the Mind’s Chew Toy

Just when everyone was sure the animated division over at Disney had run out of good ideas, they released yet another laugh riot - The Emperor’s New Groove. But, like their other films (like The Lion King and Lilo & Stitch) Disney wasn’t content to let the success of The Emperor’s New Groove fade away without milking it for all it’s worth. Thus, Kronk’s New Groove was born.

All the voice actors return, thankfully, for Kronk’s New Groove. Patrick Warburton seems to have a voice made for comedy, and he ended up taking Kronk from just backround comic relief in Emperor to a truly memorable character. His return as the voice of Kronk makes Kronk’s New Groove worth watching all by itself.

Add in the return of all the other voices from Emperor (including even David Spade as Emperor Kuzco) and Kronk’s New Groove is already on its way to being one of the better Disney straight-to-video sequels already.

In Kronk’s New Groove, the viewer gets a more in depth look behind the hulking figure. Turns out, all Kronk wants is acceptance from his gruff father. But, true to sappy Disney sequel morals, Kronk is unwilling to put his yearning for acceptance before his friends. Of course, everything wraps up ever so nicely and the value of friendship triumphs over all. Sappy, but good for kids - and a nice reminiscence for the rest of us of a simpler time.

The animation of Kronk’s New Groove stays true to the original Emperor film with great bold colors and the classic Disney caricature drawing we’ve come to know and love. Thankfully, it looks like Disney kept the same artists around for this sequel, so we don’t have the jarring differences films between the two films that was such a disappointment for films like Atlantis and Atlantis 2: Milo’s Return. It helps keep the film feeling like a real continuation of the first film, rather than just a quickly-constructed reaper of the cash cow that The Emperor’s New Groove has become.

The returning voices from Emperor are the true joy of Kronk’s New Groove. While it’s somewhat interesting to see a back story on our favorite henchman/cook, it’s more about hearing Warburton voice Kronk one more time.

With more of a return to simplistic values, Kronk’s New Groove - while most likely destined to be a hit amongst kids - doesn’t have the same repeat-viewing appeal of the first film.