Sunnie 2

Sunnie 2 is a 2020 American computer-animated adventure musical comedy film produced by Frenzy Animation and distributed by 20th Century Studios with animation handled by Reel FX Creative Studios and Mikros Image, and is based on Mike Copeland's daily comic strip of the same name. The film is a sequel to the 2017 film Sunnie, written and directed by Ryan Marshall, from a screenplay by Nicholas Stoller, Eyal Podell, Jonathon E. Stewart, and Brad Garland and a story by Brian Cowan, Podell, Stewart, and Marshall. The film stars the reprised roles of Amanda Leighton, Ben Schwartz, Katie Crown, Josh Gad, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, and Amy Poehler, along with new additions including Taraji P. Henson, Rachel Bloom, Dave Bautista, Lil Rel Howery, Alfred Molina, Awkwafina, and James Corden.

Sunnie 2 was formerly slated for a worldwide theatrical release by 20th Century Studios, plans were changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was released theatrically in Canada on October 2, 2020, and was released and on Disney+ simultaneously in the United States on January 29, 2021.

Plot
Sunnie Stewart attempts to rescue her friends from outer space from intergalactic (and nice) invaders while a new powerful villain is planning to cause an incoming cataclysm against Earth.

Voice cast

 * Amanda Leighton as Sunnie Stewart
 * Ben Schwartz as Justin Barker
 * Katie Crown as Bella Robbins
 * Josh Gad as R.O.B.E.R.T.
 * Chris Pratt as Captain Zenn
 * Amy Poehler as Emily Stewart
 * Elizabeth Banks as Alyia Starling
 * Taraji P. Henson
 * Rachel Bloom
 * Dave Bautista
 * James Corden
 * Awkwafina
 * Lil Rel Howery
 * Alfred Molina

ADR Loop Group

 * Rosemary Alexander
 * Holly J. Barrett
 * Daniel Booko
 * Mitch Carter
 * Vic Chao
 * Niall Cunningham
 * Robin Atkin Downes
 * Giselle Eisenberg
 * Chase Fein
 * Johnny Gidcomb
 * Jason Harris
 * Karen Huie
 * Ryan Bartley
 * Joyce Kurtz
 * Marcella Lentz-Pope
 * David Michie
 * Capri Oliver
 * Arthur Ortiz
 * Shakira Ja'nai Paye
 * Jessica Pennington
 * Maddix Robinson
 * Warren Sroka
 * Byron Thames
 * Jessika Van
 * Diamond White
 * ViviAnn Yee

Production
On December 18, 2017, Frenzy Animation announced that a sequel to its 2017 film Sunnie was in development, with Amanda Leighton, Ben Schwartz, Katie Crown, Josh Gad, and Chris Pratt reprising their roles as Sunnie Stewart, Justin Barker, Bella Robbins, R.O.B.E.R.T., and Captain Zenn, respectively. Ryan Marshall will return to direct and write the sequel with Eyal Podell and Jonathon E. Stewart writing the film's script. Further, the majority of the voice cast, new and returning, was also announced. Marshall also announced that due to the success of competing Disney musical films like Frozen and Moana, he said "the sequel is going to be more of an animated musical".

Production of the film done and shifted to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Release
Sunnie 2 was originally set for a worldwide theatrical release on October 9, 2020 by 20th Century Studios. It was pushed back to December 11, 2020, before being delayed months earlier to August 14, 2020. It was later moved to September 25, 2020 (as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic). On July 23, 2020, the film was then rescheduled for a February 2021 release, as a result of Fox's updated film slate due to the pandemic.

On August 19, 2020, 20th Century Studios Canada announced the film would be released in Canadian theaters on October 2, 2020.

On September 23, 2020, The film's American release was moved up a couple months back to December 23, 2020, with The King's Man taking its February slot. On November 5, 2020, it was announced that the film's theatrical release had been cancelled and it would instead be released through video on demand and Disney+ on March 19, 2021. However, on November 27, 2020, Disney then announced that the film would instead release the film for a premium fee for $19.99 on Disney+ on January 29, 2021. Sunnie 2 will be available for the purchase until March 1, 2021, before becoming available for all subscribers on March 19.

On December 10, 2020, 20th Century Studios and Disney announced that the film will be simultaneously released back in theatres and on Disney+ (with the $20 Premier Access fee intact) on the same day it will release in American theaters.

Marketing
On November 20, 2019, Frenzy Animation and 20th Century Studios officially released a teaser trailer on their official YouTube channels and in theaters in front of Frozen II and Spies in Disguise. An official trailer was released on March 2, 2020 in front of Onward.

Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 74% based on 78 reviews, with an average rating of 6.78/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Sunnie 2 fits nicely into an animated sequel with a heartwarming plot to spare, with its fast-paced slapstick humor and frenetic writing to be more fun and entertaining than its predecessor's."