60 Fun Facts About 2000s Disney

The Emperor's New Groove (2000) began development in 1994 as a musical epic with what working title?

Sting was hired to write songs for that version; the troubled production was documented in The Sweatbox.

In The Emperor's New Groove, Yzma accidentally turns Emperor Kuzco into which animal?

Eartha Kitt voiced Yzma, and Patrick Warburton's Kronk had botched the poisoning.

Which comic book artist gave Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) its angular look as production designer?

Linguist Marc Okrand, who created Klingon, also constructed an Atlantean language for the film.

Lilo & Stitch's soundtrack makes extensive use of which singer's music?

Its watercolour backgrounds were a throwback to Snow White; Disney's brief had been to make 'the Dumbo for our generation'.

What experiment number is Stitch before Lilo adopts him as her 'dog'?

Jumba Jookiba built him as an aggressive, near-indestructible creature with advanced learning skills.

Treasure Planet (2002), a sci-fi take on Robert Louis Stevenson, holds what unwelcome record?

It cost $140 million and took just $109.6 million, but was still nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar.

Treasure Planet was the first film to be released simultaneously in regular cinemas and which format?

Joseph Gordon-Levitt voiced Jim Hawkins and Patrick McGoohan gave his final performance as Billy Bones.

In Brother Bear (2003), Kenai is transformed into a bear as punishment for what?

Joaquin Phoenix voiced Kenai; Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas played the moose Rutt and Tuke.

Home on the Range (2004) follows three dairy cows trying to capture which cattle rustler?

Roseanne Barr and Judi Dench voiced two of the cows; Alan Menken wrote the songs.

Chicken Little (2005) marked what milestone for Walt Disney Animation Studios?

It was also the first mainstream release in Digital 3-D, shown on about 100 newly fitted projectors.

Nearly 60% of Meet the Robinsons (2007) was scrapped and reworked after which corporate event?

John Lasseter's arrival meant a new villain and ending; the film's motto is 'Keep Moving Forward'.

Which two stars voiced the leads in Bolt (2008)?

Bolt is a TV dog who thinks his superpowers are real until he gets lost in New York.

The Princess and the Frog (2009) is set in which city during the 1920s?

Tiana became the first African American Disney Princess, and Randy Newman wrote the songs.

Who voiced Tiana in The Princess and the Frog?

The villain, Dr. Facilier, was voiced by Keith David and Oprah Winfrey played Tiana's mother.

Fantasia 2000 was the first major Hollywood feature released in which format, in 75 theatres from January 1, 2000?

It premiered at Carnegie Hall with a live orchestra and includes flying humpback whales set to Pines of Rome.

Disney's Dinosaur (2000) combined computer-generated characters with what?

Angel Falls and various tepuis appear; at $127.5 million it was reportedly the most expensive CG film to date.

In Monsters, Inc. (2001), the city of Monstropolis is powered by what?

The twist is that laughter turns out to be far more powerful; the film won the Oscar for the song If I Didn't Have You.

Finding Nemo (2003) was the first Pixar or Disney film to win what?

It also became the best-selling DVD of all time, with over 40 million copies sold by 2006.

Who voiced Dory in Finding Nemo?

Albert Brooks played the overprotective clownfish Marlin.

The Incredibles (2004) is set in a retro-futuristic version of which decade?

Writer-director Brad Bird also voiced costume designer Edna Mode.

Cars (2006) premiered on May 26 at what unusual venue?

Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord hosted it; the film went on to gross $462 million.

Lightning McQueen gets stranded in Radiator Springs, a forgotten town along which highway?

The story grew out of John Lasseter's own cross-country road trip.

Which comedian voiced Remy the rat in Ratatouille (2007)?

Peter O'Toole voiced the critic Anton Ego; the film won Best Animated Feature.

In WALL-E (2008), humanity was evacuated to space by which megacorporation?

Star Wars sound designer Ben Burtt provided WALL-E's voice, and Fred Willard appeared in live action.

Up (2009) was the first Pixar film to do what?

It also opened the Cannes Film Festival and became only the second animated film ever nominated for Best Picture.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) was based on what?

Johnny Depp earned an Oscar nomination for Jack Sparrow, and Gore Verbinski directed.

How many days did Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) take to reach $1 billion worldwide, then a record?

It also set a US opening-weekend record of $136 million and was shot back to back with At World's End.

In National Treasure (2004), a treasure map is hidden on the back of which document?

The lost treasure belongs to the Freemasons; Jerry Bruckheimer produced.

Enchanted (2007) sends princess-to-be Giselle from the animated realm of Andalasia into which real city?

Amy Adams starred; the film picked up three Best Original Song nominations at the Oscars.

The Princess Diaries (2001) was the film debut of which actress as Mia Thermopolis?

Julie Andrews played her grandmother the queen, and Garry Marshall directed.

In Freaky Friday (2003), how do Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan's characters swap bodies?

It was the third film adaptation of Mary Rodgers's 1972 novel; Curtis got a Golden Globe nomination.

In which state did Herman Boone integrate the team depicted in Remember the Titans?

Denzel Washington played Boone at T.C. Williams High in Alexandria.

Holes (2003) marked the theatrical film debut of which actor as Stanley Yelnats?

Author Louis Sachar wrote the screenplay from his own novel; director Andrew Davis wanted a 'young Tom Hanks'.

Disney co-produced The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) with which company?

Andrew Adamson of Shrek directed; it grossed $745 million and was the year's third-biggest film.

High School Musical premiered on Disney Channel on what date?

Kenny Ortega directed; East High and Salt Lake City stood in for the New Mexico school.

In High School Musical, Troy Bolton is captain of which school team?

His father coaches the team, which is one reason auditioning for the musical causes such a fuss.

In Hannah Montana, Miley Stewart's father Robby Ray, played by Billy Ray Cyrus, was formerly what?

Her friends Lilly and Oliver are among the few who know her pop-star secret; the show ran four seasons.

Lizzie McGuire, which premiered in January 2001, used what device to show Lizzie's inner thoughts?

Hilary Duff voiced the cartoon Lizzie too; the 2003 movie sent her to Rome.

That's So Raven was the first Disney Channel series to reach what milestone?

Raven Baxter's psychic visions drove the plots; the spin-off Cory in the House followed in 2007.

In Kim Possible, what kind of animal is Ron Stoppable's pet Rufus?

Kim gets her missions from Wade, a computer genius who rarely leaves his bedroom.

Camp Rock (2008) introduced which future pop star as Mitchie Torres?

The Jonas Brothers co-starred; it was Disney Channel's 73rd original movie.

The Suite Life of Zack & Cody is set at the Tipton Hotel in which city?

Brenda Song's London Tipton was the hotel heiress and Ashley Tisdale worked the candy counter.

Wizards of Waverly Place, starring Selena Gomez, is set in which New York neighbourhood?

The 2009 TV movie won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program.

In Phineas and Ferb, the boys' pet Perry is secretly a spy. What kind of animal is he?

His fights with Dr. Doofenshmirtz always erase the evidence before Candace can bust her brothers; the show previewed in 2007 right after High School Musical 2.

Disney California Adventure opened in February 2001 on land that had served as what for over 40 years?

Attendance never met projections until a $1 billion overhaul added Cars Land in 2012.

Hong Kong Disneyland, opened in September 2005, was built on reclaimed land in which bay?

Designers followed feng shui rules to avoid a cultural backlash; the Hong Kong government owns 52%.

Tokyo DisneySea, opened in 2001, is owned by whom rather than Disney itself?

It cost 335 billion yen and the two companies had to compromise on design elements over cultural differences.

Guinness listed Expedition Everest, opened at Disney's Florida safari park in 2006, as the world's most expensive what?

It held the record until Hagrid's coaster at Universal opened in 2019.

What percentage of shareholders voted against Michael Eisner at Disney's 2004 annual meeting?

The Save Disney campaign led by Roy E. Disney forced Eisner to hand day-to-day control to Bob Iger the next year.

Disney's 2006 purchase of Pixar was valued at roughly how much?

John Lasseter and Ed Catmull were put in charge of Walt Disney Animation Studios as part of the deal.

Which company did Disney acquire in 2009 for about $4 billion?

Disney had bought the Muppets from Henson for $75 million back in 2004.

Sky High (2005) stars Kurt Russell and Kelly Preston as superhero parents known as what?

Their son Will starts school with no powers and gets placed in the 'Hero Support' sidekick track.

In Miracle (2004), Kurt Russell plays which head coach of the 1980 US Olympic hockey team?

The film grossed $64.5 million on a $28 million budget, with Russell's performance drawing most of the praise.

Where was Disney's Bridge to Terabithia (2007) filmed?

Director Gábor Csupó made his feature debut on it, and the novel's author's son wrote the screenplay.

The Cheetah Girls (2003) holds what distinction among Disney Channel Original Movies?

It premiered to 6.5 million viewers, then a Disney record, and the group was spun into a real recording act.

The Disney Channel sitcom Even Stevens (2000-03) is set in the suburbs of which city?

The show is remembered for launching a teenage Shia LaBeouf and for the fast-motion photography used in every episode.

Which Tom Stoppard play inspired the structure of The Lion King 1½ (2004)?

The direct-to-video midquel retells the original film from the sidelines through Timon and Pumbaa.

In February 2004, Disney acquired the Muppets from whom?

Bear in the Big Blue House came in the same deal, though Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock stayed with their original owners.

Eight Below (2006), starring Paul Walker, is a remake of a 1983 film from which country?

Though set in Antarctica, the sled-dog survival story was shot in Svalbard, Greenland and British Columbia.

In Cory in the House, Cory Baxter's father Victor moves the family to Washington for what job?

The 2007 series was Disney Channel's first spin-off, branching from That's So Raven.