The Emperor's New Groove (My Version)

The Emperor's New Groove is a 2000 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, Imagine Entertainment, Morgan Creek Entertainment and Robert Simonds Productions and released by Walt Disney Pictures through Buena Vista Pictures Distribution on December 15, 2000. The 40th animated feature in the Disney Animated Canon, the film is a comedy including adult and child humor. It stars David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, Patrick Warburton, Wendie Malick and Tom Jones. Produced by Randy Fullmer, James G. Robinson, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, from a screenplay written by David Reynolds, Steve Oedekerk and Kerry Ehrin with a screen story by Chris Williams and directed by Mark Dindal (who co-wrote the screen story) over a six-year production timeline, The Emperor's New Groove was altered significantly from its original concept as a more traditional Disney musical entitled Kingdom of the Sun, to have been directed by Dindal and Roger Allers (co-director of The Lion King). Unlike most Disney films, this has no musical numbers, is very comical and funny, and almost nothing dark or realistically sad happens at all, as a result, many fans consider this a black sheep of the Disney Animated Canon, while others consider it to be spoof of Disney movies, despite the fact that it was made by Disney itself. However, despite being a box office disappointment, the film saw a second life thanks to strong home videos sales and rentals throughout the year of 2001.

The Emperor's New Groove takes place in Peru, where an 18-year-old Emperor Kuzco rules the empire as Yzma, the former empress, plans to take over and rule the empire with the help of her henchman Kronk by poisoning him during his 18th birthday. But when he turns into a llama, he needs help from the leader of the village Pacha to take him back to the palace so he can become a human again while they embark on an adventure.

The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Song for "My Funny Friend and Me" performed by Sting, but lost against "Things Have Changed" by Bob Dylan from Wonder Boys. Although it didn't lose as much money compared to some of the later films, this didn't make much riches as there was some competition with How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Rugrats in Paris: The Movie at the same year this film was released. Today however, the film has gained a large cult following with Disney fans and has become a popular source of memes online.

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