The Emperor's New School

Kuzco is a self-absorbed teen who has to prove he can handle ordinary life before he can officially wear the crown. To do that he enrolls in a public school, where passing classes and dealing with classmates is as important as surviving his own ego. Malina, a smart and steady friend, keeps him from going too far, while Yzma, hiding under the alias Principal Amzy, and her clueless helper Kronk keep scheming to derail his education. Episodes mix classroom mishaps, royal privilege clashing with school rules, and quick, silly set pieces, keeping things light and focused on character-driven comedy rather than big mysteries or serious stakes.

The series was created by Mark Dindal and launched in 2006 as a television follow-up to the 2000 film The Emperor's New Groove. Disney Television Animation produced the episodes, and the show retained several original voice actors, including Eartha Kitt as Yzma and Curtis Armstrong in a supporting role.

Among viewers the show is remembered for translating the movie's offbeat humor into a school sitcom format, and for preserving Yzma's eccentric villainy in a new setting. Longtime fans often point to the series as part of early 2000s Disney Channel animation, and characters like Kuzco and Amzy stuck around in fan art, Halloween costumes, and online nostalgia conversations.

Critics and audiences tended to like the show's quick jokes and cartoon timing, with a Vote Average of 7.3 out of 10 from 156 votes. It leans into themes of growing up, responsibility, and friendship, while treating Kuzco's selfishness as comic material that softens over time. The show keeps plots brief and approachable, so episodes work for younger viewers without losing the snark that made the film popular.

The series didn't collect major industry awards, yet it maintained a steady fanbase through reruns and streaming, and it helped keep the franchise alive for a new generation of viewers.