The success of Aladdin undeniably led to audiences wanting more of the street rat and his pals. In the later part of 1994, Walt Disney Home Video (later know as Walt Disney Home Entertainment) released the next chapter in Aladdin’s tale. While it sold like hotcakes, the reception from critics was coldcakes. Return of Jafar was used as the pilot for the classic Disney Afternoon series, not so much as being a sequel.

Iago sides with Aladdin after one too many jabs from Jafar. Meanwhile, a leader of a band of thieves, named Abis Mal, finds Jafar’s lamp where Jafar and Abis Mal have one thing in common: Hunger for revenge against Aladdin.

Sorry Robin Williams fans, but there’s no Robin Williams in this movie. Actually aside from Aladdin and the King of Thieves and MathQuest with Aladdin, Robin Williams doesn’t voice the genie in anything else.

When released to DVD in 2005, the title screen was redone to reflect the actual font the artwork used.

Jafar’s death was redone to have less flashing (in the original VHS release his bones flash all the time whereas later it was only I think in the final part.), presumably due to the Pokemon incident in December 1997 that resulted in seizures. If you ever wondered why Pikachu’s flashes in Pokemon felt really slow that’s why.

I understand this is considered a “sequel” but I can’t agree with that statement. Since Return of Jafar is pretty much a pilot for the classic cartoon series, that kicks it out of the cheapquel list (which is a good thing). King of Thieves gets the same recognition.

One thing that boggles my mind is that Jafar is killed by having his lamp destroyed, whereas in an old edutainment program MathQuest with Aladdin, Bizarrah, an evil genie, has hers broken into several big pieces. Most likely the lamp melted in Jafar’s case instead of just taking it apart. Nevertheless Disney is strictly fantasy cartoons only (at least most of the time).

1. Jafar remains just as evil as he was originally, able to disguise as Jasmine to trick the guards into executing Aladdin for regicide (particularly Razoul).
2. While there’s no Robin Williams as the Genie, Dan Castellaneta does one hell of a good job voicing him.
3. Iago’s revenge against Jafar in the end is glorious. He had it coming all this time, especially after forcing Iago into getting Aladdin sentenced to death.
4. Jafar finally got his own song number. His reprise of Prince Ali doesn’t count.
5. Since this is for an animated series, the animation is great.

1. Both the Genie and Jafar’s song numbers are the only good songs. The rest are bad, particularly forget about love which is pointless. Also Iago can’t sing for shit.
2. Despite the name “Return of Jafar” it’s more about Iago. Iago is a good character but not AS good as Jafar.
3. Indirectly, Return of Jafar led to a glut of direct to video disasters later starting in 1997.