Pacha & Buzz

I was thinking about the scene in The Emperor’s New Groove where Pacha & Kuzco discuss a plan to go to Pacha’s house:

Pacha: Okay, we’re just gonna stop at the house and get some supplies.
Kuzco: Then we’ll be on our way, right?
Pacha: Right.

Side note: I never realized how they contrived this reason for the family scene (no shade though, it’s great).

What’s crazy is that they’re very much buddies by this scene and it yet it’s still believable given the events of the film. They had to be established as bitter enemies in the first act and transform into stalwart companions by the start of the third act. In my opinion it needs

  • Gradual build up. They can’t just suddenly be buddies. I’m thinking of the diner scene; they’re laughing together at that point even though they’re taking shots at each other, and
  • A really low point for one of the characters to make the redemption believable. I’m thinking of this bit:

Kuzco: Hey, listen, Pacha, you know, what I said to you back at the diner, that–that– I–I didn’t really…
Pacha: So…you tired of being a llama?
Kuzco: [Sniffles] [Crying] Ye-ee-ee-es! [Sniff]

I was also then thinking about Woody & Buzz. Established as enemies by the end of the first act, buddies by the start of the third. In this case I think Buzz is like Pacha and Woody is much like kuzco.

Woody: I’m the one that should be strapped to that rocket.