# Kronk's New Groove
**Kronk's New Groove** is a 2005 American direct-to-video animated comedy, the sequel to Disney's *The Emperor's New Groove* (2000), built around the character Kronk, the former henchman of the sorceress Yzma. It was produced by DisneyToon Studios and released by Walt Disney Home Entertainment on December 13, 2005.[1](https://d23.com/a-to-z/kronks-new-groove-film/) • [2](https://www.awn.com/news/kronk-has-new-groove-dvd) [Patrick Warburton](https://www.edgepedia.org/patrick-warburton) reprised the title role, joined by [Tracey Ullman](https://www.edgepedia.org/tracey-ullman) as the new character Ms. Birdwell and by returning cast members [Eartha Kitt](https://www.edgepedia.org/eartha-kitt), David Spade, and John Goodman.[1](https://d23.com/a-to-z/kronks-new-groove-film/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | Direct-to-video (Disney DVD and VHS), December 13, 2005; suggested retail price $29.99[1](https://d23.com/a-to-z/kronks-new-groove-film/) • [2](https://www.awn.com/news/kronk-has-new-groove-dvd) |
| Directors | Elliot M. Bour and Saul Andrew Blinkoff, whose previous joint credit was *Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo*[1](https://d23.com/a-to-z/kronks-new-groove-film/) • [2](https://www.awn.com/news/kronk-has-new-groove-dvd) |
| Writers | Screenplay by Tom Rogers; story by Tony Leondis, Michael LaBash, and Tom Rogers[3](https://movies.fandom.com/wiki/Kronk%27s_New_Groove/Credits) |
| Lead voices | Patrick Warburton (Kronk), Tracey Ullman (Ms. Birdwell), Eartha Kitt (Yzma), David Spade (Kuzco), John Goodman (Pacha), John Mahoney (Papi)[3](https://movies.fandom.com/wiki/Kronk%27s_New_Groove/Credits) |
| Music | Original score composed and conducted by Mark Watters; songs include "Let's Groove" by Earth, Wind & Fire[3](https://movies.fandom.com/wiki/Kronk%27s_New_Groove/Credits) • [4](https://dvdizzy.com/kronksnewgroove.html) |
| Recognition | Nominated for three Annie Awards, including Best Home Entertainment Production[5](https://animatedviews.com/2005/critical-consensus-kronks-new-groove/) |
| Reception | Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer 0% from 7 reviews; Popcornmeter 46% from more than 25,000 ratings[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kronks_new_groove) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Kronk, reformed from his days as Yzma's henchman, works as the chef and head delivery boy at Mudka's Meat Hut, the restaurant featured in the original film's dinner sequence.[7](https://animatedviews.com/2006/kronks-new-groove/) When a llama-gram informs him that his disapproving father Papi is coming to visit, Kronk schemes to present himself as a success, measuring success as a house on a hill, a wife, and status.[8](https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-b1d9afd4-c20b-4170-af64-6cea3e8d4a4a) • [7](https://animatedviews.com/2006/kronks-new-groove/)
The story is told largely in flashbacks across three threads. In the first, Yzma, still under the spell that left her a cat at the end of the original film, returns and uses Kronk to fool local seniors into investing in a supposed fountain-of-youth potion.[7](https://animatedviews.com/2006/kronks-new-groove/) In the second, Kronk serves as an overly competitive camp counselor at Camp Chippamunka, where he meets and alienates Ms. Birdwell, the leader of a rival Junior Chipmunks team.[7](https://animatedviews.com/2006/kronks-new-groove/) When Papi's visit arrives, Kronk's friends band together to show him he is a success in ways he had not counted, and the threads resolve with Kronk accepting his own life.[7](https://animatedviews.com/2006/kronks-new-groove/) Reviewers noted the film's debt to *It's a Wonderful Life* in this structure.[2](https://www.awn.com/news/kronk-has-new-groove-dvd)
## Production
The film was a DVD premiere from DisneyToon Studios, the unit that produced Disney's direct-to-video sequels, and closed out the studio's 2005 slate of Video Premiere titles, which also included *[Mulan II](https://www.edgepedia.org/mulan-ii)*, *Lilo & Stitch II: Stitch Has a Glitch*, and *Pooh's Heffalump Halloween*.[2](https://www.awn.com/news/kronk-has-new-groove-dvd) • [9](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/app/uploads/ar-2005.pdf) Directors Elliot M. Bour and Saul Andrew Blinkoff, who first met at Disney's Orlando studio, had made their directorial debut with *Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo*; producer John A. Smith and production designer Colin Stimpson also carried over from earlier Disney projects.[2](https://www.awn.com/news/kronk-has-new-groove-dvd) [Animation](https://www.edgepedia.org/animation) was produced with the overseas studio Toon City and the Canadian studio Yowza! Animation.[10](https://www.intanibase.com/iad_entries/entry?shortID=28547)
The voice cast from *The Emperor's New Groove* largely returned: Warburton as Kronk, Spade as Kuzco, Goodman as Pacha, Kitt as Yzma, and [Wendie Malick](https://www.edgepedia.org/wendie-malick) as Chicha, with [John Mahoney](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-mahoney) joining as Papi and Tracey Ullman as Ms. Birdwell.[2](https://www.awn.com/news/kronk-has-new-groove-dvd) • [3](https://movies.fandom.com/wiki/Kronk%27s_New_Groove/Credits) The film marked the final animation role for [John Fiedler](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-fiedler), the longtime voice of Piglet, who played Rudy.[10](https://www.intanibase.com/iad_entries/entry?shortID=28547)
## Music and songs
Mark Watters composed and conducted the original score.[3](https://movies.fandom.com/wiki/Kronk%27s_New_Groove/Credits) Songs listed on the DVD include "Be True To Your Groove", "Feel Like a Million", and "Camp Chippamunka", alongside a licensed use of [Earth, Wind & Fire](https://www.edgepedia.org/earth-wind-and-fire)'s "Let's Groove", which accompanies a mid-film dance montage between Kronk and Ms. Birdwell.[4](https://dvdizzy.com/kronksnewgroove.html) The press release also billed music from the R&B group B5.[11](https://dvdizzy.com/kronksnewgroove-pressrelease.html)
## Home video and availability
The film premiered on Disney DVD and VHS on December 13, 2005 at a $29.99 suggested retail price, with bonus features including the games "Kronk's Brain Game" and "Pyramid Scheme" and the making-of featurette "How to Cook a Movie".[2](https://www.awn.com/news/kronk-has-new-groove-dvd) It was presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with [Dolby Digital](https://www.edgepedia.org/dolby-digital) 5.1 and DTS 5.1 English soundtracks plus French and Spanish audio.[4](https://dvdizzy.com/kronksnewgroove.html) In July 2013, [Walt Disney](https://www.edgepedia.org/walt-disney) released both *The Emperor's New Groove* and *Kronk's New Groove* together on Blu-ray as a two-movie, three-disc collection with DTS-HD 5.1 soundtracks.[12](https://videolibrarian.com/reviews/childrens/kronks-new-groove/) As of recent listings the film streams on Disney+ and can be rented or bought digitally.[13](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/kronks-new-groove)
## Reception
Reported running times differ by source: Disney's D23 archive lists 72 minutes, Common Sense Media and [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) list 75 minutes, and the Disney+ listing shows 1 hour 20 minutes.[1](https://d23.com/a-to-z/kronks-new-groove-film/) • [14](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/kronks-new-groove) • [8](https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-b1d9afd4-c20b-4170-af64-6cea3e8d4a4a) The film received a G rating from the MPAA.[14](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/kronks-new-groove)
Critical response was mixed to negative. On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 0% Tomatometer from 7 reviews and a 46% Popcornmeter score from more than 25,000 audience ratings.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kronks_new_groove) Contemporary critics found the character better suited to supporting turns; David Nusair of Reel Film Reviews wrote that the film "proves that [Kronk] works best in small doses", and John J. Puccio of Movie Metropolis observed that less-inspired characters and music were "the price one pays for watching a straight-to-video sequel".[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kronks_new_groove) Trade coverage at release noted the three Annie Award nominations and mixed reviews that still expected the film to be enjoyed by younger audiences.[5](https://animatedviews.com/2005/critical-consensus-kronks-new-groove/) Common Sense Media rated the film appropriate for ages 6 and up, flagging sexual-innuendo gags and some stereotyped portrayals of older people while crediting its message about being true to oneself.[14](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/kronks-new-groove)
The film sits within a broader *Emperor's New Groove* franchise that also produced the television series *[The Emperor's New School](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-emperors-new-school)*, which ran 52 episodes from 2006 to 2008.[15](https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/81227149.pdf)
## References
1. [Kronk's New Groove (film), D23 (Disney Archives)](https://d23.com/a-to-z/kronks-new-groove-film/)
2. [Bill Desowitz, "Kronk Has a New Groove on DVD," Animation World Network, December 13, 2005](https://www.awn.com/news/kronk-has-new-groove-dvd)
3. [Kronk's New Groove/Credits, Moviepedia](https://movies.fandom.com/wiki/Kronk%27s_New_Groove/Credits)
4. [Kronk's New Groove DVD Review, UltimateDisney.com/DVDizzy](https://dvdizzy.com/kronksnewgroove.html)
5. [Josh Armstrong, "Critical consensus: Kronk's New Groove," Animated Views, December 13, 2005](https://animatedviews.com/2005/critical-consensus-kronks-new-groove/)
6. [Kronk's New Groove, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kronks_new_groove)
7. [Ben Simon, "Kronk's New Groove," Animated Views, January 30, 2006](https://animatedviews.com/2006/kronks-new-groove/)
8. [Kronk's New Groove, Disney+](https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-b1d9afd4-c20b-4170-af64-6cea3e8d4a4a)
9. [The Walt Disney Company 2005 Annual Report, DisneyToon Studios section](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/app/uploads/ar-2005.pdf)
10. [Kronk's New Groove, The Internet Animation Database](https://www.intanibase.com/iad_entries/entry?shortID=28547)
11. [Kronk's New Groove DVD press release, UltimateDisney.com, August 26, 2005](https://dvdizzy.com/kronksnewgroove-pressrelease.html)
12. [D. Liebenson, "Kronk's New Groove," Video Librarian, February 21, 2006 (with 2013 Blu-ray note)](https://videolibrarian.com/reviews/childrens/kronks-new-groove/)
13. [Kronk's New Groove streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/kronks-new-groove)
14. [Kronk's New Groove, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/kronks-new-groove)
15. [University of Wollongong thesis referencing The Emperor's New Groove franchise](https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/81227149.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Animated and family franchise film entries › Musical and fantasy entries*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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