Emperor's New Groove

Originally, the film wouldn't even exist like we know it now. When they started production on the film in 1994, they had a completely different story in mind. Originally it was going to be another Disney musical film with a story line like The Prince & the Pauper. The emperor would've had a peasant doppelgänger with who he would change places with. A witch wanting to retain her youth needed to get rid of the sun to prevent her from ageing. When she discovers the switch between the emperor and the peasant she decided to turn the emperor into a llama. In his new form he learns about humility and finds love in a llama-herder, together they try and figure out a plan to undo what the witch has done. The film would be guided by a series of songs, which were already finished by the time the switch happened.

After receiving poor feedback, trying to make the story more original and the lack of direction, made it happen that the development suffered a lot. After years of struggle they found out that the story as it was at its current production, it wouldn't be finished in time for the deadline. When they declined the request for an extension, Director Allers quit the project. They than had two weeks to change the story and it changed into what we know is the Emperor's New Groove. 

It has a brilliantly funny storyline unlike Disney had ever produced before its release.What we think of when we hear Disney films we think of fairy tale musicals, full of magic, often looking for love. Sure, since it's release in 2001 another greater diversity of films has been produced, but one of Disney's trademarks is its princesses. The film is filled with a tiny cast and heaps of sarcasm and innuendos. Another comedic element that has been added to the film is the fact that Kuzco narrates nearly half of the film, besides only using a voice over, they added sequences in the film that Kuzco pauses it, to emphasise his clarification. To extend that even further for more comedic purposes they made him draw on the frames as well. Aside from that, a lot of the jokes that are made aren't usually in a film, they're a bit like "fourth wall jokes", discussing things that wouldn't be possible in other features.

 A lot of the designs are quite simple but humorous. The designs of the characters are based off historical clothing from Peru and the Incas. While its landscape design is also based on the environments in Peru, it's more loosely based than geographically correct. A thing I really love about the character designs in this film is that everything is overly exaggerated. Kronk, the ignorant sweetheart who can actually do no one harm, is  a stereotypical design of a buff bodybuilder. Yzma is ultra skinny, emphasising her old age with her saggy skin and it's colour. Kuzco is your average pretty boy in design, with the most "normal" proportions and Pacha the humble family man. All their personalities really shine through in their designs and it adds a lot of charm.