The film was altered significantly over its six years of development and production. It began as a musical epic titled Kingdom of the Sun, to have been directed by Dindal and Roger Allers (co-director of The Lion King), and was changed by Disney executives into a light-hearted buddy comedy. The documentary The Sweatbox details the production troubles that the film endured.
The film received generally positive reviews and is considered to be one of the best films of Disney's post-Renaissance era. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "My Funny Friend and Me" performed by Sting, but lost to "Things Have Changed" by Bob Dylan from Wonder Boys.
Plot
The film opens with narration from Kuzco, a teenage Inca emperor who has been transformed into a llama. He tells the story of how his life as a ruler used to be and how it was ruined "for no reason". However, in his flashback he is shown to have been rude and narcissistic, albeit charismatic. He even goes so far as insulting the appearances of potential brides and throwing an old man out the window for "throwing off his groove."
After Kuzco fires his conniving advisor, Yzma, for abusing her power, she comes up with a scheme to usurp the throne with the help of Kronk, her dim-witted but jovial henchman. Meanwhile, Kuzco meets with Pacha, a kind peasant and village leader, and tells him that he wants to demolish his hilltop family home to build himself a lavish summer home called "Kuzcotopia". Although Pacha protests, he is dismissed.
Yzma and Kronk later attempt to poison Kuzco, but end up giving him the wrong potion and accidentally turn him into a llama. After knocking Kuzco out, Yzma orders Kronk to kill him and hide the body, but Kronk has a stroke of conscience and saves him. He accidentally leaves him in the back of Pacha's cart as Pacha is leaving the city.
Pacha returns home but is unable to tell his pregnant wife or children about Kuzco's decision. After awakening in the cart, Kuzco reveals himself as a llama and orders Pacha to take him back to the palace, but Pacha will only do so as long as Kuzco agrees to spare his family's home. Despite Pacha's words of advice, an angry Kuzco haughtily sets off into the jungle alone, before being ambushed by jaguars. Thankfully, Pacha rescues him and the two make a deal about going to the palace.
Meanwhile, Yzma takes the throne, but Kronk then reveals that he lost Kuzco. The two set off to find him and finish the job. Pacha and Kuzco are almost back to the palace when Pacha falls through a bridge and Kuzco refuses to help him up, admitting he never meant to keep his promise. However, he soon finds himself in danger too, and they work together to save both their lives.
Without the bridge their journey is delayed, giving Pacha hope that Kuzco will change his mind. Meanwhile, Kronk and Yzma stop at a jungle restaurant at the same time Kuzco and Pacha are there disguised as a married couple. What neither party realizes is that the other is there until Pacha overhears Yzma and Kronk talking about trying to kill Kuzco. He tries to warn Kuzco, but Kuzco refuses to believe him and the two separate angrily. Kuzco then overhears Yzma's plot to kill him, but when he tries to return to Pacha, he finds that he has already left, leaving Kuzco unable to find him.
The film then returns to the opening scene, with Kuzco lost in the jungle alone. However, he is soon reunited with Pacha, and they enlist the help of Pacha's family to keep Yzma and Kronk occupied while they escape. The race to the palace seems to end with Yzma and Kronk falling off a cliff, but they still inexplicably reach the palace first. Yzma orders Kronk to kill Pacha and Kuzco, but Kronk gets into a conversation with his shoulder angel and devil, and finds he cannot bring himself to commit murder, forcing Yzma to insult Kronk and his cooking and resign to do it by herself. Yzma calls the guards who do not recognize Kuzco and attack the two of them, while Pacha and Kuzco take all the potions they can carry in hopes that one will turn Kuzco back.
After several guards are transformed into animals while testing potions and Yzma is transformed into a cat, Pacha and Kuzco work together to try and get the last vial. Yzma snatches it at the last moment, but every time she is unintentionally foiled by Kronk. Now a human again, and a more selfless ruler, Kuzco decides to build his summer home elsewhere, and Pacha suggests a neighboring hilltop.
In the end, Kuzco is shown living next door to Pacha's family in a modest cabin, sharing a swimming pool with Pacha and his family. Yzma, still a cat, grudgingly joins Kronk's Junior Chipmunk troop, along with Pacha's children.
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