed as Aladdin brother and he was going to redeem himself, reuniting with his dad.
The songs in mulan 2 are definitely a bop, especially “I wanna be like other girls.” The three princesses are my favorite characters in the entire sequel.
