The Emperor's New Groove (2000)
Directed by Mark Dindal
Kuzco, a young emperor, is not making many friends in his empire. Stubborn and selfish, Emperor Kuzco fires his chief advisor Yzma, who happens to be an evil sorceress; causing her to plot his demise throughout the film. Meanwhile, Kuzco also angers a local farmer whose village will be destroyed when the emperor’s summer home is built where the farmer’s (Pacha) house sits. Yzma and her assistant Kronk accidentally turn Kuzco into a llama, while trying to kill him. Kronk tells Yzma that he has disposed of Kuzco (in llama form), but in reality he lost the llama in a crowded marketplace on the back not someone's cart. The cart ends up belonging to Pasha, who travels the long distance hone to his family. He arrives, discovering that the llama emperor has been dumped onto his cart. After they calm down over the fact that Kuzco is a llama, Pacha agrees to help Kuzco return to the city and to change back into his human form - in exchange for the emperor building his summer home in another location. The movie follows Kuzco and Pacha as they hide and run from Yzma and Kronk. Throughout the movie, Pacha’s kind heart brings out the good in Kuzco, even when Kuzco only has his own interests in mind. By the end of the movie, the pair defeat Yzma, turn Kuzco back into a human, and become great friends.
The film, which took almost six years to develop, was nominated for several awards including:
The film, which took almost six years to develop, was nominated for several awards including:
- The Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song
- The Golden Globe for Best Original Song - Motion Picture
- The Black Reel Awards Theatrical for Best Supporting Actress (Eartha Kitt)
- The Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Family Film
- The Broadcast Film Association Awards for Best Song (won) and Best Animated Feature
- The Casting Society of America for Best Casting in an Animated Voiceover
- The Golden Globes Trailer Award for Best Animation/Family
- The Grammy for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Media
- The Kid's Choice Award for Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie (David Spade)
- The Motion Picture Sound Editors USA for Best Sound Editing - Animated Feature
- The Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards for Best Original Song (won), Best Animated Film, and Best Family Film
- The Satellite Award for Best Motion Picture (Animated or Mixed Media) and Best Original Song
- The Young Artist Award for Best Family Feature Film - Animation
- As well as several Annie Awards, which three of were won