Descendants (franchise) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Descendants |
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| Creator | Josann McGibbon Sara Parriott |
| Owner | Disney Channel |
| Print publications | |
| Novels | See list |
| Films and television | |
| Films |
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| Short films |
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| Television specials | Descendants: The Royal Wedding (2021) |
| Theatrical presentations | |
| Musicals | Disney's Descendants: The Musical |
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| Soundtracks |
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| Original music |
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| Miscellaneous | |
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The Descendants series is a popular media franchise from Disney Channel. It includes musical fantasy films created by Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott, and directed by Kenny Ortega.
The story happens in a world that continues the classic Disney animated movies. The main characters are played by Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson, and Booboo Stewart. Each film follows the adventures of the teenage children of famous Disney Villains who live on the Isle of the Lost. They get a chance to move to the kingdom of Auradon. This happens because Ben, the teenage son of Queen Belle and King Beast, invites them.
The first film came out in July 2015 as a Disney Channel Original Movie. It was very successful! Because of this, a sequel was made and shown in July 2017. A third film premiered in August 2019. Each movie has its own original music. The soundtrack for the first film was number one in the United States. The second and third soundtracks also did very well. A new spin-off movie, Descendants: The Rise of Red, is coming soon to Disney+.
Contents
The Descendants Film Series
Descendants (2015)
The first Descendants movie was released on July 31, 2015. It was a huge hit right away! Before it even aired, over a million people watched it on the Disney Now app. On its first night, 6.6 million viewers tuned in. This made it the most-watched show on Disney Channel that year. It was also one of the most-watched original movies on cable TV. The movie's soundtrack became number one in the US. It was the first Disney Channel original movie soundtrack to do this since High School Musical 2 in 2007.
In the United States of Auradon, Belle and Beast are the king and queen. They married twenty years ago and brought together many Disney animated films' settings. They also sent all the villains to the Isle of the Lost, a slum surrounded by a magic-blocking barrier. King Beast plans to give his throne to his son, Ben. Ben decides to invite four children from the Isle of the Lost to live in Auradon. These "Villains' Kids" (or VKs) are Carlos (son of Cruella de Vil), Jay (son of Jafar), Evie (daughter of the Evil Queen), and their leader Mal (daughter of Maleficent).
Maleficent tells them to steal the Fairy Godmother's magic wand. She wants them to turn off the barrier so she can take over Auradon. But the four VKs start to enjoy their new, normal life in Auradon. Mal even starts dating Ben. When the barrier is accidentally broken, Maleficent attacks Ben's coronation and turns into a dragon. Ben encourages Mal to choose her own path. Mal and her friends decide to be good. They stop Maleficent, turning her into a tiny lizard. She can only turn back if she fills her heart with love. Everyone in Auradon celebrates!
Descendants 2 (2017)
Descendants 2 was announced in August 2015. It premiered on July 21, 2017. The movie was shown on six different channels at the same time! These included ABC and Disney Channel. About 5.3 million people watched it on Disney Channel. Across all six networks, 8.9 million viewers tuned in.
Mal finds it hard to be Ben's girlfriend and a celebrity. She secretly uses magic to keep up a life that feels fake to her. Mal decides she doesn't belong in Auradon. She goes back to the Isle of the Lost. There, her old rival, pirate captain Uma (Ursula's daughter), has taken over the gangs. Uma's first and second mates are Harry (Captain Hook's son) and Gil (Gaston's son).
Evie, Jay, and Carlos agree to help Ben find Mal. But Mal tells Ben to leave, thinking it's best for him and Auradon if she stays on the Isle. Uma captures Ben. She demands the Fairy Godmother's wand to release him. Uma is angry she wasn't chosen to live in Auradon. Ben respects her as a leader and invites her, but she wants to find her own way there. Mal's group uses a fake wand to rescue Ben. At the royal party, Uma shows up as Ben's date. He announces he will destroy the barrier. Mal realizes Uma has put a spell on Ben. Mal sees a portrait Ben had made of her, showing her before she changed with magic. She accepts his love and kisses Ben, breaking the spell. Uma and Mal fight, turning into an octopus and a dragon. Ben tries to talk to Uma, but she leaves. Evie asks to bring more children from the Isle to Auradon, and Ben agrees.
Descendants 3 (2019)
Descendants 3 was announced in February 2018. It premiered on August 2, 2019, on Disney Channel. The movie had 4.6 million viewers on its first night.
Ben asks Mal to marry him, making her the future queen of Auradon. But new threats appear from Uma, Mal's father Hades, and Ben's ex-girlfriend Audrey. Mal tries to stop evil for good. While Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos are bringing new villain kids to Auradon, Hades tries to break through the barrier. Then, Audrey steals Maleficent's crown and scepter, becoming evil herself. The VKs go back to the Isle of the Lost to get Hades' special ember. Later, Uma, Harry, and Gil team up with Mal and the others. They work together to stop Audrey from destroying Auradon.
Descendants: The Rise of Red and Future Films
In September 2021, news came out that Disney was planning two more Descendants films.
On May 10, 2022, a new sequel was officially approved for Disney+. It was first called Descendants: The Pocketwatch. Jennifer Phang is set to direct it. The movie is about Red, the teenage daughter of the Queen of Hearts. She teams up with Chloe, the daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming. They travel back in time to stop a big problem from happening. On March 21, 2023, the movie's official title was announced as Descendants: The Rise of Red.
Who's Who: Cast Members
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in the franchise.
- An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
- V indicates a voice-only role.
- Y indicates a younger version of the character.
| Characters | Films | |||
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| Descendants | Descendants 2 | Descendants 3 | Descendants: The Rise of Red | |
| Mal | Dove Cameron | |||
| Carlos | Cameron Boyce | |||
| Evie | Sofia Carson | |||
| Jay | Booboo Stewart | |||
| Ben | Mitchell Hope | |||
| Fairy Godmother / Fay | Melanie Paxson | Melanie Paxson
Grace Narducci |
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| Jane | Brenna D'Amico | |||
| Audrey | Sarah Jeffery | Sarah Jeffery | ||
| Doug | Zachary Gibson | |||
| Chad | Jedidiah Goodacre | |||
| Lonnie | Dianne Doan | |||
| King Beast | Dan Payne | |||
| Queen Belle | Keegan Connor Tracy | |||
| Maleficent | Kristin Chenoweth | Mars | ||
| Cruella de Vil | Wendy Raquel Robinson | |||
| Jafar | Maz Jobrani | |||
| Evil Queen | Kathy Najimy | |||
| Queen Leah | Judith Maxie | Judith Maxie | ||
| Uma | China Anne McClain | |||
| Harry Hook | Thomas Doherty | |||
| Gil | Dylan Playfair | |||
| Dizzy Tremaine | Anna Cathcart | |||
| Dude | Bobby Moynihan | |||
| Celia | Jadah Marie | |||
| Hades | Cheyenne Jackson | Anthony Pyatt | ||
| Dr. Facilier | Jamal Sims | |||
| Squeaky | Christian Convery | |||
| Squirmy | Luke Roessler | |||
| Red | Kylie Cantrall | |||
| Chloe Charming | Malia Baker | |||
| Ulyana | Dara Reneé | |||
| Queen of Hearts / Bridget | Rita Ora
Ruby Rose Turner |
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| Cinderella / Ella | Brandy Norwood
Morgan Dudley |
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| King Charming / Prince Charming |
Paolo Montalban
Tristan Padil |
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| Principal Merlin | Jeremy Swift | |||
| Maddox | Leonardo Nam | |||
| Zellie | Sam Morelos | |||
| Morgie | Peder Lindell | |||
Music from Descendants
Soundtrack Albums
The Descendants films have released popular soundtrack albums. These albums feature all the songs from the movies.
| Title | Album details | Certifications |
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| Descendants |
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| Descendants 2 |
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| Descendants 3 |
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Popular Songs (Singles)
Many songs from the Descendants movies were released as singles. Some of these songs became very popular!
| Title | Year | Certifications | Album |
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| "If Only" (performed by Dove Cameron) |
2015 |
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Descendants |
| "Rotten to the Core" (performed by Sofia Carson) |
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| "Ways to Be Wicked" (performed by Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Cameron Boyce and Booboo Stewart) |
2017 |
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Descendants 2 |
| "What's My Name" (performed by China Anne McClain, Thomas Doherty and Dylan Playfair) |
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| "Chillin' Like a Snowman" (performed by Sofia Carson) |
Non-album singles | ||
| "Stronger" (performed by Dove Cameron and China Anne McClain) |
2018 | ||
| "Good to Be Bad" (performed by Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Cameron Boyce and Booboo Stewart, Jadah Marie and Anna Cathcart) |
2019 |
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Descendants 3 |
| "VK Mashup" (performed by Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Cameron Boyce and Booboo Stewart) |
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| "Queen of Mean" (performed by Sarah Jeffery) |
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Music Videos
Many songs from the Descendants franchise also have official music videos.
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Director(s) |
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| "Believe" | 2015 | Shawn Mendes | Jake Kasdan |
| "If Only" | Dove Cameron | Kenny Ortega | |
| "Rotten to the Core" | Sofia Carson | Naren Wilks and Adam Santelli | |
| "Genie in a Bottle" | 2016 | Dove Cameron | Jay Martin |
| "Jolly to the Core" | Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Cameron Boyce and Booboo Stewart | Unknown | |
| "Ways to Be Wicked" | 2017 | Kenny Ortega | |
| "What's My Name" | China Anne McClain, Thomas Doherty and Dylan Playfair | ||
| "Stronger" | 2018 | Dove Cameron & China Anne McClain | Scott Rhea |
| "Good to be Bad" | 2019 | Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson and Booboo Stewart | Kenny Ortega |
| "VK Mashup" | Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson and Booboo Stewart | N/A | |
| Queen of Mean | Sarah Jeffery | Kenny Ortega | |
| Night Falls | Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart, China Anne McClain, Thomas Doherty and Dylan Playfair | ||
| Break This Down | Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, Cameron Boyce, China Anne McClain, Mitchell Hope, Thomas Doherty, Dylan Playfair, Sarah Jeffery, Jadah Marie, Brenna D'Amico and Zachary Gibson | ||
| One Kiss | Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson and China Anne McClain | ||
| My Once Upon a Time | Dove Cameron | ||
| Do What You Gotta Do | Dove Cameron and Cheyenne Jackson | ||
| Audrey's Christmas Rewind | Sarah Jeffery and Jadah Marie |
Descendants Television Series
Descendants: School of Secrets (Prequel)
Before the first movie came out, Disney Channel released a live action mini-series. It was called Descendants: School of Secrets. Each day leading up to the movie's release, a new episode was shared. These episodes revealed more secrets about the students at Auradon Prep. Each episode was short, less than 5 minutes long. There were 23 episodes in total.
Descendants: Wicked World (Animated)
Right after the first movie aired, Disney announced a CGI-animated short spin-off. It was named Descendants: Wicked World and started on September 18, 2015. The original actors came back to voice their characters.
The Planning of the Royal Wedding
On November 6, 2020, an animated short was released on Disney Channel's YouTube channel. It was a prequel to the Descendants: The Royal Wedding TV special. This series shows Mal and Evie getting ready for the royal wedding. Dove Cameron and Sofia Carson voiced their characters again.
Descendants Short Films
Under the Sea: A Descendants Short Story (2018)
A short film called Under The Sea: A Descendants Short Story came out on September 28, 2018. In this story, Mal (Dove Cameron) finds a glowing orb in a forest. She then meets Dizzy (Anna Cathcart), who is wearing a necklace controlled by Uma (China Anne McClain).
Audrey's Royal Return: A Descendants Short Story (2019)
A second short film, Audrey's Royal Return: A Descendants Short Story, was released on July 5, 2019. It focuses on Audrey (Sarah Jeffery). She visits her salon to get ready for her return to Auradon. The short film explains what happened in the first two movies from her point of view. It also tells why she was not in the second film.
Wicked Woods: A Descendants Halloween Story (2019)
A stop motion animated short film, Wicked Woods: A Descendants Halloween Story, was released on October 4, 2019. On Halloween night, Mal (Dove Cameron) tells her friends a spooky legend. It's about the Headless Horseman, one of Auradon's first villains. He is said to haunt the city's woods. The short used dolls from the Descendants toy line. The original actors, including Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, Cameron Boyce, Sarah Jeffery, and China Anne McClain, voiced their characters.
Descendants: The Royal Wedding (Television Special, 2021)
Descendants: The Royal Wedding is an animated special that aired on Disney Channel on August 13, 2021. This was the first Descendants project announced after Cameron Boyce passed away. The special explains why Carlos is not present in the story.
Disney's Descendants: The Musical
On February 6, 2020, a stage musical version of the film series was made available for schools and theaters. The musical mostly follows the story of the first movie. However, it also uses parts from the sequel and music from all three films and Descendants: Wicked World.
Descendants Novels
Many books have been released that tell more stories about the Descendants world.
The Isle of the Lost Series
This series of books tells stories that happen around the time of the first three movies.
The Isle of the Lost
The first book, The Isle of the Lost, was written by Melissa de la Cruz. It's a prequel that came out on May 5, 2015. In this book, the villain kids team up to find a special item called the Dragon's Eye. The book was a huge success, staying on New York Times Best Seller list for over 14 weeks.
The book shares details about the children of Maleficent, Jafar, Cruella De Vil, and the Evil Queen. It also describes places on the Isle of the Lost. For example, Dragon Hall is the only school there. Yen Sid from Fantasia works at Dragon Hall. He helps students whose parents used to have magic.
Return to the Isle of the Lost
Another Descendants book, Return to the Isle of the Lost, was released on May 24, 2016. While Ben is in charge of Auradon, Mal, Jay, Carlos, and Evie get scary messages. They must return to the Isle of the Lost, which is in a worse state since Maleficent's defeat. Also, Cruella de Vil, the Evil Queen, and Jafar have gone missing.
This book confirms that other villains are on the Isle of the Lost. These include the Crocodile from Peter Pan and Hades from Hercules. New characters like Hercules's son Herkie and Pinocchio's son Pin are also introduced.
Rise of the Isle of the Lost
A prequel novel called Rise of the Isle of the Lost came out on May 23, 2017. This book tells how Uma became powerful. It also shares her earlier history with Mal. The main story is about Uma's plan to get King Triton's trident. She wants to use it to break the barrier around the Isle of the Lost.
Escape from the Isle of the Lost
The fourth book in the series was published on June 4, 2019. In this book, Hades' helpers, Pain and Panic, are confirmed to be on the Isle of the Lost.
Beyond the Isle of the Lost
The fifth book in this series is set to be published on May 7, 2024.
School of Secrets Series
The School of Secrets is a series of novels that continue the Descendants story. The first book, CJ's Treasure Chase, came out on August 30, 2016. It focuses on Captain Hook's daughter, CJ Hook. Other books in the series focus on different characters like Freddie (Dr. Facilier's daughter) and Ally (Alice in Wonderland's daughter).
Junior Novelizations
Simplified versions of the Descendants films were also released as junior novelizations. These books are great for younger readers. The first one came out on July 14, 2015. Junior novelizations for Descendants 2 and Descendants 3 were also published.
Other Books
Many other Descendants books have been released. These include Mal's Diary, Mal's Spell Book, Evie's Fashion Book, and Uma's Wicked Book. There are also activity books and guides to Auradon Prep. All these books are published by Disney Publishing Worldwide.
See also
- List of Descendants characters
