While the news of yet another Toy Story is a bit of a surprise, and the third entry in the Frozen franchise was probably inevitable, the star of the teased trio is the tentative Zootopia 2.
Fellow mammals… we’ve been working on something just fur you. Welcome back. #Zootopia2 #Zoo2pia @DisneyAnimation @Disney @DisneyZootopia pic.twitter.com/WmRALA8mqw
— Jared Bush (@thejaredbush) February 8, 2023
Zootopia is one of those blockbuster Disney films that fans have been excitedly hoping will produce a second installment for some time. However, Zootopia is far from being the only sequel-less film in Disney’s fantastic animation catalog.
We could fill entire books with all the Disney movies we’d like to see earn the sequel treatment sometime in the future, but for now, here are seven classic films that deserve another chapter:
Treasure Planet (2002)
Disney’s Treasure Planet is one of those misunderstood films that came out in the wrong era. Although it was a massive commercial failure, Treasure Planet‘s downfall could have been prevented by today’s streaming platforms. A sequel, released exclusively for Disney+, would be something fans of this classic flick would undoubtedly adore.
A proper sequel to Treasure Planet sounds like a bit of a pipe dream. As much as some diehard fans love the film, in an era of cost-cutting and superhero overload, it seems somewhat unlikely that Disney would dig deep into the vault to produce a sequel to one of its “failed” animation projects. That said, I’m still holding onto a bit of hope!
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Bolt (2008)
Starring a talking dog voiced by John Travolta, Bolt lacked the usual cultural impact that usually comes with most Disney releases. It also didn’t help that the film was released in the same year as WALL-E – which also deserves a proper sequel, by the way.
Still, even though not many people remember Bolt, the film has the trademark charm that only the old-school team at Walt Disney Animation Studios knows how to craft. If there ever were a sequel made, it wouldn’t just be a hit among kids and parents alike; it would likely become an instant classic — as long as it follows its predecessor’s formula.
Big Hero 6 (2014)
Modern Disney is all about its superheroes. That said, one of its best superhero flicks in recent memory came from one of the lesser-known characters in the entire Marvel comics universe. Big Hero 6 has more heart than the entire MCU combined, which makes it all the more surprising when we consider that Disney didn’t release a proper follow-up to this outstanding film.
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Sure, the movie spawned a whole array of short films and animated series based on the lovable Baymax, but there hasn’t been any news regarding a proper film sequel. Considering Big Hero 6‘s popularity, however, I think it’s only a matter of time before we hear about a potential sequel.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
Another film that’s on the same boat as Treasure Planet, the visually-impressive Atlantis: The Lost Empire, has a complicated history when it comes to sequels. Everyone at Disney was convinced the film would be a major blockbuster, with plans for a sequel, an animated series, and even a theme park laid out long before the movie hit cinemas.
However, the truth is that traditionally animated films were dead in the water as soon as Toy Story changed the rules of the game in 1996. Atlantis was a major flop, leading to the cancelation of almost every other project in the franchise. However, this is where things get a bit tricky: there was a sequel of sorts to The Lost Empire.
Atlantis: Milo’s Return, marketed as a direct-to-video sequel to Atlantis: The Lost Empire, was actually a collection of three episodes of the canned Team Atlantis animated series. The original film deserves a proper sequel, especially once you look into all the work that went on behind-the-scenes to produce the movie.
Meet the Robinsons (2007)
If there’s one film that summarizes all the things people love about Disney as an institution more than just a company, that would be Meet the Robinsons. Released in 2007, the movie took some visual inspiration from The Incredibles, and it features one of the most surprisingly touching storylines in a sci-fi animated film.
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Despite the raving reviews it got, Meet the Robinsons’ gargantuan budget made it almost impossible to recover financially. As we mentioned before, since this happened before the advent of streaming services, a poor box office performance meant the death of any given franchise, no matter how good they were.
I believe a movie like Meet the Robinsons is just what Disney needs. A wholesome, loving tale about a dysfunctional family in which everyone belongs somehow. It seems a bit unlikely that we’ll ever get a sequel to this film, considering how long it’s been – but hey, stranger things have surely happened in the world of remakes, reboots, and belated sequels!
Ratatouille (2007)
Without a doubt one of the best Pixar films ever released, Ratatouille is essentially a perfect movie. From its character designs to its solid narrative, every aspect of this animated film about a rat who dreams of becoming a chef immediately became a timeless classic.
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Coming up with a sequel to Ratatouille‘s perfect plot would be a bit of a challenge, and many fans would even argue that the film doesn’t need a sequel. That said, almost everyone said the same about Toy Story 3, and Toy Story 4 became an overwhelming box office success. There’s a good chance we might get a second serving of Ratatouille sometime soon.
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
The Princess and the Frog is a bit of an anomaly for Walt Disney Animation Studios. Released in 2009, the movie looks as if it exists in an alternate timeline – one where animated movies still use the same traditional 2D techniques that built Disney’s reputation.
This gorgeous piece of animation cinema lacks a proper sequel, even to this day. An animated series is reportedly coming to Disney+ as a way to expand upon the characters from the film, but that still leaves us without a sequel in the traditional sense of the word.
Perhaps the Disney+ revival might be the push the studio needs to see how much love there is for The Princess and the Frog. It might be a tall order to come up with a sequel that lives up to the original, but it sure won’t hurt to try.
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