60 Fun Facts About 2000s Disney

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

Kingdom of the Sun was the working title; Sting wrote songs for that version, and the troubled production was documented in The Sweatbox.

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

Yzma's potion turns Kuzco into a llama because Kronk grabbed the wrong vial, so Eartha Kitt's villain ends up with a talking llama instead of a poisoned emperor.

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

Hellboy creator Mike Mignola served as production designer, giving Atlantis its angular look; linguist Marc Okrand, who created Klingon, built the Atlantean language.

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

Lilo & Stitch uses several Elvis Presley songs, including 'Hound Dog' and 'Suspicious Minds'; Lilo is a devoted Elvis fan who tries to teach Stitch his moves.

In Lilo & Stitch (2002), what experiment number is Stitch before Lilo adopts him as her 'dog'?

Experiment 626 was built by Jumba Jookiba 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?

Most expensive traditionally animated film ever, at $140 million, it took just $109.6 million, yet 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?

Alameda Slim, voiced by Randy Quaid, is the yodelling rustler the cows pursue; Roseanne Barr and Judi Dench voiced Maggie and Mrs. Calloway.

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?

After Disney's acquisition of Pixar in 2006, John Lasseter took charge of Disney Animation and ordered a new villain and ending; the film's motto is 'Keep Moving Forward'.

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

John Travolta and Miley Cyrus voice the leads; Bolt believes 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?

The Princess and the Frog is set in 1920s New Orleans, where Tiana dreams of opening her own restaurant; Randy Newman wrote the jazz-flavoured songs.

Who voiced Tiana in The Princess and the Frog?

Anika Noni Rose, a Tony winner for Caroline, or Change, voiced Tiana; Keith David voiced Dr. Facilier and Oprah Winfrey played Tiana's mother Eudora.

Which segment from the original 1940 Fantasia was carried over into Fantasia 2000?

The Sorcerer's Apprentice, starring Mickey Mouse, was the only segment retained from the 1940 Fantasia; the other seven were new, including Rhapsody in Blue and Pines of Rome.

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

Dinosaur set its CG characters against live-action location backgrounds filmed in places such as Venezuela's Angel Falls; at $127.5 million it was among the costliest films of 2000.

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

Monstropolis runs on children's screams collected by scarers like Sulley; the twist is that laughter proves 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?

Finding Nemo won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2004, Pixar's first win in the category; it also became the best-selling DVD of all time, over 40 million copies by 2006.

Who voiced Dory in Finding Nemo?

Ellen DeGeneres voiced the forgetful blue tang Dory; Albert Brooks played the overprotective clownfish Marlin.

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

The Incredibles takes place in a retro-futuristic 1960s world of mid-century modern design and a jazzy Michael Giacchino score; writer-director Brad Bird also voiced costume designer Edna Mode.

Pixar's Cars (2006) held its premiere on May 26 at what fitting venue?

A motor speedway in North Carolina, 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?

Radiator Springs sits on Route 66, the highway bypassed by the interstate; the story grew out of John Lasseter's own cross-country road trip with his family.

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

Patton Oswalt voiced Remy; Peter O'Toole voiced the critic Anton Ego, and the film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

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

Buy n Large, the megacorporation that ran Earth, shipped humanity off on the starliner Axiom; Ben Burtt voiced WALL-E and Fred Willard appeared in live action as its CEO.

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

Up was Pixar's first film presented in 3D, released in Disney Digital 3-D in May 2009; it became only the second animated film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.

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

The film was based on the Pirates of the Caribbean theme park attraction, a Disneyland ride that opened in 1967; Johnny Depp earned an Oscar nomination for Jack Sparrow.

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

Dead Man's Chest crossed $1 billion worldwide in 63 days, the fastest at that time; 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 founding document?

The Declaration of Independence hides a map to a lost Freemason treasure; Jerry Bruckheimer produced.

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

Giselle is pushed down a well and surfaces in New York's Times Square; Amy Adams starred and the film earned three Best Original Song Oscar nominations.

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

Anne Hathaway played Mia opposite Julie Andrews as her grandmother the queen, with Garry Marshall directing.

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?

Boone coached the newly integrated T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1971; Denzel Washington played him.

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

Shia LaBeouf, then known for Disney Channel's Even Stevens, played Stanley Yelnats in his first theatrical feature; author Louis Sachar adapted his own novel for director Andrew Davis.

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

Walden Media co-produced the film with Disney; Andrew Adamson of Shrek directed, and it grossed $745 million, the year's third-biggest film.

High School Musical premiered on Disney Channel on what date?

High School Musical premiered on January 20, 2006; Kenny Ortega directed, and East High in Salt Lake City stood in for the Albuquerque, New Mexico school.

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

Troy captains the East High Wildcats basketball team, coached by his father Jack Bolton, which is why his auditioning for the winter musical causes such a fuss.

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

Robby Ray Stewart was a famous country singer before managing Miley's Hannah Montana career; friends Lilly and Oliver are among the few who know her 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?

That's So Raven was the first Disney Channel original series to reach 100 episodes, running from 2003 to 2007; the spin-off Cory in the House followed in 2007.

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

Rufus is a naked mole rat, a hairless burrowing rodent who rides in Ron's pocket; 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?

Demi Lovato starred as Mitchie Torres, her breakout role, alongside the Jonas Brothers; the premiere drew nearly 9 million viewers, one of Disney Channel's biggest original-movie audiences.

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

Boston's Tipton Hotel is where twins Zack and Cody live in a suite; Brenda Song's London Tipton was the heiress and Ashley Tisdale worked the candy counter.

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

Waverly Place is a real street in Greenwich Village, where the Russo family runs a sandwich shop; the 2009 TV movie won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program.

In Phineas and Ferb, what kind of animal is the boys' secret-agent pet Perry?

Perry is a platypus, Agent P of the O.W.C.A.; his fights with Dr. Doofenshmirtz always erase the evidence before Candace can bust her brothers. The show previewed after High School Musical 2 in 2007.

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

The park rose on Disneyland's original parking lot, which had served guests since 1955; attendance missed 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?

The park was built on reclaimed land at Penny's Bay on Lantau Island; designers followed feng shui rules, and the Hong Kong government held the majority stake from the start.

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

The Oriental Land Company owns and operates Tokyo DisneySea under licence from Disney, as it does Tokyo Disneyland; the park cost about 335 billion yen to build.

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

Guinness listed Expedition Everest as the world's most expensive roller coaster at about $100 million; Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Orlando, costing about $300 million, surpassed it in 2019.

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

About 43% of votes were withheld from Eisner, after which the board stripped him of the chairman's role; Roy E. Disney's Save Disney campaign led to Bob Iger succeeding him as CEO in 2005.

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 bought Marvel Entertainment for about $4 billion in cash and stock in 2009, gaining some 5,000 characters; Lucasfilm followed in 2012 for a similar price.

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

Kurt Russell's The Commander and Kelly Preston's Jetstream are the world's top superhero couple; their son Will starts Sky High with no powers and lands in the 'Hero Support' sidekick track.

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

Russell played Herb Brooks, the Minnesota coach who drove the 1980 team to the 'Miracle on Ice' win over the Soviets; the film grossed $64.5 million on a $28 million budget.

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

The film was shot around Auckland, New Zealand; director Gábor Csupó made his feature debut, and the novel's author's son David Paterson co-wrote the screenplay.

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

The Cheetah Girls was the first Disney Channel Original Movie musical; it premiered to 6.5 million viewers, then a channel record, and the group became a real recording act.

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

Even Stevens is set in the Sacramento suburbs, where Ren and Louis Stevens attend Lawrence Junior High; it launched a teenage Shia LaBeouf, who won a Daytime Emmy for the role.

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

Like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, the direct-to-video midquel retells the original story from the sidelines through Timon and Pumbaa, who even watch the film in a theatre.

In February 2004, Disney acquired the Muppets from whom?

Disney bought the Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House from The Jim Henson Company for about $75 million; 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?

Eight Below remakes the 1983 Japanese film Antarctica (Nankyoku Monogatari), based on a real 1958 expedition; though set in Antarctica, it 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?

Executive chef to the President is Victor's new post at the White House; the 2007 series was Disney Channel's first spin-off, from That's So Raven.