Top 5 Underrated Disney Sequels
Lion King 1 1/2 - G
Lion King 1 1/2 is the reimagined story of Lion King from Timon and Pumbaa’s perspective. Full of the characters you know and love as well as some new characters. There are some fun new songs that will stick in your head and most importantly it adds to the Lion King story without changing anything from the original story. Featuring the voices of Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella, this is a laugh out loud comedy that is enjoyable for the whole family
Mulan 2 - G
What happens after you single-handedly save China and get a fiancé in the process? That is what Mulan is trying to figure out in Mulan 2. Mulan and her friends are tasked with a secret mission escorting three princesses across China right before Shang and Mulan’s wedding. At heart Mulan 2 is is a story about love, Shang and Mulan’s love is tested as they learn how to work together as a couple and for the rest of the gang love is in the air as Yao, Ling, and Chien-po finally find girls worth fighting for. There are a few catchy songs and a lot less eastern spiritualism so if you are a Mulan fan or new to her story Mulan 2 is a fun rom-com that is appropriate for all ages.
Cinderella 2: Dreams Come True - G
While Cinderella is a classic there are defiantly some flaws, specifically a stunning lack of personality on the part of Cinderella. There isn’t really any well-rounded character in the whole movie, just a lot of stereotypes. In the early 2000s, Disney decided to try and fix that with the straight-to-video Cinderella 2. It is a compilation of short stories about Cinderella adjusting to palace life, and one of the stepsisters Anastasia finding redemption and forgiveness. While this movie isn’t a work of art it is a lot more vibrant of a story, with well-rounded characters and enjoyable interactions. While there is a Cinderella 3, I would recommend skipping that one, time travel is involved and it is a little much. Cinderella 2 is a fun follow-up to the Cinderella story and helps endear all of the classic characters to a new audience.
Jungle Book 2 - G
Jungle Book 2 has a lot of things going for it, a smart story, really catchy music, and some cute new kids who join Mowgli on his adventure back to the jungle. The major issue is the characters, while the new characters are great and Mowgli isn’t as winey and annoying, the animals all have slightly different personalities than they do in the first movie. This might be because none of the original voice actors were around to reprise their roles, or because the story is more focused on the humans than the animals, but that was the charm of the original Jungle Book the wonderful and sometimes frightening world of the jungle and somehow that all flat in Jungle Book 2. But it defiantly worth a watch for the music alone.
Peter Pan: Return to Neverland - G
Of all of the movies on this list Peter Pan: Return to Neverland is probably the weakest story and music-wise. There isn’t anything particularly wrong with the story it just isn’t very creative or interesting. There have been many stories about Neverland, Hook, Peter and the Star Catchers, and more, most of these are better than Return to Neverland. However, as a Child of the 90s, I was the target audience when this straight-to-video movie came out, and as a kid, I loved the characters. The practical sensible older sister gets taken to neverland and doesn’t just love the magical world she is in and still worries about her brothers and parents, I resonated with her and there aren’t many practical and responsible Disney heroines. There isn’t anything brilliant about Return to Neverland but there are a few special things in the movie that make it worth a watch.
