Credit: Inside the MagicWalt Disney Animation Studios is home to some of the most incredible stories to ever grace modern cinema. As a result audiences have kept begging for more and more ever since Walt first put pen to paper. Although many of the studio’s most successful features were inspired by classic fairytales and famous figures like Aladdin and Paul Bunyan, the standard was still set by Disney.
As accomplished as the studio is at making original stories and content, Disney has made millions and billions with establishing their own film franchises with an onslaught of sequels. Whether that’s the direct-to-video sequels from the ’90s or even the company’s own trilogy added to the Star Wars saga, it seems like Disney has developed an overabundance of sequels and long-spanning franchises.
Disney Animation Needs a One-and-Done
Although the company is currently returning to its roots with Wish, Disney has been consistently reliant on sequels and series lately. While nothing is wrong with that, many fans have criticized the studio for diminishing original material. Sometimes all audiences really need is a happily ever after.
Sequels have been announced for Frozen, Zootopia, Toy Story, and more in the near future, but are they really needed? While this writer would jump at the chance to see Nick and Judy back for Zootopia 2, Disney built its foundations on originality.
Films like Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Alice in Wonderland are all ripe for reimagining and retellings, but Aurora, Cinderella. and Alice’s story should have ended once the credits rolled. Lately, it feels like the studio has been more interested in making sequels to make up for their recent box office bombs than by expanding on characters their audience cares about.
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Except for Zootopia and Inside Out, Disney Animation’s planned sequels feel questionable at best and forced at worst. That said, we won’t know how audiences think until they see them in theaters. Either way, it will be a learning experience for all parties involved.
Which Disney movies really need a sequel? Tell Inside the Magic what you think in the comments below!