Over the decades, many of the most popular Disney movies have earned multiple sequels, usually in a direct-to-video format. While some aren’t well-received by fans, others are great and live up to the original films in terms of popularity and quality.
While nothing compares to traditional Disney nostalgia, some sequels manage to capture the magic, love, and great music that make the originals so great. Although many underestimate sequels, they deserve more love as they’re often just as good and are full of great stories and valuable life lessons.
10 Anastasia Finds Her Happily Ever After (Cinderella III: A Twist In Time)
On Cinderella and Prince Charming’s first anniversary, Anastasia stumbles upon the Fairy Godmother’s wand, which Lady Tremaine uses to turn back time. She manipulates the prince into believing he fell in love with Anastasia at the ball rather than Cinderella, and she almost succeeds.
Anastasia refuses to marry the prince, deciding she wants to find true love on her own. Cinderella and the prince get their happily ever after again, and Anastasia falls in love with a baker from the village, finally finding her happy ending. As one of the more popular Disney sequels, this film is heartwarming and shows a more likable side of Cinderella’s step-sister.
9 Timon And Pumbaa Finally Tell Their Side Of The Story (The Lion King 1 1/2)
In this film, Timon and Pumbaa, Simba’s best friends, recount their side of The Lion King, showing how their lives interweave with Simba’s long before meeting. When Timon leaves his meerkat colony to follow big ambitions, he meets Pumbaa, and they go on the adventure of a lifetime.
This film is funny, heartwarming, and skirts just outside the story fans already know and love. It also proves that there’s more than meets the eye to the fan-favorite meerkat and warthog duo and their lion cub.
8 A Father And Son Go To College Together (An Extremely Goofy Movie)
Goofy is a wonderful father who loves Max dearly, which he sometimes takes to extreme levels. In An Extremely Goofy Movie, Max heads to college, attempting to find his independence and place in the world. However, after losing his job, Goofy decides to join Max at school to earn his degree.
The two butt heads, as Max feels he can’t earn his freedom while his father is following him from class to class. Finally, they reconcile and join a skateboarding competition, where they learn to make a great team. This charming sequel may not have the fantastic music that A Goofy Movie has, but it’s still a great film highlighting parental love.
7 Belle Creates The Perfect Holiday Celebration (Beauty And The Beast: The Enchanted Christmas)
In the middle of the original Beauty and the Beast, Belle discovers that the Beast despises Christmas, and she’s determined to change his mind with the perfect holiday celebration. So they create snow angels, ice skate, and decorate a tree in an attempt to make the Beast happy.
However, some castle residents don’t want the spell to break, so they sabotage Belle to prevent the two from falling in love. This sequel creates an atmospheric feeling perfect for the holidays and has the same charm and lovable characters as the original.
6 A Revamped Sequel Highlights Animators’ Talents (Fantasia 2000)
Like the original Fantasia, the sequel allows animators to create works of art based on different pieces of symphonic music, from Beethoven to Stravinsky. The animation tells a story amplified by the music in a unique viewing experience.
Various celebrities, including Steve Martin, Angela Lansbury, and Penn & Teller, introduce each piece. Although different from traditional Disney films, Fantasia 2000 focuses on new animation and classical music, creating interpretive works of art by combining media.
5 Ariel Fights For Her Love Of Music (The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning)
The third Little Mermaid movie shows Ariel growing up with her mother, Queen Athena, until disaster separates them. A group of pirates kills Athena when she attempts to retrieve a music box, and therefore King Triton bans music from Atlantica. A distressed Ariel then meets Flounder, who brings her to an underground music club.
Triton finds out and predictably destroys the club with his trident and sends Sebastian, Flounder, and the other members to prison. Ariel fights against her father, determined to rescue her friends and bring music back to the kingdom. This sequel introduces Ariel to beloved characters and establishes her stubborn, determined personality from a young age.
4 Ralph And Vanellope Encounter Various Pop Culture References (Ralph Breaks The Internet)
Vanellope is in danger of being shut down in Ralph Breaks the Internet, so she and Ralph enter the Wi-Fi to find a Sugar Rush steering wheel. They encounter hilarious Star Wars, Marvel, and pop culture references on their journey through the web.
Vanellope also meets the Disney princesses as they discuss the guidelines for being a princess, all voiced by the original actresses. This film is hilarious, fun, heartfelt, and full of Easter eggs that keep viewers engaged. Stick around until the end credits, as there’s a hilarious post-credit scene that many miss.
3 Andy Gives His Toys A Better Home In This Emotional Sequel (Toy Story 3)
Toy Story 3 features a grown-up Andy preparing to leave for college. Only a few loyal toys remain, but they end up at Sunnyside Daycare when Andy’s mother accidentally throws them away. There, they meet Lotso Bear, the deceivingly brutal dictator who tries to incinerate them.
Buzz and the others escape and return to Andy, who gives them to Bonnie, a little girl needing well-loved toys. The moment is one of the saddest in Disney history, highlighting childhood nostalgia and the bittersweetness of growing up. It’s a feeling almost everyone can relate to, and it’s the end of a beloved era as Andy moves on.
2 Elsa And Anna Set The Past Right (Frozen 2)
Frozen is one of the biggest Disney movies of all time, so it’s no surprise it got a sequel. In Frozen 2, Elsa and Anna discover their past and the vital role Elsa plays in nature as the fifth spirit. They also learn the truth about their parents’ untimely death years prior.
The sisters and their friends venture to the Enchanted Forest, where they meet the Northuldra people and discover their grandfather’s role in entrapping the forest. They undo their family’s damage and set the past right, bringing two communities together. This story highlights sisterly love and has fantastic animation and music that rivals the original.
1 The Next Generation Of Lions Prove That Love Conquers All (The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride)
While The Lion King loosely retold Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride plays on the themes in Romeo and Juliet. Simba’s young daughter Kiara meets Kovu, Scar’s heir banished to the Outlands. While attempting to infiltrate Simba’s pride to kill him and take over, Kovu falls in love with Kiara.
The two face many challenges, particularly from their parents and society, but decide that their love is enough to conquer anything. This sweet story focuses on familial and romantic love, parental expectations, and societal standards while providing excellent animation and great music. It’s by far one of the best direct-to-video sequels Disney has produced.