10 Straight-To-Video Disney Sequels That Are Actually Pretty Good

The direct-to-DVD sequels of Disney don’t exactly have the best reputation, but there are some real hidden gems hidden among the iconic animation studio’s catalog of straight-to-video films. The best movies of Disney’s golden age have paid dividends for the company in terms of marketable IP, but few of them were given sequels worthy of their individual franchise’s names. That being said, a few of Disney’s lesser-known follow-up films have managed to be solid despite their faults, or even great on occasion.

Admittedly, Disney did not allot much budget to their direct-to-DVD sequels, often leaving them with weaker voice casts, animation, and writing compared to their famous older siblings. That being said, unlike Disney’s live-action remakes, the seldom-seen sequels were often able to go in more dramatic, interesting directions compared to the theatrical releases. While many of these stories were misses, a select number of them stand out as clever continuations of the classic stories.

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10 The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride

1998

The Lion King is one of Disney’s most ferociously celebrated classics from its legendary run of animated films in the 90s, so it makes sense that the sequels were a few of the rare successes among the direct-to-DVD stock. Whereas the original adapted William Shakespeare’s Hamlet for the animal kingdom, the second installment instead pivots to Romeo and Juliet. Here, Simba’s daughter, Kiara, falls in love with Kovu, a formerly banished lion once loyal to the traitorous Scar.

Like any straight-to-video sequel, the animation of The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride isn’t quite on the same level as the first movie, but very nearly keeps up despite its leaner budget. The original cast all return, a rarity for sequels of this standard, and the addition of the scheming Zira makes for a great villainess worthy of replacing the unforgettable Scar. It helps that Zira’s signature song, My Lullaby, can stand toe-to-toe with the best Disney villain songs from the mainline films.

9 The Lion King 1 1/2

2004

Many Disney video sequels could be classified as “midquels”, taking place in between the beginning and ending of their original films rather than directly afterward. The Lion King 1 1/2 does the concept one better by being at once a midquel and a prequel to The Lion King, as seen from Timon and Pumbaa’s perspective. Keeping with the Shakespeare theme of the franchise, this film takes inspiration from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a modern play that re-tells Hamlet from the perspective of two minor characters.

Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella return once more to lend their voices to the lovable meerkat and warthog duo, finally getting their deserved time to shine in a dedicated movie. The animation of The Lion King 1 1/2 is shockingly close to being on par with that of the original, with a few genuinely enchanting shots. The fourth-wall-breaking frame story reminiscent of Mystery Science Theater 3000 is also a nice touch of originality, with The Emperor’s New Groove being the only other Disney movie to employ a similar device.

8 Atlantis: Milo’s Return

2003

In many cases, Disney took advantage of their direct-to-video sequels to act as a springboard for spin-off series similarly to how Star Wars: The Clone Wars kicked off the 3-D Clone Wars animated series. Sadly, these extended pilot features didn’t always manifest into a working TV show, as was the case for Atlantis: Milo’s Return. Still, the follow-up to one of Disney’s most underrated movies works as a short but sweet mini-anthology film. The movie has Milo and Kida re-uniting with the gang of mercenaries from the first film to go on three distinct adventures.

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Each vignette is based in legends similar to that of Atlantis while still presenting more supernatural forces for the crew to encounter, taking inspiration from Native American folklore, Norse mythology, and even the works of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. The animation might not hold a candle to that of Atlantis: The Lost Empire, but still provides enough thrills to keep Atlantis: Milo’s Return to be worth a watch for fans of the first film. The eclectic personalities of the mercenary gang get even more moments to shine, although not all of them return for each short story.

7 Mulan II

2004

One of Disney’s best-made princess movies, despite not technically featuring a princess at all, Mulan has stood the test of time as a venerated classic. Even if its sequel falls short in some regards, some of the same mastery on display from the first film does manage to sneak its way through. The film picks up the story of the ongoing Hun invasion, with Mulan and Shang on the precipice of marrying. When Wushu realizes that he’ll lose his lofty title as family guardian upon Mulan taking Shang’s name, he panicks, sabotaging their relationship.

Admittedly, Mulan II is a deeply flawed film, with Wushu’s sudden turn as the antagonist assassinating his character arc from the previous film. However, the true gold of the film comes from Mulan and Shang’s mission to escort the emperor’s daughters to their arranged marriages, only for each of them to fall in love with the comedic trio of soldiers from the first film. As bad as the A plot is, the adorable three romances presented in Mulan II, not to mention the sharp-as-ever comedy, still keep it above average quality compared to other Disney sequels.

6 An Extremely Goofy Movie

2000

Pulling double duty, An Extremely Goofy Movie serves at once as both the sequel to A Goofy Movie and the series finale to the beloved animated show, Goof Troop. Despite this dual responsibility, the film still astonishingly manages to work as a stand-alone film, easily presenting one of the best direct-to-video Disney sequels that nearly outclasses its predecessor. The story this time focuses more on Goofy, as he follows his son to college after getting fired in order to improve his career.

An Extremely Goofy Movie improves upon Max’s story by allowing him to grow in college, while giving Goofy himself more of an arc to complete this time around. Phenomenal character additions like Goofy’s love interest Sylvia, the beatnik poetry girl, and Max’s hilarious rival, Bradley Uppercrust III, keep things fresh in the new college setting. An Extremely Goofy Movie also works as an adorable time capsule of the early 2000s, with slang, fashion, and a love for extreme sports only that particular era could come up with.

5 Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has A Glitch

2005

Despite its title, Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch isn’t actually the first sequel to the original Lilo & Stitch, taking place after the original but before the series pilot film Stitch! The Movie. As the title might imply, the film centers on Stitch’s sudden “glitches” that occur as a result of his genetic manufacturing by Jumba, causing him to terrorize his family in bursts of uncontrollable rage. This destructive behavior soon threatens Lilo’s hula competition, a very important event for the young Hawaiian girl.

The conflict in Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch can get quite heartbreaking, echoing some of the same intense emotions as the first film. The grounded elements of Hawaiian culture are respectfully portrayed in the climactic hula competition, whereas the fictional alien world is built upon further in increasingly creative ways. A specific standout is the continued antagonization of Lilo’s classmate Mertle, who is always enjoyably petty and fun to watch get her comeuppance.

4 Aladdin and the King of Thieves

1996

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While the previous film in the Aladdin series, The Return of Jafar, might be more famous for being the first ever direct-to-DVD Disney sequel, it’s hopelessly outclassed by Aladdin and the King of Thieves. Wedged within the canon of Aladdin: The Series (which isn’t required viewing to enjoy), Aladdin and the King of Thieves incorporates elements from other classic Arabic folk tales from the famous repository of such, One Thousand and One Nights. When Aladdin meets his estranged father, Cassim, the two embark on a journey for the legendary artifact, the Midas Touch.

Aladdin and the King of Thieves is notable for being the only Aladdin spin-off to feature an all-new soundtrack rather than just recycle the hit songs of the original. It’s also famed for being the only time outside the first film that Robin Williams returned as the voice of the Genie, who was previously handled by Dan Castellaneta of Homer Simpson fame. They dynamic between Aladdin and his deadbeat dad is also a unique relationship not commonly seen in Disney movies, ending with a heartwarming realization.

3 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure

2003

Not to be confused with the bizarre live-action follow-up 102 Dalmatians, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure is a surprisingly great action adventure romp. This time around, the focus is on a single of the puppies, Patch, something of an outcast among the horde of spotted dogs. After being forgotten behind when the Radcliffes move, Patch leaves his home to help his hero, a dog that plays a superhero on TV called Thunderbolt, with a publicity campaign. Meanwhile, Cruella de Vil resumes her hunt for the puppies with the aid of a French beatnik artist.

If the plot of 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure sounds familiar, it’s because it bears an uncanny similarity to another Disney film, 2008’s Bolt, with the titular super-dog even having a similar name to Patch’s idol. Weirdly, the 101 Dalmations sequel does this premise way better, getting far more mileage out of the idea of a superhero dog actor while enjoying better writing and beautiful 2D animation. Cruella is also as entertainingly evil as ever, terrifying her new creative partner the second she reveals the true depths of her obsession with the dogs.

2 Cinderella III: A Twist in Time

2007

It’s not often that Disney makes a sequel that’s arguably better than its predecessor, let alone among the hordes of straight-to-DVD filler released in the early-to-mid 2000s. Yet Cinderella III: A Twist in Time just might outdo the original Disney classic narratively, if not artistically. Set a year after the events of the first film, Cinderella III: A Twist in Time revolves around the fallout of a magical time-rewinding spell cast by her wicked stepmother, Lady Tremaine, revising events so that her step-sister Anastasia is the one to fit her shoe into the glass slipper.

Cinderella III: A Twist in Time is almost better than the first Cinderella for a variety of reasons. For one, Cinderella has far more agency in this story, having to actually take matters into her own hands with her fairy godmother’s powers being stolen away. Cinderella, her stepsister, and especially the Prince are all also given far better personalities here than in either of the previous two Cinderella films, making for a strange but clever experience that feels more rich in character than Disney’s earliest princess outings.

1 Return to Neverland

2002

Considering Tinkerbell is the one to appear in Disney’s classic intro, the importance of Peter Pan can’t be understated to the franchise. Luckily, Disney’s take on the classic stage play gets its just deserts with the sequel, Return to Neverland, one of the better straight-to-video affairs. Many years after the first film, a now grown-up Wendy struggles to get by in World War II England, only for her daughter Jane to be captured and brought back to Neverland by Captain Hook’s pirate crew.

Though Return to Neverland is quite similar to the film that came before it, in many ways it works as a more focused, stripped down version of the original story. Without the racist Native American stereotypes or bloated cast of Peter Pan, Jane and Peter’s relationship gets plenty of room to grow, with the lovable Tinkerbell being just as petty as ever in the background. Even if it’s not the most original thing in the world, few Disney sequels are, and Return to Neverland has plenty of high-flying action and wonderful songs to offer.

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