The Emperor's New Groove

In South America, Incan emperor Kuzco has been spoiled his entire life, and has become incredibly conceited. On the day before his 18th birthday, Kuzco announces his plan to demolish a nearby village and have a lavish summer home constructed in its place, despite the objections of its leader Pacha. Kuzco also discovers his elderly advisor and alchemist Yzma is usurping his duties and summarily fires her. Yzma and her bumbling henchman Kronk plot to poison Kuzco's wine and take over the empire before the news of Yzma's termination becomes public. However, Kronk takes the wrong chemical vial from Yzma's laboratory, accidentally turning Kuzco into a llama. Yzma orders Kronk to knock Kuzco out, take him outside the city, and kill him. An attack of conscience and a series of mishaps causes Kronk to drop the sack containing the unconscious Kuzco; the sack lands on the back of Pacha's cart, and Pacha leaves the city before Kronk can catch up to him.

Kuzco awakens in Pacha's backyard, having lost some of his memory. Believing Pacha transformed and kidnapped him, Kuzco orders Pacha to take him home. Pacha refuses to help unless Kuzco changes his mind and builds his summer home elsewhere. Kuzco arrogantly rejects Pacha's demand and ventures into the jungle alone, despite Pacha's warnings. Kuzco is pursued by jaguars, but Pacha saves him. Kuzco begrudgingly agrees to relocate the construction site of his summer home if Pacha takes him home. On the way to the palace, Kuzco tries to renege on his promise; he and Pacha fight on a collapsing bridge, before being forced to work together to escape some crocodiles and a crumbling cliff face. Meanwhile, Yzma discovers Kronk lost Kuzco and the duo set out to find him. At a roadside diner, Pacha and Kuzco arrive at the same time as Yzma and Kronk, but neither party initially notices the other. However, Kronk nearly recognizes Pacha, who overhears Yzma's plans to murder Kuzco. He sneaks Kuzco out of the diner, but Kuzco does not believe Pacha's warnings. Kuzco and Pacha fight again and part ways. Kuzco almost approaches Yzma and Kronk, but overhears them discussing their plans to kill him; they also remark that Kuzco's subjects were not grieved by his apparent death. His self-delusions shattered by Yzma's true colors, Kuzco flees into the jungle to apologize to Pacha, but cannot find him.

The next morning, Kuzco glumly resigns himself to living like a llama but finds Pacha and the duo reconcile. Meanwhile, Kronk remembers where he saw Pacha before and tells Yzma. Kuzco and Pacha return to Pacha's village, only to discover that Yzma and Kronk are in Pacha's house, posing as distant relatives. Pacha's family distracts Yzma to give Pacha and Kuzco a head start; however, Yzma and Kronk still manage to confront the duo in Yzma's lab. Against Yzma's orders of dispatching the duo, Kronk has another attack of conscience and Yzma repeatedly insults him and he tries to kill her instead. Yzma drops Kronk through a trapdoor. As Pacha and Kuzco flee from Yzma and her guards, Kuzco tries several different potions, without success. After figuring out which vial is the "human" potion, Kuzco, Pacha and Yzma fight over it; Yzma is turned into a cat by one of the other potions, and Pacha nearly falls off the side of the palace; this forces Kuzco to rescue Pacha, allowing Yzma to take the vial. With some teamwork and inadvertent assistance from Kronk, the duo defeat Yzma and recover the vial. After becoming human again, Kuzco makes amends with the people he hurt and builds a much smaller summer home on an uninhabited hill near Pacha's village. Meanwhile, Kronk goes on to become the leader of a scout troop, with Yzma, still as a cat, being a reluctant member of it.

{{Main|List of The Emperor's New Groove characters|l1=List of The Emperor's New Groove characters}}

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• David Spade as Emperor Kuzco, the entitled, pampered, and arrogant 18-year-old emperor of the Inca Empire who has no patience for the needs of others and has a lack of compassion
• John Goodman as Pacha, a brave, kind, and humble village leader
• Eartha Kitt as Yzma, Kuzco's evil, elderly advisor who seeks to usurp him
• Patrick Warburton as Kronk, Yzma's hapless but unintelligent muscular henchman
• Wendie Malick as Chicha, Pacha's supportive, pregnant wife
• Kellyann Kelso and Eli Russell Linnetz as Chaca and Tipo respectively, Pacha and Chicha's two young, mischievous children
• Bob Bergen as Bucky the Squirrel—Kronk's companion who hates Yzma and has an unpleasant encounter with Kuzco—and as a fly stuck in a web
• Tom Jones as the Theme Song Guy, Kuzco's personal theme song conductor
• Patti Deutsch as Mata, a waitress at Mudka's Meat Hut
• John Fiedler as Rudy, a well-meaning old man who is first thrown out a window by Kuzco's guards, then later befriends him
• Joe Whyte as the Royal Recordkeeper (aka Official)
• Jack Angel, Danny Mann, Rodger Bumpass, Paul Eiding, and Patrick Pinney as male villagers and additional voices
• Sherry Lynn, Jennifer Darling, and Mickie McGowan as female villagers and additional voices
• Jess Harnell as the Guard who throws Rudy out the window and additional voices
• Rodger Bumpass as one of the Guards who got turned into a cow
• Robert Clotworthy as the Guard pointing Pacha's way and additional voices
• Steve Susskind as an Irate Chef, a former chef at Mudka's Meat Hut who quits due to Kuzco and Kronk
• Miriam Flynn as the Piñata Lady
• Kath Soucie as Birthday Singers
• Andre Stojka and Stephen Anderson as Topo and Ipi, two of Pacha's villagers

{{Quote box|width =30em|quote="Kingdom of the Sun was such a heart-breaking experience for me. I put four years of my heart and energy into that one... I was creating an "epic" picture mixing elements of adventure, comedy, romance and mysticism. The head of Disney Features at the time was afraid that we were doing, in his opinion, too many films in the same vein. He was also uncomfortable with the spiritual and cultural (Inca) aspects of it. Hence, he decided to make it a simple slapstick comedy... Would it have worked out if we had had more time? I would hope so, but one can never know these things."|source=—Roger Allers, reflecting on the troubled history of Kingdom of the Sun{{cite interview | url=http://www.fumettologica.it/2014/12/intervista-roger-allers-re-leone/2/ | title=Intervista a Roger Allers, il regista de Il Re Leone | first=Andrea | last=Fiamma | website=Fumettologica | date=12 December 2014 | access-date=8 February 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201005055/http://www.fumettologica.it/2014/12/intervista-roger-allers-re-leone/2/ | archive-date=February 1, 2015 | url-status=live }}}}

Following the theatrical release of The Lion King (1994), Roger Allers was called into Thomas Schumacher's office to discuss his next project. Inside his office, Schumacher explained that Disney Feature Animation was interested in exploring ancient cultures for prospective film projects. He held three pictures representative of the Inca, Aztec, and Mayan cultures. Allers chose the Inca culture as he became intrigued with the visual possibilities of the Inca creation myth. Allers would base his story on Anthony Hope's adventure novel The Prisoner of Zenda.{{cite news |last=Ebiri |first=Bilge |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/an-oral-history-of-disney-the-emperors-new-groove.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127132449/https://www.vulture.com/article/an-oral-history-of-disney-the-emperors-new-groove.html |title='We'll Never Make That Kind of Movie Again' An oral history of The Emperor's New Groove, a raucous Disney animated film that almost never happened. |url-status=live |work=Vulture |date=January 27, 2021 |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |access-date=January 27, 2021}}

Alongside co-writer Matthew Jacobs, Allers formulated the idea for Kingdom of the Sun,{{cite book |last=Laporte |first=Nicole |title=The Men Who Would Be King: An Almost Epic Tale of Moguls, Movies, and a Company Called DreamWorks |year=2011 |publisher=Mariner Books |pages=208–9 |isbn=978-0-547-52027-8 }} in which development on the project began in 1994.{{cite news | url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2000-12-13/lifestyle/0012120542_1_major-animated-feature-love-story-plot | last=Kuklenski | first=Valerie | title=Finding the Groove | agency=Los Angeles Daily News | newspaper=The Sun Sentinel | date=December 13, 2000 | access-date=September 1, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233225/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2000-12-13/lifestyle/0012120542_1_major-animated-feature-love-story-plot | archive-date=December 2, 2013 | url-status=dead }} Upon pitching the project to then-Disney CEO and chairman Michael Eisner, Allers recalled Eisner saying "It has all of the elements of a classic Disney film,"{{cite video|people= Styler, Trudie |title=The Sweatbox |medium=Documentary film|publisher=Xingu Films|location=Burbank, California|date=2002}} and because of his directorial success on The Lion King that same year, Eisner allowed Allers to have free rein with both the casting and the storyline.{{cite news | title=Llama drama | last=Leigh | first=Danny | url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/feb/14/artsfeatures | work=The Guardian | date=February 14, 2001 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915203455/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/feb/14/artsfeatures | archive-date=September 15, 2016 | url-status=live }} In January 1995, Variety reported that Allers was working on "an Inca-themed original story".{{cite news | url=https://variety.com/1995/scene/markets-festivals/the-men-behind-the-king-99125330/ | title=The Men Behind The 'King' | work=Variety | date=January 8, 1995 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208083325/http://variety.com/1995/scene/markets-festivals/the-men-behind-the-king-99125330/ | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live }} In 1996, the production crew traveled to Machu Picchu in Peru, to study Inca artifacts and architecture, and the landscape this empire was created in.{{cite news | url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2000/12/15/royal-pain-but-the-agonizing-pays-off/ | title=Royal Pain But The Agonizing Pays Off | last=Moore | first=Roger | newspaper=Orlando Sentinel | date=December 15, 2000 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208083233/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2000-12-15/entertainment/0012150016_1_sting-empires-emperor | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live}}Supplemental Features: The Research Trip

Kingdom of the Sun was to have been a tale of a greedy, selfish emperor (voiced by David Spade) who finds a peasant (voiced by Owen Wilson) who looks just like him; the emperor swaps places with the peasant to escape his boring life and have fun, much as in author Mark Twain's archetypal novel The Prince and the Pauper. However, the villainous witch Yzma (voiced by Eartha Kitt) has plans to summon Supay (the evil god of death), and destroy the sun so that she may become young and beautiful forever (the sun gives her wrinkles, so she surmises that living in a world of darkness would prevent her from aging). Discovering the switch between the prince and the peasant, Yzma turns the real emperor into a llama and threatens to reveal the pauper's identity unless he obeys her. During his time as the emperor and doing Yzma's orders, the pauper falls in love with the emperor's soon-to-be fiancée Nina who thinks he is the emperor who has changed his ways. Meanwhile, the emperor-llama learns humility in his new form and even comes to love a female llama-herder named Mata (voiced by Laura Prepon).{{cite web | url=http://inspectorcleuzo.blogspot.com/2014/05/from-90s-emperors-new-groove-almost.html | title=From the 90's – The Emperor's New Groove Almost Made it Character | first=Sandro | last=Cleuzo | website=Inspector Cleuzo |via=Blogspot | date=May 1, 2014 | access-date=February 14, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215053559/http://inspectorcleuzo.blogspot.com/2014/05/from-90s-emperors-new-groove-almost.html | archive-date=February 15, 2015 | url-status=dead}} Together, the girl and the llama set out to undo the witch's plans. The book Reel Views 2 says the film would have been a "romantic comedy musical in the 'traditional' Disney style".{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y1LmH8ld1yoC&q=%22kingdom+of+the+sun%22+disney&pg=PT68 | title=Reel Views 2 | access-date=January 8, 2013 | author=James Berardinelli and Roger Ebert | year=2005 | page=55| publisher=Justin, Charles & Co. | isbn=978-1-932-11240-5 }}

Following the underwhelming box office performances of Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, studio executives felt that the project was growing too ambitious and serious for audiences following test screenings, and needed more comedy. In early 1997, producer Randy Fullmer contacted and offered Mark Dindal, who had just wrapped up work on Warner Bros.' Cats Don't Dance, to be co-director on Kingdom of the Sun.{{cite interview |interviewer=Joe Strike |subject=Mark Dindal |title=Mark Dindal's Place in the Sun |url=http://www.awn.com/mag/issue5.08/5.08pages/strikedindal.php3 |access-date=February 8, 2015 |date=November 18, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208082024/http://www.awn.com/mag/issue5.08/5.08pages/strikedindal.php3 |archive-date=February 8, 2015 |url-status=live }} Meanwhile, Allers personally called Sting, in the wake of Elton John's success with The Lion King{{'s}} soundtrack, to compose several songs for the film. He agreed, but on the condition that his filmmaker wife Trudie Styler could "document the process of the production".{{cite news | url=https://variety.com/2002/film/reviews/the-sweatbox-1200545932/ | title=Review: 'The Sweatbox' | last=Harvey | first=David | work=Variety | access-date=February 8, 2015 | date=September 27, 2002 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208083600/http://variety.com/2002/film/reviews/the-sweatbox-1200545932/ | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live}} This film, which was eventually entitled The Sweatbox, was made by Xingu Films (their production company). Along with collaborator David Hartley, Sting composed eight songs inextricably linked with the original plot and characters.

In the summer of 1997, it was announced that Allers and Dindal would serve as the film's directors and Randy Fullmer as producer. Spade and Kitt had been confirmed to voice the emperor Manco and the villainess, while Carla Gugino was in talks for the role of Nina.{{cite news | url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/disney-s-spade-sting-along-1116676286/ | title=Disney's Spade Sting-along | work=Variety | date=July 24, 1997 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208083444/http://variety.com/1997/film/news/disney-s-spade-sting-along-1116676286/ | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Strauss |title=Disney draws out blockbusters into next century|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=February 8, 2015 |date=June 27, 1997 |first=Bob |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4383470.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329170039/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4383470.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015}} Harvey Fierstein was also cast as Huaca, a 10,000-year-old rock who kept a sharp eye on the emperors who ruled before Manco.

In the summer of 1998, it became apparent that Kingdom of the Sun was not far along enough in production to be released in the summer of 2000 as planned. At this time, one of the Disney executives reportedly walked into Fullmer's office and, placing his thumb and index finger a quarter-inch apart, angrily stated "Your film is this close to being shut down." Fullmer approached Allers and informed him of the need to finish the film on time for its summer 2000 release as crucial promotional deals with McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and other companies were already established and depended upon meeting that release date. From screenings, Allers' vision of the film was recognized as having far too many elements. Schumacher and Peter Schneider spoke to Allers and Dindal to try to work out a pared-down film, but the two had different ideas for which direction to take the film. Schumacher and Schneider broke the staff into two small teams under Allers and Dindal and effectively had them run a "bake-off" to decide which version to go. While Allers altered some of the details of the original pitch, Dindal proposed a complete tonal shift into a comedy that Schumacher and Schneider responded favorably to. Allers allowed Dindal's version of the film to go forward and opted to step down from co-director. With this change in direction, on September 23, 1998,{{cite news| last=Moore | first=Roger | title='The Emperor's New Groove' developed from earlier project | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208083101/http://lubbockonline.com/stories/122200/aro_122200006.shtml | url=http://lubbockonline.com/stories/122200/aro_122200006.shtml | work=Knight-Ridder | publisher=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | date=December 22, 2000 | access-date=February 8, 2015}} the project became dormant with production costs amounting to $25–30 million and twenty-five percent of the film animated.{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-feb-26-ca-11769-story.html | title=Production on Animated Films Gets Drawn Out | last=Natale | first=Richard | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=February 26, 1999 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326201048/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-feb-26-ca-11769-story.html | archive-date=March 26, 2019 | url-status=live }}

Upset that Allers left the project, Eisner gave Fullmer two weeks to salvage the project or production would be completely shut down. In December 1998, Fullmer and Dindal halted production for six months to retool the project, renaming it from Kingdom of the Sun to Kingdom in the Sun, thus making it the first Disney animated feature to have an extensive overhaul since Pinocchio.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedmoviegui0000beck |url-access=registration |quote=kingdom of the sun jerry beck. | title=The Animated Movie Guide |publisher=Chicago Review Press | page=[https://archive.org/details/animatedmoviegui0000beck/page/72 72]| last=Beck | first=Jerry | year=2005| access-date=September 3, 2013}} Meanwhile, following Eric Goldberg's pitch for the Rhapsody in Blue segment for Fantasia 2000, the animators were reassigned to work on the segment.{{cite web | url=http://www.awn.com/animationworld/rhapsody-blue-fantasia-2000s-jewel-crown | title=Rhapsody in Blue: Fantasia 2000's Jewel in the Crown | last=Solomon | first=Charles | publisher=Animation World Network | date=December 1, 1999 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208081754/http://www.awn.com/animationworld/rhapsody-blue-fantasia-2000s-jewel-crown | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live }}

Story work on the revised film started when they knew what to retain from the original version, namely David Spade as Manco and Eartha Kitt as Yzma, with the remaining elements to be written around those characters. Chris Williams, who was a storyboard artist during Kingdom of the Sun,{{cite book |last=Canemaker |first=John |date=October 21, 1999 |title=Paper Dreams: The Art And Artists Of Disney Storyboards |publisher=Hyperion |pages=1–3 |isbn=978-0786863075}} came up with the idea of making Pacha an older character as opposed to the teenager that he was in the original version, as to be the opposite of Manco.{{cite web | url=http://www.cinemareview.com/production.asp?prodid=1198 | title=The Emperor's New Groove – Origins of the Project | website=Cinema Review | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208082408/http://www.cinemareview.com/production.asp?prodid=1198 | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=dead }} Following up on the new idea, former late-night comedy writer David Reynolds stated, "I pitched a simple comedy that's basically a buddy road picture with two guys being chased in the style of a Chuck Jones 'toon, but faster paced. Disney said, 'Give it a shot.{{'}}"{{Cite news |last=Perlman |title=South Sider pens 'New Groove'|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=February 8, 2015 |date=December 25, 2000 |first=Cindy |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4563995.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329170036/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4563995.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015}} One of the new additions to the revised story was the scene-stealing character of Yzma's sidekick Kronk.{{Cite news |last=Proctor |title=Groovin' to the emperor's beat |newspaper=New Straits Times |access-date=February 8, 2015 |date=December 31, 2002 |first=Melanie|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-82718665.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329170043/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-82718665.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015}} Kronk was inspired by actor Rick Rossovich, according to Williams, and as they wrote for him, Reynolds immediately thought of casting Patrick Warburton for the role based on his character Puddy from Seinfeld. Meanwhile, the name Manco was changed to Kuzco following Fullmer's discovery of the Japanese slang term manko, which translates to cunt. Due in part to the production shutdown, Sting began to develop schedule conflicts with his songwriting duties interfering with his work on the next album he was planning to record in Italy. "I write the music, and then they're supposed to animate it, but there are constantly changes being made. It's constantly in turnaround," the singer-songwriter admitted, but "I'm enjoying it."{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208092129/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/STING+JUGGLES+DISNEY+CHORES+WITH+ALBUM,+ACTING+GIGS.-a083847598|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/STING+JUGGLES+DISNEY+CHORES+WITH+ALBUM,+ACTING+GIGS.-a083847598|title=Sting juggles Disney chores with album, acting gigs|last2=Beck|first2=Marilyn|last1=Smith|first1=Stacy Jenel|via=TheFreeLibrary|work=Los Angeles Daily News|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 8, 2015|date=November 2, 1998|access-date=February 8, 2015}} Because of the shutdown, the animated film Dinosaur assumed the summer 2000 release date originally scheduled for Kingdom.

Andreas Deja declined to return to the film after observing his more serious version of Yzma was incompatible with the new comedic tone of the film, and moved to Orlando, Florida to work on Lilo & Stitch. Animator Dale Baer would replace Deja as the supervising animator for Yzma.{{cite web | url=http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2005/05/20/608.aspx | title=A work-in-progress version of Why For finally finished! | last=Hill | first=Jim | publisher=Jim Hill Media | date=May 19, 2005 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208081525/http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2005/05/20/608.aspx | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live }} Fullmer would inform Sting by telephone that his songs, related to specific scenes and characters that were now gone, had to be dropped.{{Cite news |last=Vincent|title=Wacky "Emperor's New Groove" Is Departure from Typical Disney Fare| newspaper=Virginian Pilot |access-date=February 14, 2015 |date=December 18, 2000 |first=Mal |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-68267155.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329175336/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-68267155.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 29, 2015 |quote=But someone had to call Sting and tell him that all his songs would be thrown out. 'As the producer, it fell to me,' Fullmer said. 'It wasn't easy. He had taken a full year off to work on the movie's score. He didn't want to compose while he was touring.'}} Bitter about the removal of his songs, the pop musician commented "At first, I was angry and perturbed. Then I wanted some vengeance." Disney eventually agreed to allow three of the six deleted songs as bonus tracks on the soundtrack album, such as Yzma's villain song "Snuff Out the Light", the love song "One Day She'll Love Me" and the dance number "Walk the Llama, Llama".{{cite news | title=Singer stung by Disney cartoon | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1696&dat=20001214&id=R_0cAAAAIBAJ&pg=6672,1768624 | last=Breznican | first=Anthony | agency=Associated Press | date=December 14, 2000 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | via=Google News Archive | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212211255/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1696&dat=20001214&id=R_0cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GpgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6672,1768624 | archive-date=December 12, 2017 | url-status=live }} The plot elements, such as the romance between the llama herder Pacha and Manco's betrothed Nina, the sun-capturing villain scheme, similarities to The Prince and the Pauper story, and Inca mythology were dropped. The character of Huaca was also dropped, though he would make a cameo appearance as the candle holder during the dinner scene in the finished film.Audio commentary Kuzco—who was a supporting character in the original story—became the protagonist.{{Cite news |last=Mooney|title= How Disney got its 'Groove' back Film reworked, revamped repeatedly| newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=February 8, 2015 |date=December 17, 2000 |first=Joshua |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4563995.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329170036/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4563995.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015}}

In the summer of 1999, cast members Owen Wilson, Harvey Fierstein, and Trudie Styler were dropped from the film.{{cite web | url=http://www.awn.com/animationworld/why-does-it-take-ten-years | title=Why Does It Take Ten Years!?! | last=Backes | first=Evan | publisher=Animation World Network | date=April 1, 2001 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208081647/http://www.awn.com/animationworld/why-does-it-take-ten-years | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live }} Kitt and Spade remained in the cast, Dindal commented, "[a]nd then John Goodman and Patrick Warburton came aboard."{{cite news | title=Into the Groove | url=http://fj.webedia.us/groove | last=Feld | first=Bruce | work=Film Journal International | date=December 1, 2000 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103182511/http://fj.webedia.us/groove | archive-date=January 3, 2020 | url-status=live }} After Sting's songs for Kingdom of the Sun were dropped from the new storyline, Sting remained on the project, though he was told by the studio that "[a]ll we want is a beginning and an end song."{{cite news | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/nydn-features/sting-new-ethics-star-pushed-disney-emperor-find-greener-groove-article-1.895260 | title=STING'S 'NEW' ETHICS Star pushed Disney's 'Emperor' to find a greener 'Groove' | last=Miller | first=Nancy | newspaper=New York Daily News | date=December 12, 2000 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208083617/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/nydn-features/sting-new-ethics-star-pushed-disney-emperor-find-greener-groove-article-1.895260 | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live }} The song, "Perfect World", was approached "to open the movie with a big, fun number that established the power of Kuzco and showed how he controlled the world", according to then-Feature Animation president Thomas Schumacher.{{cite news | url=http://www.philstar.com:8080/entertainment/92349/disney-films-are-young-and-young-heart-funfare-ricardo-f-lo | title=Disney films are for young and the young-at-heart | last=Lo | first=Richard | newspaper=The Philippine Star | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208082625/http://www.philstar.com:8080/entertainment/92349/disney-films-are-young-and-young-heart-funfare-ricardo-f-lo | date=January 3, 2001 |archive-date=February 8, 2015 | df=mdy-all }} The filmmakers had asked Sting to perform the song for the film, though Sting declined by telling them that he was too old to sing it and that they should find someone younger and hipper. They instead went with Tom Jones, who is eleven years older than Sting.{{cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/top/2530/12/The-Emperors-New-Groove-2000-50-things-you-might-not-know-about-your-favorite-Disney-films.html|title=50 things you might not know about your favorite Disney films, 1998–2013 edition|last=Hicken|first=Jackie|newspaper=Deseret News|date=June 24, 2014|access-date=February 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719054251/https://www.deseretnews.com/top/2530/12/The-Emperors-New-Groove-2000-50-things-you-might-not-know-about-your-favorite-Disney-films.html|archive-date=July 19, 2018|url-status=dead}}

In February 2000, the new film was announced as The Emperor's New Groove with its new story centering on a spoiled Inca Emperor—voiced by Spade—who through various twists and falls ends up learning the true meaning of friendship and happiness from a poor peasant voiced by Goodman. The release date was shifted to December 2000.{{cite news | url=http://www.empireonline.com/News/story.asp?nid=14893 | title=Hot News: Disney's Dynamic Slate | work=Empire | date=February 1, 2000 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208082854/http://www.empireonline.com/News/story.asp?nid=14893 | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=dead}} Despite the phrasing of the title, the film is not related to Hans Christian Andersen's classic Danish fairy tale "The Emperor's New Clothes" (although both stories involve an emperor being tricked).{{cite news | url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2000-12-15-0012150014-story.html | title=A Toon Just For Fun | last=Boyar | first=Jay | date=December 1, 2000 | newspaper=Orlando Sentinel | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103182133/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2000-12-15-0012150014-story.html | archive-date=January 3, 2020 | url-status=live }} However, according to Mark V. Moorhead of the Houston Press, the film's plot does bear some resemblance to that of The Golden Ass by Lucius Apuleius, wherein a man is turned into a donkey.{{cite web | url=http://www.houstonpress.com/film/jonesing-for-a-new-groove-6562706 | title=Jonesing for a New Groove | last=Moorhead | first=Mark V. | date=December 14, 2000 | newspaper=Houston Press | access-date=November 16, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116185825/http://www.houstonpress.com/film/jonesing-for-a-new-groove-6562706 | archive-date=November 16, 2017 | url-status=live }}

Eisner worried that the new story was too close in tone to Hercules, which had performed decently yet below expectations at the American box office. Dindal and Fullmer assured him that The Emperor's New Groove, as the film was now called, would have a much smaller cast, making it easier to attract audiences. Towards the end of production, the film's ending originally had Kuzco building his Kuzcotopia amusement park on another hill by destroying a rainforest near Pacha's home and inviting the former and his family to visit. Horrified at the ending, Sting commented "I wrote them a letter and said, 'You do this, I'm resigning because this is exactly the opposite of what I stand for. I've spent 20 years trying to defend the rights of indigenous people and you're just marching over them to build a theme park. I will not be party to this.'"{{cite news | url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/sting-29-1392551 | title=Sting Forces Disney to Check Its '...Groove' | date=December 12, 2000 | work=New Musical Express | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103233849/https://www.nme.com/news/music/sting-29-1392551 | archive-date=January 3, 2020 | url-status=live }} As a result, the ending was rewritten in which Kuzco instead constructs a shack similar to Pacha's and spends his vacation among the villagers.Supplemental Features – Deleted and Unused Scenes, Including 'Destruction of Pacha's Village,' 'Pacha's Family' and 'Original Kuscotopia Ending'

During the production of Kingdom of the Sun, Deja was the initial supervising animator of Yzma and incorporated supermodel poses published in magazines to capture Yzma's sultry, seductive persona.{{cite web | url=http://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2011/09/early-yzma.html | title=Early Yzma | last=Deja | first=Andreas | date=September 25, 2011 | website=Deja View |via=Blogspot | access-date=February 14, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215061158/http://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2011/09/early-yzma.html | archive-date=February 15, 2015 | url-status=live}} Nik Ranieri was originally slated as the supervising animator for Yzma's rocky sidekick, Hucua. During the research trip to Peru in 1996, Ranieri acknowledged that he "was researching for a character that looked like a rock so I was stuck drawing rocks for the whole trip. Then when we got back they piled it into this story about ancient Incas."{{Cite news |last=Mellor |title=Video: Get That Funky Groove; Classy Animation and Amazing Computer Technology Come Up Trumps in Two Action-Packed Films |work=The Mirror |via=The Free Library |access-date=February 14, 2015 |date=November 9, 2001 |first=Jessica |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Video%3a+Get+that+funky+groove%3b+Classy+animation+and+amazing+computer...-a079889743 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215044104/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Video%3a+Get+that+funky+groove%3b+Classy+animation+and+amazing+computer...-a079889743 |archive-date=February 15, 2015 |url-status=live }} Mark Pudleiner was to be the supervising animator of Kuzco's proposed maiden, Nina.{{cite web | url=http://markpudleiner.blogspot.com/2014/11/kingdom-of-sun-rough-nina-sketches-and.html | title=KINGDOM of the SUN – Rough 'Nina' sketches and Animation Test | last=Pudleiner | first=Mark |via=Blogspot | date=November 25, 2014 | access-date=February 15, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215065834/http://markpudleiner.blogspot.com/2014/11/kingdom-of-sun-rough-nina-sketches-and.html | archive-date=February 15, 2015 | url-status=live }} In early 1997, David Pruiksma came on board to animate the llama, Snowball.{{cite web | url=http://www.pruiksma.com/Bio.html | title=DAVID PRUIKSMA – A Biography | date=August 2007 | access-date=February 15, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150306083321/http://www.pruiksma.com/Bio.html | archive-date=March 6, 2015 | url-status=live }} According to Pruiksma, Snowball was "a silly, vain and egotistical character, rather the dumb blond of the llama set. I really enjoyed developing the character and doing some early test animation on her as well. Before I left the film (and it was ultimately shelved), I created model sheets for not only Snowball, but for the rest of the herd of seven other llamas and for Kuzco as a Llama."{{cite interview | url=http://animatedviews.com/2009/oliver-co-animator-dave-pruiksma/ | title=Once Upon A Time In New York City: Oliver & Company Animator Dave Pruiksma! | interviewer=Jérémie Noyer | website=Animated Views | date=January 30, 2009 | access-date=February 14, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215054649/http://animatedviews.com/2009/oliver-co-animator-dave-pruiksma/ | archive-date=February 15, 2015 | url-status=live }} When the film was placed on production shutdown, Pruiksma transferred to work on Atlantis: The Lost Empire being developed concurrently and ultimately the llama characters were dropped from the storyline.

Following the production overhaul and the studio's attempts for more cost-efficient animated features, Dindal urged for "a simpler approach that emphasized the characters rather than overwhelming special effects or cinematic techniques". Because of the subsequent departure of Deja, animator Dale L. Baer inherited the character of Yzma. Using Kitt's gestures during recording sessions, Baer commented "She has a natural voice for animation and really got into the role. She would gesture wildly and it was fun just to watch her. She would come into each session almost serious and very professional and suddenly she would go wild and break up laughing."{{Cite news |last=Amry|title=New groove to an old legend| newspaper=New Straits Times |access-date=February 13, 2015 |date=March 18, 2001 |first=Shareem |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-82582318.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329175252/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-82582318.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015}} Ranieri was later asked to serve as the supervising animator of Kuzco (as a human and a llama), though he would admit being reluctant at first until he discovered that Kuzco "had a side to him, there was a lot of comedy potential and as a character he went through an arc". Pudleiner was also reassigned to work as an animator of the human version of Kuzco.{{cite news | url=http://articles.glendalenewspress.com/2000-12-20/news/export42362_1_kuzco-animators-mark-dindal | title=Keeping Disney's 'Emperor' in the groove | last=Tolford | first=Katherine | newspaper=Glendale News-Press | location=Glendale, California | date=December 20, 2000 | access-date=February 14, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215045654/http://articles.glendalenewspress.com/2000-12-20/news/export42362_1_kuzco-animators-mark-dindal | archive-date=February 15, 2015 | url-status=dead}} In addition to drawing inspiration from Spade during recording sessions, the Kuzco animation team studied llamas at the zoo, visited a llama farm, watched nature documentaries, and even observed the animals up close when they came for a visit to the studio. For the rewritten version of Pacha, animator Bruce W. Smith observed that "Pacha is probably the most human of all the characters," and further added that he "has more human mannerisms and realistic traits, which serve as a contrast to the cartoony llama he hangs out with. He is the earthy guy who brings everything back into focus. Being a big fellow about six-foot-five and weighing about 250 pounds we had to work hard to give him a sense of weight and believability in his movement."{{cite web | url=http://www.cinemareview.com/production.asp?prodid=1199 | title=The Emperor's New Groove – Animating The Characters | website=Cinema Review | access-date=February 14, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208114355/http://www.cinemareview.com/production.asp?prodid=1199 | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=dead}}

Actual animation began in May 1999, involving 400 artists, 300 technicians, and production personnel. Outside of the Walt Disney Feature Animation studio building in Burbank, California, animators located at Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida and Walt Disney Feature Animation Paris assisted in the production of The Emperor's New Groove.{{cite web|title=The Emperor's New Groove (2000)|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b809ef7ea|publisher=British Film Institute|access-date=February 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301010420/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b809ef7ea|archive-date=March 1, 2017|url-status=dead}} During the last eighteen months of production, a 120-crew of clean-up artists would take the character animators' drawings and place a new piece of paper over the existing drawing to draw a cleaner, more refined image. "We're basically the final designers", said clean-up supervisor Vera Pacheco, whose crew worked on more than 200,000 drawings for the film.{{cite news | url=http://articles.glendalenewspress.com/2000-12-20/news/export42359_1_crew-character-clean-up | title=Clean-up crew keeps the character's essence | last=Tolford | first=Katherine | newspaper=Glendale News-Press | location=Glendale, California | date=December 20, 2000 | access-date=February 14, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215043925/http://articles.glendalenewspress.com/2000-12-20/news/export42359_1_crew-character-clean-up | archive-date=February 15, 2015 | url-status=dead }} The motion reference material for the film was extensive, and included live-action footage of the actors, including Gustavo Rodríguez (born in 1981 in Caracas, Venezuela), Delia Reátegui (born 1963), Alonso Cano (born 1989) and Gabriela Villalobos (born 1988) as Kuzco, Chicha and Chicha's slim children Tipo and Chaca, respectively, performing the scenes.

{{Main|The Emperor's New Groove (soundtrack)}}

After the release date had shifted to December 15, 2000, similarities were noted between the film and DreamWorks Animation's The Road to El Dorado.{{cite news |title=The Road to El Dorado Preview |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2000/02/11/road-el-dorado |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 11, 2000 |access-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208092139/http://www.ew.com/article/2000/02/11/road-el-dorado |archive-date=February 8, 2015 |url-status=live }} Jeffrey Katzenberg had been at Disney while production began on Kingdom of the Sun, but then left and started DreamWorks in 1994, and there is some speculation that The Road to El Dorado was based on what Katzenberg had seen at Disney. Marc Lument, a visual development artist in El Dorado, claimed "It really was a race, and Katzenberg wanted ours out before theirs." Lument also added "We didn't know exactly what they were doing, but we had the impression it was going to be very similar. Whoever came out second would face the impression that they copied the other." Fullmer and Dindal denied the similarities with the latter commenting "This version [The Emperor's New Groove] was well in the works when that movie came out," and further added, "Early on, when our movie got to be very comic, all of us felt that you can't be making this farce about a specific group of people unless we are going to poke fun at ourselves. This didn't seem to be a proper choice about Incas or any group of people. It was more of a fable."{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-13-ca-64717-story.html | title=Disney Moves to 'New Groove' | last=Welkos | first=Robert | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=December 13, 2000 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119065807/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/dec/13/entertainment/ca-64717 | archive-date=January 19, 2015 | url-status=live }}

The marketing campaign for The Emperor's New Groove was relatively restrained as Disney opted to heavily promote the release of 102 Dalmatians, which was released during Thanksgiving.{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB976751561781373735 | title=Disney Hopes to Get Its 'Groove' Back in Suffering Family Films | last=Orwall | first=Bruce | newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | date=December 14, 2000 | access-date=February 14, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705095316/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB976751561781373735 | archive-date=July 5, 2015 | url-status=live }} Nevertheless, the film was accompanied by six launcher toys of Kuzco, Kuzco as a llama, Pacha, Yzma, Yzma as a cat, and Kronk,{{cite journal | first=Helaine | last=Silverman | url=http://www.sagepub.com/mcdonaldizationstudy5/articles/Disneyization_Articles%20PDFs/Silverman.pdf | title=Groovin' to ancient Peru: A critical analysis of Disney's The Emperor's New Groove | journal=Journal of Social Archaeology |year=2002 | doi=10.1177/146960530200200302 | pages=298–322 | s2cid=162285105 | via=SAGE Publishing | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208082124/http://www.sagepub.com/mcdonaldizationstudy5/articles/Disneyization_Articles%20PDFs/Silverman.pdf | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live }} accompanied by Happy Meals at McDonald's in North America. McDonald's also released toys for the film in Europe, Asia,Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/e-D70CupaAg Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201218075719/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-D70CupaAg&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-D70CupaAg|title=LBTVc McDonalds Emperor's New Groove|via=YouTube|access-date=July 4, 2015}}{{cbignore}} and Australia.{{cite web|url=http://members.iinet.net.au/~mclerp/catalog/01newgroove.jpg|title=01newgroove.jpg|website=members.iinet.net.au|access-date=July 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030911174656/http://members.iinet.net.au/~mclerp/catalog/01newgroove.jpg|archive-date=September 11, 2003|url-status=live}}

The film premiered at the El Capitan Theatre on December 10, 2000, with Sting in attendance.{{cite news |last=Portman |first=Jamie |title=Sting Had Six Songs Junked But Singer Just Kept Writing More |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113316135/sting-had-six-songs-junked-jamie-portm/ |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=Calgary Herald |date=December 11, 2000 |pages=50}}{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Doreen |title=Selected Miscellaneous Shows |url=https://www.sting.com/tour/date/2067 |website=Sting.com |access-date=November 19, 2022 |language=en |date=December 10, 2000 |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527124317/https://www.sting.com/tour/date/2067 |url-status=live }}

The film was released on VHS and DVD on May 2, 2001, and September 30, 2003, as well as a "2-Disc Collector's Edition" that included bonus features such as Sting's music video of "My Funny Friend and Me", a Rascal Flatts music video of "Walk the Llama, Llama" from the soundtrack, audio commentary with the filmmakers, a multi-skill-level set-top game with the voice cast, and deleted scenes among other features.{{cite press release|title=Walt Disney Pictures' The Emperor's New Groove; Disney DVD and 'Ultimate Groove' 2-Disc DVD Set; Wild Animated Fun In The Spirit of Disney's ALADDIN Available To Own May 1. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208091918/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Walt+Disney+Pictures'+THE+EMPEROR'S+NEW+GROOVE%3b+Disney+DVD+and...-a070703096 |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Walt+Disney+Pictures%27+THE+EMPEROR%27S+NEW+GROOVE%3b+Disney+DVD+and...-a070703096 | location=Burbank, California | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | date=February 21, 2001 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | via=TheFreeLibrary.com | work=Business Wire |url-status=dead}} This THX-certified DVD release also contained a DTS 5.1 audio track and DVD-ROM.{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdizzy.com/emperor.html|title=The Emperor's New Groove DVD Review|date=August 11, 2014|website=DVDizzy.com|access-date=March 10, 2022|archive-date=November 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129020520/https://dvdizzy.com/emperor.html|url-status=live}} Unlike its theatrical box office performance, the film performed better on home video, becoming the top-selling home video release of 2001.{{cite magazine |date=January 12, 2002 |title=The Year in Video 2001: The Year in Charts |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9Q8EAAAAMBAJ&q=emperor%27s+new+groove+home+video+sales&pg=PA68 |magazine=Billboard |volume=114 |issue=2 |page=67 |via=Google Books |access-date=June 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722194746/http://books.google.com/books?id=9Q8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA68&lpg=PA68&dq=emperor%27s+new+groove+home+video+sales&source=bl&ots=q-3vq4bS-5&sig=kZqeefs_RSvn2Jw1jkbngAnS9Bc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=BW2nU8nqDZKfyAStt4GoCA&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=emperor's%20new%20groove%20home%20video%20sales&f=false |archive-date=July 22, 2014 |url-status=live }} In September 2001, it was reported that six million VHS units were sold amounting to $89 million in revenue. On DVD, it was also reported it had sold twice as many sales. The overall revenue averaged toward $125 million according to Adams Media Research.{{cite news | url=https://variety.com/2001/digital/news/disney-ramps-up-vid-preem-sequel-slate-1117852843/ | title=Disney ramps up vid-preem sequel slate | last=Hettrick | first=Steve | work=Variety | date=September 18, 2001 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226154147/http://variety.com/2001/digital/news/disney-ramps-up-vid-preem-sequel-slate-1117852843/ | archive-date=December 26, 2014 | url-status=live }} It was re-released on VHS on February 26, 2003.{{citation needed|reason=Please provide a source as to the fact that it was re-released on VHS.|date=December 2021}}

Disney re-released a single-disc special edition called "The New Groove Edition" on October 19, 2005. Disney then digitally remastered and released The Emperor's New Groove on Blu-ray on June 12, 2013, bundled in a two-movie collection combo pack with its sequel Kronk's New Groove.{{cite web|first=John|last=Latchem|url=http://www.homemediamagazine.com/product-news/next-wave-disney-animated-blu-rays-coming-out-june-11-30023|title=Next Wave of Disney Animated Blu-rays Coming Out June 11|work=Home Media Magazine|date=March 28, 2013|access-date=February 8, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914174103/http://homemediamagazine.com/product-news/next-wave-disney-animated-blu-rays-coming-out-june-11-30023|archive-date=September 14, 2013}} On its first weekend, it sold 14,000 Blu-ray units grossing $282,000.{{cite web | url=http://www.the-numbers.com/news/8416 | title=Blu-ray Sales: New Releases More Powerful in High Definition | last=Strowbridge | first=C. S. | website=The Numbers | date=July 29, 2013 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208083348/http://www.the-numbers.com/news/8416 | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live }}

Despite making back its budget, The Emperor's New Groove was considered a box office disappointment, grossing considerably less than any of Disney's animated films from the 1990s.{{cite news |last=Strauss |first=Bob |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/UNBRIDLED+ENTHUSIASM+CAN+DREAMWORKS%27+JEFFREY+KATZENBERG+REINVENT+THE...-a086402195 |title=Unbridled Enthusiasm: Can DreamWorks' Jeffrey Katzenberg Reinvent The CG-Animated Film? |work=Los Angeles Daily News |via=The Free Library |date=May 26, 2002 |access-date=February 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224113146/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/UNBRIDLED+ENTHUSIASM+CAN+DREAMWORKS%27+JEFFREY+KATZENBERG+REINVENT+THE...-a086402195 |archive-date=February 24, 2018 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Greg |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/DISNEY+JUGGLES+AFTER+FAILURE+%27TREASURE+PLANET%27+SINKS+SCHUMACHER.-a096189053 |title=Disney Juggles After Failure 'Treasure Planet' Sinks Schumacher |work=Los Angeles Daily News |via=The Free Library |date=January 4, 2003 |access-date=February 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224113148/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/DISNEY+JUGGLES+AFTER+FAILURE+%27TREASURE+PLANET%27+SINKS+SCHUMACHER.-a096189053| archive-date=February 24, 2018 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |last=Radulovic |first=Petrana |date=June 24, 2020 |title=Torn apart in production, The Emperor's New Groove came out at exactly the wrong time |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/6/24/21301603/the-emperors-new-groove-streaming-disney-david-spade-john-goodman-eartha-kitt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720205053/https://www.polygon.com/2020/6/24/21301603/the-emperors-new-groove-streaming-disney-david-spade-john-goodman-eartha-kitt |archive-date=July 20, 2021 |access-date=June 24, 2020 |work=Polygon |quote=The reviews for The Emperor’s New Groove were solid}} The film grossed roughly $10 million on its opening weekend, opening in fourth place behind What Women Want, Dude, Where's My Car?, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-18-ca-1437-story.html | title=Fans Give Mel Gibson Just What He Wants | last=Natale | first=Richard | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=December 18, 2000 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208083626/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/dec/18/entertainment/ca-1437 | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live }} It also competed with Disney's own 102 Dalmatians, which had been released just three weeks prior. The film ultimately made $89.3 million in the United States and an additional $80 million worldwide for a total of $169.6 million{{cite web | title=The Emperor's New Groove | website=Box Office Mojo | url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=emperorsnewgroove.htm | access-date=January 5, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726080656/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=emperorsnewgroove.htm | archive-date=July 26, 2019 | url-status=live }}— the lowest box office earnings for an animated Disney feature since the 1980s. In January 2021, the movie was re-released in theaters and earned an additional $334,000.{{Cite web |title=The Emperor's New Groove (2021 Re-release) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3194585857/ |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-date=June 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611074320/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3194585857/ |url-status=live }}

Because of its pre-Columbian setting and Latin American flavor, Disney spent $250,000 in its marketing campaign towards the Latino market releasing dual English- and Spanish-language theatrical prints in 16 multiplexes across heavily populated Latino areas in Los Angeles, California in contrast to releasing dubbed or subtitled theatrical prints of their previous animated features in foreign markets.{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-16-mn-754-story.html | title=Disney Seeks New 'Groove' With Dual-Language Release | last2=Romney | first2=Lee | last1=Eller | first1=Claudia | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=December 16, 2000 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208081518/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/dec/16/news/mn-754 | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live }} By January 2001, 19 days into its theatrical general release, the Spanish-dubbed prints were pulled from multiplexes as Hispanic Americans opted to watch the English-language prints with its grossing averaging $571,000 in comparison to $96,000 for the former.{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-09-fi-10087-story.html | title=In Disney Experiment, Spanish Speakers Prefer English 'Groove' | last2=Romney | first2=Lee | last1=Eller | first1=Claudia | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=January 9, 2001 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208083518/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jan/09/business/fi-10087 | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live }}

The film received generally positive reviews from critics release.{{Cite news |last=Leigh |first=Danny |date=February 14, 2001 |title=Llama drama |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/feb/14/artsfeatures |access-date=February 28, 2025 |work=The Guardian |quote=The reviews, unexpectedly, were good}}{{Cite news |last=Backes |first=Evan |date=April 1, 2001 |title=Why Does It Take Ten Years!?! |url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/why-does-it-take-ten-years |access-date=February 28, 2025 |work=Animation World Network |quote=The Emperor's New Groove is released into theatres with a generally positive showing}} On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, The Emperor's New Groove holds {{a or an|{{RT data|score}}}} approval rating based on {{RT data|count}} reviews and an average of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads: "The Emperor's New Groove isn't the most ambitious animated film, but its brisk pace, fresh characters, and big laughs make for a great time for the whole family."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/emperors_new_groove|title=The Emperor's New Groove (2000)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227210946/https://rottentomatoes.com/m/emperors_new_groove|archive-date=December 27, 2019|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}} On Metacritic, the film has a score of 70 out of 100 based on 28 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-emperors-new-groove | title=The Emperor's New Groove Reviews | website=Metacritic | access-date=February 14, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019042749/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-emperors-new-groove | archive-date=October 19, 2014 | url-status=live }} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.{{cite web |date=November 24, 2022 |author1=Lucas Manfredi |title='Strange World' CinemaScore Might Be the Lowest Ever For a Walt Disney Animation Studio Film |url=https://www.thewrap.com/strange-world-cinemascore-disney-animation-film/ |access-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125002321/https://www.thewrap.com/strange-world-cinemascore-disney-animation-film/ |url-status=live }}

Writing for Variety, Robert Koehler commented the film "may not match the groovy business of many of the studio's other kidpix, but it will be remembered as the film that established a new attitude in the halls of Disney's animation unit".{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/reviews/the-emperor-s-new-groove-1200465891/ |title=Review: 'The Emperor's New Groove' |last=Koehler |first=Robert |work=Variety |access-date=February 8, 2015 |date=December 10, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208082058/http://variety.com/2000/film/reviews/the-emperor-s-new-groove-1200465891/ |archive-date=February 8, 2015 |url-status=live}} Roger Ebert, writing his review for Chicago Sun-Times, awarded the film 3 (out of 4) stars distinguishing the film as "a goofy slapstick cartoon, with the attention span of Donald Duck that is separate from what's known as animated features". Ebert would later add that "it doesn't have the technical polish of a film like Tarzan, but is a reminder that the classic cartoon look is a beloved style of its own."{{cite web | url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-emperors-new-groove-2000 | title=The Emperor's New Groove (2000) Movie Review | last=Ebert | first=Roger | author-link=Roger Ebert | work=Chicago Sun-Times | via=RogerEbert.com | date=December 15, 2000 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208082910/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-emperors-new-groove-2000 | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live }} Emma Cochrane of Empire gave the film a three out of five stars, writing, "An attractive, generally enjoyable concoction, but never really hits its comedic or emotional targets full on. Fun but quickly forgettable."{{cite news |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/emperor-new-groove-2-review/ |last=Cochrane |first=Emma |title=The Emperor's New Groove Review |magazine=Empire |url-status=live |access-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181512/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/emperor-new-groove-2-review/ }} Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly graded the film a B+, describing it as a "hip, funny, mostly nonmusical, decidedly non-epic family picture, which turns out to be less of a hero's journey than a meeting of sitcom minds".{{cite web | url=http://www.ew.com/article/2000/12/22/emperors-new-groove | last=Schwarzbaum | first=Lisa | author-link=Lisa Schwarzbaum | title=The Emperor's New Groove review | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date=December 22, 2000 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208124812/http://www.ew.com/article/2000/12/22/emperors-new-groove | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=dead }}

The film was not without its detractors. Marc Savlov of The Austin Chronicle gave the film 2 stars out of 5, noting that the film "suffers from a persistent case of narrative backsliding that only serves to make older members of the audience long for the days of the dwarves, beauties, and poisoned apples of Disney-yore, and younger ones squirm in their seats". Savlov also unfavorably compared the film's animation to that of Tarzan{{'}}s, writing it "is also a minor letdown, with none of the ecstatic visual tour de force."{{cite news | url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/2000-12-15/141749/ | last=Sovlov | first=Marc | title=The Emperor's New Groove review | newspaper=The Austin Chronicle | date=December 15, 2000 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208092059/http://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/2000-12-15/141749/ | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live }} Bob Strauss, in his review for the Los Angeles Daily News, acknowledged that the film is "funny, frantic and colorful enough to keep the small fry diverted for its short but strained 78 minutes", though except for "some nice voice work, a few impressive scale gags, and interesting, Inca-inspired design elements, there is very little here for the rest of the family to latch onto". Strauss blamed the film's story overhaul during production as the main problem.{{cite web | title=With Groove, Disney's in a Rut | url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/WITH+'GROOVE%2c'+DISNEY'S+IN+A+RUT.-a083411452 | last=Strauss | first=Bob | work=Los Angeles Daily News | date=December 15, 2000 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208114551/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/WITH+%27GROOVE%2c%27+DISNEY%27S+IN+A+RUT.-a083411452 | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=dead }}

In 2018, The Emperor's New Groove was named the 16th-best Disney animated film by IGN,{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/06/29/the-25-best-disney-animated-movies|title=The 25 Best Disney Animated Movies|website=IGN|date=June 29, 2018|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629171251/http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/06/29/the-25-best-disney-animated-movies|archive-date=June 29, 2018|url-status=live}} and the 27th by Rotten Tomatoes in November 2022.{{cite web|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/all-disney-animated-theatrical-movies-ranked-by-tomatometer/|title=All 72 Disney Animated Theatrical Movies Ranked by Tomatometer|access-date=November 21, 2022|archive-date=November 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121105235/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/all-disney-animated-theatrical-movies-ranked-by-tomatometer/|url-status=live}} In 2022, it did not appear in lists of the best Disney movies, between 35 chosen by Harper's Bazaar{{cite magazine|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/g32215761/best-disney-movies/|title=35 of the Best Disney Movies of All Time|date=July 21, 2022|access-date=November 21, 2022 |magazine=Harper's Bazaar}} and 50 selected by Time Out.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.timeout.com/film/the-best-disney-movies-of-all-time|title=The 50 best Disney movies for family night|date=June 15, 2022|access-date=November 21, 2022|magazine=Time Out}}

{{main|The Sweatbox}}

The Sweatbox is a documentary that chronicled the tumultuous collaboration of Sting and David Hartley with the Disney studios to compose six songs for Kingdom of the Sun (the film's working title).{{cite news | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/film-to-capture-stings-disney-fiasco-20001214 | title=Film to Capture Sting's Disney Fiasco | last=Uhelszki | first=Jaan | work=Rolling Stone | date=December 14, 2000 | access-date=February 14, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220081919/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/film-to-capture-stings-disney-fiasco-20001214 | archive-date=February 20, 2015 | url-status=live }} The documentary featured interviews from directors Roger Allers and Mark Dindal, producer Randy Fullmer, Sting (whose wife Trudie Styler created the documentary), Disney story artists, and the voice cast being dismayed by the new direction. Disney was not believed to be opposed to Styler's documentary, with Disney animation executive Thomas Schumacher, who had seen footage, commenting "I think it's going to be great!"{{cite news | title=Sting makes up with Disney after animated musical bust-up | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/dec/15/news1 | newspaper=The Guardian | date=December 15, 2000 | access-date=February 14, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710093906/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/dec/15/news1 | archive-date=July 10, 2017 | url-status=live }}

The film premiered at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival but has gone virtually unseen by the public ever since. Disney owns the rights but has never officially released it.{{cite web|url=http://gawker.com/5896027/stings-suppressed-disney-documentary-leaked-online |title=Sting's Suppressed Disney Documentary Leaked Online |first=Rich |last=Juzwiak |website=Gawker |date=March 23, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215054754/http://gawker.com/5896027/stings-suppressed-disney-documentary-leaked-online |archive-date=February 15, 2015 }} In March 2012, a workprint of the documentary was leaked online and was uploaded onto YouTube by a United Kingdom cartoonist before it was ultimately pulled.{{cite web | url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/disney/the-sweatbox-the-documentary-disney-doesnt-want-you-to-see-59467.html | title="The Sweatbox", the Documentary That Disney Doesn't Want You to See | last=Amidi | first=Amid |author-link=Amid Amidi | publisher=Cartoon Brew | date=March 22, 2012 | access-date=February 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208092032/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/disney/the-sweatbox-the-documentary-disney-doesnt-want-you-to-see-59467.html | archive-date=February 8, 2015 | url-status=live }} As of April 2015, some scenes from the documentary could be seen from the home media release, including the behind-the-scenes and the making of "My Funny Friend and Me".

The Emperor's New Groove was not as well received as Disney's other animated features at the time, which were more focused on Broadway-style musicals like Beauty and the Beast or heroic characters with comedy situations like Hercules, and arrived just before films like Shrek and Ice Age that would launch a wave of animated comedy films. Reception towards the film has improved over time, with Polygon's Petrana Radulovic theorizing that the film's irreverent style of comedy had simply been released at the wrong time by debuting too soon after the tonal shift away from the musical animated films that had defined the 1990s, and too early for the humor that would become trademarks of films such as Shrek and Ice Age. The film, as well as The Road to El Dorado, have since gained appreciation as standalone works from that period as well-written comedies in part due to the arrival of Internet culture and has since become something of a cult favorite among Disney fans at the time. For The Emperor's New Groove, the film has comedic timing and slapstick comedy that has been compared to classic Looney Tunes. As a result, numerous Internet memes based on screenshots from the film have emerged, such as Pacha's "just right" gesture as an image macro representing perfection or,{{cite web |last1=Stalberg |first1=Allison |title=The Emperor's New Meme: 10 Famous Movies That Created The Most Popular Memes |url=https://screenrant.com/the-emperors-new-groove-famous-movies-memes/ |website=Screen Rant |access-date=November 2, 2024 |date=September 24, 2020}} during the COVID-19 pandemic, a meme featuring Kronk documenting "Apocalypse Bingo".{{Cite web|title='Apocalypse Bingo' Memes Are A Checklist Of All The Horrible Things Happening In 2020|url=https://cheezburger.com/11316485/apocalypse-bingo-memes-are-a-checklist-of-all-the-horrible-things-happening-in-2020|access-date=July 28, 2020|website=Cheezburger|language=en|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728152009/https://cheezburger.com/11316485/apocalypse-bingo-memes-are-a-checklist-of-all-the-horrible-things-happening-in-2020|url-status=live}}

{{main|The Emperor's New Groove (franchise)}}

DisneyToon Studios produced a direct-to-video sequel titled Kronk's New Groove, which was released on December 13, 2005, followed by an animated television series on Disney Channel titled The Emperor's New School.{{Cite news |title=DisneyToon Studios is producing sequels to "The Emperor's New Groove" and "Brother Bear" |work=Variety |access-date=February 8, 2015|date=April 6, 2005 |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-131972711.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329170041/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-131972711.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015}} Patrick Warburton, Eartha Kitt, and Wendie Malick reprised their roles for the sequel and series while J. P. Manoux replaced David Spade for the series and Fred Tatasciore voiced Pacha in season 1. John Goodman subsequently reprised his role for the second and final season of the series.

Kuzco appears as a recurring guest in the animated television series House of Mouse and its direct-to-video film Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse, with Pacha, Yzma, and the Royal Recordkeeper also having minor guest appearances in the show.

Two video games were developed and released concurrently with the film. The first, for the Sony PlayStation, was developed by Argonaut Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment of America. The second, for the Nintendo Game Boy Color, was developed by Sandbox and published by Ubisoft. Both titles were released in PAL territories the following year. The PlayStation version was re-released for the North American PlayStation Network on July 27, 2010. Additionally, Kuzco, Pacha, Yzma, and Kronk appear as playable characters in the world-builder video game Disney Magic Kingdoms, as well as attractions based on Mudka's Meat Hut and Yzma's Lair.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYymimttxfw&ab_channel=DisneyMagicKingdoms |title=Update 43: The Emperor's New Groove {{!}} Livestream|via=YouTube|date=August 21, 2020}}

The Tokyo DisneySea rollercoaster attraction Raging Spirits took visual inspiration for its Inca ruins theme from the buildings in the film with a structure based on Kuzco's palace similarly crowning the ruins site.{{cite web |url=http://www.mouseinfo.com/forums/tokyo-disney-resort/15952-tds-new-coaster-name-raging-spirits.html |title=TDS: New Coaster Name "Raging Spirits" |publisher=Mouseinfo.com |access-date=September 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131223060853/http://www.mouseinfo.com/forums/tokyo-disney-resort/15952-tds-new-coaster-name-raging-spirits.html |archive-date=December 23, 2013 |url-status=live }}

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• {{cite video | people = Mark Dindal (dir.), Randy Fullmer (prod.), Colin Stampton (art director), Joseph C. Moshier (character designer), Stephen Anderson (head of story), Nik Ranieri (animator), Bruce W. Smith (animator) | title = The Emperor's New Groove—Audio Commentary | medium = DVD | edition = The Ultimate Groove (Two-Disc Collectors Edition)| date = May 1, 2001 | publisher = Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment | location = Burbank, CA | id = {{UPC|786936150926}} | ref = DVD1}}
• {{cite video | people = Various cast and crew members | title = The Emperor's New Groove—Supplemental Features| medium = DVD | edition = The New Groove | series = Disc 2 of 2 | date = May 1, 2001| publisher = Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment | location = Burbank, CA | id = {{UPC|786936150926}} | ref = DVD2}}

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20010516210040/http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/groove/ Official website (archive)]
• {{IMDb title|id=0120917|title=The Emperor's New Groove}}
• {{mojo title|emperorsnewgroove}}

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