The Emperor's New Groove

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The Emperor's New Groove
Directed byMark Dindal
Screenplay byDavid Reynolds
Story byMark Dindal
Chris Williams
Produced byRandy Fullmer
Don Hahn
StarringDavid Spade
John Goodman
Eartha Kitt
Patrick Warburton
Wendie Malick
Music byJohn Debney
Production
company
Distributed byBuena Vista Distribution
Release dates
December 15, 2000 (2000-12-15) (United States)
February 16, 2001 (2001-02-16) (United Kingdom, Ireland, and Finland)
March 15, 2001 (2001-03-15) (Germany)
April 5, 2001 (2001-04-05) (Australia)
April 6, 2001 (2001-04-06) (Mexico and Italy)
Running time
78 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100 million[1]
Box office$169,327,687[1]

The Emperor's New Groove is a 2000 American animated family movie. It was made by Walt Disney Animation Studios released on December 15, 2000, and is the 40th motion picture produced by Disney. The title refers to the fairy tale The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen, but has little in common with the fairy tale.

The movie received an Academy Award nomination for Best Song for "My Funny Friend and Me" performed by Sting. It lost against "Things Have Changed" by Bob Dylan from Wonder Boys.

A direct-to-video sequel, Kronk's New Groove, was released in December 2005. There was also an animated television series, The Emperor's New School, in January 2006.

Plot[change | change source]

Kuzco (David Spade) is a selfish, bratty South American emperor who is selfish and rude to other people. He summons Pacha (John Goodman), the leader of a local village, and tells him he intends to build a holiday resort called for himself, destroying the village.

Meanwhile, Yzma (Eartha Kitt), plans to take over the throne. She and her henchman Kronk (Patrick Warburton), organize a dinner for Kuzco, where they plan to poison him, but Kronk gives Kuzco the wrong poison, transforming him into a llama.

Yzma orders Kronk to dispose of Kuzco. He loses Kuzco, who ends up in Pacha's village. Kuzco orders Pacha to return him to the palace. Pacha agrees, but only if he builds his resort somewhere else. Kuzco refuses and decides to travel back to the palace on his own, but ends up lost in the jungle before he is rescued by Pacha.

Yzma takes control of the empire, but when she learns Kuzco has survived, she and Kronk search for him. Kuzco seemingly agrees with Pacha's demands and they begin to journey back to the palace. Kuzco and Pacha arrive at a roadside diner. Yzma and Kronk have followed them there. Pacha tries to warn Kuzco that Yzma is planning to kill him. Kuzco thinks Pacha is lying and reveals that when he becomes human again, he will continue with his plan to make Pacha's village a resort.

Kuzco overhears Yzma planning to kill him due to his selfishness, he leaves the diner on his own and consigns himself to live out his life as a normal llama, before reuniting with Pacha. When the two return to his house to pick up supplies, they discover Yzma and Kronk have arrived, searching for them. Pacha's family distract Yzma and Kronk, giving Pacha and Kuzco time to get back to the palace. The two go to Yzma's lab to find a potion that can turn Kuzco back into a human.

Yzma and Kronk arrive. The palace guards attack Kuzco but are turned into different animals. Kuzco and Pacha find the potion that will turn him back into a human. They fight Yzma on the palace roof. Yzma is turned into a cat by one of her own potions. Kuzco is transformed back into a human. Kuzco decides to build his resort somewhere else.

Cast[change | change source]

Additional voices were provided by Tony Anselmo, Jeff Bennett, Susan Blu, Cam Clarke, Debi Derryberry, Susan Egan, Pat Fraley, Geri Gorowski, Nikita Hopkins, Eddie Korbich, Mona Marshall, Phil Proctor, David Randolph, Donald Reynolds, Peter Siragusa, Tara Strong and Kari Wahlgren.

Production[change | change source]

According to the 2002 documentary The Sweatbox, The Emperor's New Groove started production in late 1994 by Roger Allers as Kingdom of the Sun, a more traditional Disney animated movie. By 1997 with the releases of both Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame and their financial failures, the executives wanted something more comedic and less formulaic.

Annie Awards[change | change source]

Annie Awards are an award each year for animated movies.

Result Award Winner/Nominee Recipient(s)
Nominated Animated Theatrical Feature
Nominated Individual Achievement in Directing Mark Dindal (Director)
Nominated Individual Achievement in Writing Mark Dindal (Story)
Chris Williams (Story)
David Reynolds (Screenplay)
Nominated Individual Achievement in Storyboarding Stephen J. Anderson (Story Supervisor)
Nominated Individual Achievement in Storyboarding Don Hall (Story Artist)
Nominated Individual Achievement in Production Design Colin Stimpson (Art Director)
Won Individual Achievement in Character Animation Dale Baer (Supervising Animator—Yzma)
Won Individual Achievement in Voice Acting - Female Eartha Kitt ("Yzma")
Nominated Individual Achievement in Voice Acting - Male Patrick Warburton ("Kronk")
Won Individual Achievement in Music Sting (Music/Lyrics)
David Hartley (Music)

References[change | change source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "The Emperor's New Groove". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-01-05.