How funny would it be if Disney started making direct-to-DVD sequels as they did in the 90s and 2000s? It’s a period in their filmography that’s easy to forget, certainly — they aren’t very good, they never made it on the big screen, and they were no doubt made in a hurry to make a quick buck or two. The craziest thing about these movies is that the entire cast usually returned for all of them. Most of them were truly baffling and all of them are canon, at least as far as we know. Their plots are messy, but they still made plenty of extra money for Disney.
The Little Mermaid II and III
The Little Mermaid sequels followed Ariel’s daughter, who inexplicably had both legs and a mermaid tail depending on the scene, as well as showing Ariel’s life before the first film. The sequel follows a similar story to the first, while the prequel follows a similar plot to Footloose (we couldn’t even begin to tell you why). They stopped after the third film, but seeing as there’s an upcoming live-action reboot on the way, it’s possible that more sequels to the live-action version could be on the horizon if the movie does well.
Cinderella II and III
The Cinderella sequels are confounding, to say the least. Cinderella II: Dreams Come True is a strange sequel to the first film that follows Cinderella as she becomes a princess but loses herself (?) in the process. It’s barely feature-length — only 73 minutes with credits. The third film, A Twist in Time, is even crazier. The Fairy Godmother’s wand is stolen and time is reversed back to before the events of the first film. Cinderella has to fix the timeline before her life of luxury is gone forever.
The Lion King 1 1/2 and II
The Lion King sequels are actually pretty fun at times. For example, Lion King 1 1/2 tells the story of the first film from the point of view of Timon and Pumbaa. It’s strangely meta, and many praise its wittiness and unique take on the first film. The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride (clever) follows Simba’s daughter and Scar’s son as they try to bridge the divide between the two prides.
Aladdin II and III
Aladdin: Return of Jafar has Jafar coming for Aladdin to get revenge, and Aladdin and the King of Thieves has someone named (you guessed it) The King of Thieves trying to interrupt Aladdin and Jasmine’s wedding. Surprisingly (or not surprisingly), The King of Thieves is the father of the guy aptly nicknamed the Prince of Thieves throughout the series.
Honorable mentions
You’ve also got the Beauty and the Beast sequels, the Lady and the Tramp sequels, the Peter Pan sequels, the Mulan sequels, the Tarzan sequels, the Pocahontas sequels, and the 101 Dalmatians sequels, as well. These things were unstoppable (until they stopped in 2008, of course). We’re not sure if it’s any better that Disney’s in the midst of a massive live-action remake craze. One can be sure we’ll look back on them in 10-15 years with just as much reverence and respect as we have for these direct-to-DVD remakes.
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