Disney’s movies all have some humor, but The Emperor’s New Groove stands out as the funniest of them all. Unlike other animated Disney movies, which balance comedy with heartfelt emotional messages, The Emperor’s New Groove tips the scales firmly toward its humorous side. It was originally supposed to be a musical epic, тιтled Kingdom of the Sun, but Disney retooled the entire movie. What remained after years of script changes was a hilarious buddy comedy that only shared its Incan setting with the original idea.

The Emperor’s New Groove was a box office disappointment, which signaled that the so-called Disney renaissance was well and truly over. It doesn’t fit in with the renaissance movies, mostly because of its heavy emphasis on comedy. Instead, it was a highlight of Disney’s movies in the 2000s, which was a strange time for the studio. Before Disney eventually cracked the code to start creating successful 3-D animated movies, the studio endured a transitional period of mixed success. Although it didn’t exactly look like it at the time, The Emperor’s New Groove was one of the triumphs of this era.

The Emperor’s New Groove Brilliantly Breaks The 4th Wall & Has Very Sharp Dialogue

The Emperor’s New Groove Is So Funny Because It Rejects The Traditional Disney Formula

One thing that makes The Emperor’s New Groove stand out from other Disney movies is the way that it repeatedly breaks the fourth wall. One example sees Kuzco interrupting a scene that focuses on Pacha, as he demands more attention. This moment is particularly indicative of The Emperor’s New Groove‘s comedic tone, because it intentionally undercuts what could have been some heartwarming character development and backstory. The fourth wall breaks often subvert the conventions of other Disney movies.

The dialogue also stands out as much funnier than the average Disney movie. The key is that The Emperor’s New Groove revolves around four great comedic characters who are all fundamentally different. The dialogue delivers a lot of memorable quips which highlight each character’s foibles. For example, Pacha’s wry one-liners are designed to point out the absurdity of Kuzco’s self-obsession, while Kuzco plays into this same joke by being blissfully inept and out-of-touch. All in all, The Emperor’s New Groove is endlessly quotable, even though most of the jokes are specific to the characters.

Like many Disney movies of the 1990s and early 2000s, The Emperor’s New Groove has an art style that naturally lends itself to comedy. Not only are the characters drawn in a way which emphasizes their humorous faults, but the animation allows them to move around and inhabit the space in subtly funny ways. There’s a fair bit of cartoonish slapstick, and the narrative is filled with dramatic irony, misdirection and misunderstandings, all of which are made funnier by the rapid, punchy movements of the characters.

Kronk Is Also One Of Disney’s Funniest Characters

Kronk’s Dynamic With Yzma Provides Many Of The Film’s Biggest Laughs

If The Emperor’s New Groove wasn’t already one of Disney’s funniest movies, Kronk solidifies its status. Yzma’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅpan sidekick brings out her worst qualities in the funniest ways possible. He’s gentle and slow-moving when she’s a violent ball of rage. He’s also continually unbothered by her various tantrums. While another henchman might plot revenge or turn against their master, Kronk accepts her faults with the grace of a long-suffering partner. His spinach puffs are the perfect representation of who he is as a character. Not only is he wholesome and delicate, but he’s also what’s best for Yzma.

Kronk is played by Patrick Warburton, who has long been a master of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpan humor. His deep, languid voice rarely rises above a bᴀssy drone, but this monotone approach somehow makes every single one of his lines hilarious. Warburton has a long list of voice-acting credits to add to his live-action roles, but he’s not the kind of performer who’s known for putting on different voices. When he can feel out comedic dialogue as intuitively as he can, he doesn’t need to do anything differently. This partly explains why Kronk is consistently a highlight of The Emperor’s New Groove.