Boom Baby! ‘The Emperor’s New Groove’ Celebrates 25 Years with 4K Set & Special Theatrical Run

Save the drama for your llama — it’s all good news for fans of Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove, as the 2D animated comedy classic celebrates its 25th anniversary.

The ancient Peruvian adventure returns to the big screen at Hollywood’s legendary El Capitan Theatre November 21-24 before arriving December 9 on digital platforms (Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home) and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.

While special features for the home video release are TBA (can we hope for a kitchen tutorial on crafting Kronk’s signature spinach puffs?), Disneyphiles know they will be pulling every lever to launch us on an unforgettable ride through the quarter-century legacy of The Emperor’s New Groove.

Synopsis: Emperor Kuzco (David Spade) thought he had it all: a devoted populace to rule over, a wardrobe of glamorous garb and his unwavering “groove.” But his world is flipped upside down when he’s turned into a llama by his devious adviser Yzma (Eartha Kitt) and her hunky henchman Kronk (Patrick Warburton). Now the once-mighty ruler is forced into an unlikely alliance with pleasant peasant Pacha (John Goodman). Together, they must overcome their differences as they embark on a groovy adventure. Discovering the good in everyone has never been so much fun!

The pic was directed by Mark Dindal, who made his feature debut on Cats Don’t Dance and went on to helm Chicken Little and The Garfield Movie. Dindal is also credited with the film’s story, and created the TV series spin-off The Emperor’s New School. David Reynolds (Finding Nemo, The Garfield Movie) wrote the screenplay.

The Emperor’s New Groove was nominated for the Oscar and Golden Globe awards for Best Original Song (“My Funny Friend and Me,” by Sting and composer Dave Hartley) and got a nod for Best Animated Feature from the Critics Choice Awards, as well as earning a whopping 11 nominations at the Annie Awards, where the pic won for Character Animation (Dale Baer), Voice Acting (Eartha Kitt) and Original Song.