I think the film wasn't initially well received because it is so different from much of the Disney canon. It's much closer to the classic Looney Toons in its zaniness than say Sleepy Beauty. It is very bright and kooky in its animation style; it's a comedy in which the plot is basically incidental to the proceedings. Films like this live and die on their performances; the four principals of Goodman, Spade, Kitt, Warburton are all *perfect* in this film. Every time I watch it it is just as engaging and delightful as the first time I saw it. The film ended up being the first in a series of animated films-the Shrek films, others come to mind-making meta-jokes or commentary on their forms to produce much more comedic offerings. Returning to it after 20 years or so just makes it stand out as the trend setter it ended up being.
Review of The Emperor's New Groove
