Sequels have a bad rap. Whether they exclude fan-favorite characters or disappoint us with a bland story, we approach sequels with hesitation. But sequels are like a game of tug-of-war, and humans are driven by emotion. We know the sequel won’t be as good as the original and pull back against temptation, but the lure of seeing our favorite characters again pulls back even harder. So when scriptwriters turn to creating sequels in hopes of attracting established audiences, we are ready to answer the call.
After a few years of keeping viewers in excruciating anticipation, Walt Disney and Universal Pictures are back at it with some well-known animated movies. Regardless of whether you’ve been waiting since 2016 for Kung Fu Panda to return to theaters or you can’t even recall what Despicable Me is, here are a few sequels to keep an eye out for this upcoming summer.
Kung Fu Panda 4
Although Kung Fu Panda 4 has already been released, it would be absurd to write a “pre-review” of childhood favorites without including the beloved Kung Fu Panda franchise. With movies strewn across the last two decades, this lighthearted, comedy-filled series has succeeded in capturing a wide range of audiences from young children to adults alike.
The first film follows Po, an ordinary panda who is catapulted into the world of kung fu, where he learns the fundamentals under the Furious Five. The following two sequels focus on Po finding his identity and developing his relationships with the Furious Five and his dad, all the while bringing in new villains and more fight scenes for an action-packed adventure.
Any sequel with the number four should raise eyebrows—this fourth sequel is certainly no exception. After claiming the title of the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, Po is called back into action with the arrival of Zhen, a shape-shifting chameleon who harnesses the abilities of Po’s past enemies. There’s one word that perfectly sums up this movie: unnecessary. The first red flag was already raised when the Furious Five made no appearance in the film. Unlike the previous two sequels, which at least ties up loose ends about Po’s fragmented past, this film reuses the basic “hero’s journey” template with little depth, rushed scenes, and limited comical moments throughout the movie.
Despicable Me 4
The Despicable Me movie series is one of the most well-known, entertaining, and successful animated franchises. The series has even branched out to a spinoff following the minions, adorable yellow creatures that have taken the world by storm with their hilarious personalities and goofy language.
The series follows Gru, a cold-hearted villain who leads a tumultuous life of heisting with his band of minions. But when three orphan girls stumble into his life, Gru weighs his true values—even if it means stepping away from his life of villainy. With each sequel, a new family member and villain are added too.
After reuniting with his long-lost brother, Dru, in Despicable Me 3, another member is added to the growing family in Despicable Me 4: Gru Jr. With his entire family’s safety at stake, Gru must face a new supervillain, Maxime Le Mal, who has escaped from prison and is determined to get his revenge.
Inside Out 2
Emotions—a representation of fickle feelings that make our heart, brain, and stomach turn upside down and, like Pixar’s film, Inside Out.
The first film explores the mind of Riley, a young girl who adjusts to her new life after moving to San Francisco. Her emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—collide as they face new challenges that come with going through big life changes.
After nine years, Pixar has announced the release of the sequel Inside Out 2, where Riley must learn to navigate new emotions—Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment—that arise with puberty. As high school students ourselves, we may learn a thing or two from Riley’s journey about dealing with teenage emotions.
