The release of Disney Plus is just around the corner. Numerous trailers are being released for the upcoming films and series, as well as original content, that will feature on this groundbreaking streaming platform. Fans are absolutely excited at what’s in store for the subscription service.
Disney Plus allows for a lot of opportunities to revisit old properties. While we already know that the animated division of the company will be heavily explored through the service such as the old Marvel animated series, there’s also an option to create new animated shows. With so many films in the Disney library now, any one of them could be brought back and reworked as a series. Here are three confirmed animated films that are getting a revival, as well as seven that definitely should return!
Confirmed: Monsters At Work
PIXAR, a Disney owned company, is one of the leaders in animation. It’s already been confirmed that they are working on a number of projects for the new Disney service. Many fans are excited about the PIXAR Spark Shorts that are going to allow new storytellers to create something.
However, what’s more exciting is that the ever-popular Monsters Inc will be making a return. We’re going back into the world of Sully and Mike and will be following a brand new monster on his day to day job. This is set after the events of the original film, so it’s a sequel of sorts; one that’s sure to reveal a lot about this world now.
Confirmed: Star Wars Clone Wars
LucasFilm is also a Disney owned company now and they’ve produced both an animated film and series in the past: Star Wars: Clone Wars. The original film left a lot to be desired but the series that followed captured the imaginations of fans.
The Clone Wars was pretty much dead in the water, with the LucasFilm animation team working on a variety of other projects afterward. Yet, the save Clone Wars movement never died and has resulted in a brand new series of the show heading to Disney Plus. There’s already trailers up for this phenomenal next season, and we’re looking forward to seeing these great characters in their own show again!
Confirmed: Forky Asks A Question
We’re looking at another PIXAR film that’s getting a revival of sorts on Disney Plus. Toy Story 4 was an incredibly successful installment into the franchise based on toys that come to life. During the film, the beloved Forky was introduced to audiences for the first time.
The character has a lot to learn about the world he’s been thrown into. The producers at PIXAR thought it was appropriate to give the spork his own Disney Plus show that helped him to explore the many questions he has. It’s educational, it’s fun, and it lets us spend a bit more time with our favorite toys.
Potential: Ice Age
Now we’re taking a look at two rumored projects. Both of these animated films were acquired during the FOX merger, which means they are now under the Disney banner. The company is supposedly exploring options to expand these worlds with the Disney Plus series.
The first is the incredibly popular Ice Age. The series has had a huge number of installments, but that means there’s definitely a market for a lot more. While it’s not clear whether the main cast of characters would be returning, we’d prefer for something brand new set during this time period, with a few nods to the films.
Potential: Rio
The second film they required during this acquisition is Rio. There’s been two parts to this bird based adventure so far, but there’s surely room to add a little more to the tale. The studio is also hoping that continuing these series will be a way to keep the Fox legacy alive.
These films have been a lot of fun for kids and while there’s less of an adult audience for Rio, there’s certainly enough of an opportunity here to follow up on this series. Disney Plus is perhaps the only way that Disney would be able to revive a franchise that wouldn’t survive a third film.
Potential: Lilo & Stitch
Lilo and Stitch is by far one of the most underrated Disney films of the last few years. It captured the imagination of a particular generation though and spawned a really great TV show based on the various alien experiments that were running riot on Earth.
While we don’t know whether this original animated series will be available on Disney Plus at its launch, that doesn’t mean the company can’t start working on a brand new one. It could be a modernized version with a much older, more experienced Lilo, who’s still battling intergalactic threats alongside her best friend.
Potential: Wreck-It Ralph
Wreck-It Ralph and its sequel have been some of the most inventive content to come from Disney in recent years. The video game worlds that have been created are truly fantastic and with the addition of the Internet, the sky is the limit with this franchise.
While we may never see a film based on this world again, that doesn’t mean there isn’t some potential for a series about it. We could step into a brand new video game and follow the trials and tribulations of the competition between the internet, a games console, and an arcade game. Maybe Hero’s Duty is perfect for that. Or maybe, ironically, it could follow a story of a streaming service vs the gaming world.
Potential: Treasure Planet
Treasure Planet has got to be one of the most forgotten films out of the Disney archive, but it’s also so good that it’s amazing the film hasn’t become more of a cult classic than it already is. The film could be revived in completely new ways with the addition of a Disney Plus series.
Normally, this would fail massively, but Disney Plus may garner just the right audience for this project. There’s never been a real space mystery series before in which pirates fly through the universe searching for clues to hidden treasure. An ongoing show like that would bring a lot of thrills and be completely unique.
Potential: Moana
Moana has only had one film so far, and it’s unclear if we’ll ever get a sequel. There’s a lot of love for that character, and it would be a shame for her to never be revisited. Perhaps there just isn’t a story to be told with the singing sailor.
However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot more that can be done with the world of Moana. A series could be created that explored the legends and myths of Moana’s people. With the introduction of the demi-go Maui what else could be in store in this magical land?
Potential: Peter Pan
Peter Pan has been adapted in so many ways, yet the original Disney animated film has always been a classic. The world of Neverland is an attractive place to visit though and there have been plenty of Tinker Bell spin-offs because of the popularity of the character.
What would be really interesting to explore is what if older versions of these characters did return to Neverland, but everything had changed. Or, perhaps, in a completely unique turn—what if Neverland spread into the real world and started affecting the people of Earth? That’s a series we’d love to watch. We’ve got to see the crocodile in the Thames, haven’t we?
