Disney spent four years making the wrong movie. Then they threw most of it away and made The Emperor's New Groove. Case, Sam, and guest J. Kennedy dive into the remarkable production disaster behind the beloved animated comedy, from Kingdom of the Sun and the infamous Sweatbox to Sting, drastic rewrites, cultural compromises, and the miracle of turning creative chaos into a movie this funny, warm, and endlessly quotable.
Another Pass Full Episode Originally aired: October 16, 2026
Music by Vin Macri and Matt Brogan
Podcast Edited by Sophia Ricciardi
Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com
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PODCAST SHOWS: ▶ Another Pass - https://www.certainpov.com/another-pass-podcast
⏱️ Chapters
00:30 Welcome and Guest Intro
00:59 The Emperor's New Groove
01:12 Why This Is a Fifth Episode
02:21 J's History with the Movie
03:55 Sam's Experience and the Representation Problem
05:35 Case's History with the Movie
07:02 Patrick Warburton and Kronk
08:12 J's Conversations with Patrick Warburton
11:03 Why the Movie Feels So Turn-of-the-Century
12:19 The Production Disaster Begins
12:56 Kingdom of the Sun
14:21 The Original Story
15:09 Sting Joins the Production
17:10 Casting and Cultural Representation
18:19 The Sweatbox Screening
19:54 The Sweatbox Documentary
20:34 The Creative "Bake-Off"
22:00 Rebuilding Pacha
23:21 Making Kuzco the Lead
23:49 Rebuilding the Movie in a Year and a Half
24:33 Becoming a Cult Classic
25:30 Rule of Comedy
27:06 Why the Movie Has Staying Power
28:14 The Movie's Unexpected Heart
29:57 The Surprisingly Wholesome Ending
32:07 Kuzco Learns Accountability
32:35 Making a Great Movie in 78 Minutes
33:25 Pressure Creates the Fifth-Episode Success Story
36:11 The Ultimate "Another Pass"
38:38 How the Show's Fifth Episodes Work
39:08 Could Emperor's New Groove Be Improved?
40:23 Eartha Kitt and the Importance of Star Casting
41:11 Sting's Role in Keeping the Movie Alive
45:28 Representation Then and Now
46:27 Incan, Aztec, and Mayan Influences
49:21 The Road to El Dorado Comparison
50:35 Disney's Turn Toward Different Cultures
51:32 The Tarzan Tangent
52:24 What Is the Best Disney Movie?
56:16 Fascinating but Flawed Movies
57:45 Returning to Emperor's New Groove
58:59 How Animation Productions Fall Apart
01:01:03 The Cost of Scrapping Four Years of Work
01:01:43 Finding the Movie's Heart
01:03:20 The Best Movie They Could Have Made
01:04:14 Why Kronk Is Secretly the Most Capable Character
01:06:00 Yzma and Kronk
01:06:51 Patrick Warburton and The Woman Chaser
01:08:03 Kronk's New Groove
01:09:24 Disney Direct-to-Video Sequels
01:12:03 Final Thoughts
01:12:56 J's Plugs
01:13:18 The CPOV Discord
01:17:29 Sam's Plugs
01:18:20 Case's Plugs
01:18:54 Patreon and Executive Producer Shout-Outs
01:20:44 Next Time: Highlander II
01:21:07 Outro
01:21:20 Books That Burn Promo
01:22:16 CPOV Tag
