Say Hello to Toy Story 5, Frozen 3, and Zootopia 2
Concept art for Toy Story 5, Frozen 3, and Zootopia 2.
June 1, 2023
Welcome back to the silver screen Elsa, Buzz Lightyear, and Nick Wilde! You would certainly be incorrect if you thought the world had seen enough of these beloved characters. Disney has recently announced the revival and/or sequels to the famous movies Frozen, Toy Story, and Zootopia.
Frozen is unarguably one of the most iconic movies within the last 15 years. It took the world by storm almost instantly and is still a worldwide phenomenon to this day. From getting a sequel and now a third movie to marking its place on Broadway, it only makes sense that the lovable Elsa and Anna sister duo will return once again.
Toy Story has impacted the world 4 times before, and it will do so once again with a soon-to-be 5th movie. Disney expanded on Toy Story with its spin-off movie Lightyear, released in the summer of 2022. Lightyear was centered around Buzz Lightyear, as opposed to Woody and Jessie, as it reflects upon his story and how the toy came to be. There is also a ride called “Toy Story Midway Mania” at Disneyland in Anaheim.
Zootopia is a relatively new movie in the grand scheme of things, as it is only 7 years old. Disney launched Zootopia as a children’s movie with a deeper political meaning, though most kids will be unable to pick up on any sort of agenda. Along with the release of the movie, Disney produced a mini spin-off series a few years later with the movie’s side characters called Zootopia+.
Clearly, Disney is no stranger to the world of marketing and sales; however, since Disney is such a high-profit company, are these sequels really necessary? Could it be that all of Disney’s ideas are going stale? Or maybe they just can’t find any more talented actors so they must reuse old ones? No, perhaps Disney is just a genius at sales tactics. By reusing old characters, the company draws in a wider variety of audiences. Both parents who loved Buzz Lightyear and their children who adore Sporky can enjoy the movie all the same. Furthermore, the nostalgia of Frozen for high schoolers, like myself, makes me feel compelled to watch it when it comes out, as we have practically grown up with Elsa and Anna. Allie Harakuni (11) mentions “As a Disney fan, I am so excited for these new movies so that I can reminisce on my childhood.”
While it may seem sweet and innocent that we will see our favorite characters returning, Disney of course has other motives. Whatever their plans may be, it is exciting nonetheless to be reconnected to our childhood.
