In the early 2000s, Disney Channel shifted their attention to in-house talent. The brand began blending popular series and Disney Channel Original Movies with music, thus creating a stable of stars who quickly became household names.
Although High School Musical (2006) often gets credit for Disney Channel's musical revolution, it was not the first DCOM to incorporate music in a meaningful way. The Cheetah Girls was not technically a musical, but the 2003 film clearly paved the way for a High School Musical future. Looking at each movie trilogy, which one is better?
High School Musical: Breaking The Status Quo
Critical fans have reason to question how effective High School Musical really was in promoting a society free of social and extracurricular strictures.
At the same time, "Stick to the Status Quo" still emphasized the problem with pigeonholing people into distinct groups based on their interests or skills. As the trilogy continued, a message of friendship across social circles prevailed. Disney could have been even more representative of different talents, ideas, and identities, but they made a step in the right direction.
The Cheetah Girls: Considering A Class Divide
The second and third The Cheetah Girls movies shy away from this topic, but the first is not afraid to discuss class division among teenagers. Aqua's home life is unseen, but viewers know that she comes from Texas and doesn't seem to lack basic necessities (she's also afraid of taking the subway). Galleria's family seems rather well-off, with Chanel and her single mother not too far behind.
Dorinda is the one who lives with a foster family and is embarrassed for her friends to see her home. Dorinda is hurt and angered when Galleria thoughtlessly insults her hand-me-down clothes. Such a situation was not shown every day on the Disney Channel, and it was important for viewers to be reminded that not all kids are as privileged as some of the ones they had seen on Disney.
High School Musical: Creating A New Musical
High School Musical did not reinvent the wheel with its soundtracks of original songs, but it was the first movie franchise to present itself in the musical genre on Disney Channel. As stage musicals were not accessible to every cable viewer, it was good for kids to be exposed to the style in a catchy, made-for-television manner.
Young viewers became genuinely excited about the music in these movies, urging their music teachers to program "We're All in This Together" for choral concerts or to put on the whole show.
The Cheetah Girls: Valuing Stand-Alone Performances
Looking at the timeline of Disney Channel Original Movies, High School Musical's impact can actually be seen on The Cheetah Girls 2 and The Cheetah Girls: One World. HSM premiered in January of 2006, and the initial Cheetah sequel followed in August of that year. The second and third The Cheetah Girls movies were true musicals.
Characters break into song to tell stories and express dreams or frustrations as much as they sing songs performatively in public. It's nice to go back and rewatch the first movie because it is decidedly not a musical. It is a music-driven film infused with the songs of rehearsals, performances, and celebrations. That aspect of the franchise's beginning is not talked about often, and it is one that fans can and should appreciate.
High School Musical: Making A Sequel Splash
One could argue that nothing really happens in High School Musical 2. Gabriella and Troy are in love, but their love is tarnished by Troy's arrogance while all the East High kids work at a country club all summer. This is a low-stakes movie that brings the main characters into Sharpay and Ryan's world. That being said, no fan has forgotten the soundtrack of HSM 2.
Glitzy poolside hit "Fabulous" is contrasted with break-up epic "Gotta Go My Own Way" and angsty golf course anthem "Bet on It." It's easy to state that the music of the second movie soars above the songs of the others. Does that make this sequel better than The Cheetah Girls 2?
The Cheetah Girls: Following A Higher Calling
Before calling High School Musical 2 the definitive sequel of these franchises, The Cheetah Girls 2 has a few points to its credit. The movie shows that a diverse group of female singers has found success in their New York City home.
They have the space of the film to go beyond that and travel to Barcelona with their talents. It's hard to say where songs like "Strut" and "It's Over" stack up against the first movie's "Together We Can" and "Girl Power," so thank goodness both movies have renditions of "Cheetah Sisters."
High School Musical: Going To The Theater
The third HSM movie was one of the few instances where a Disney Channel property migrated to the big screen. It was a smart move on Disney's part, and all in all, the film was worth a trip to the movie theater. Everyone who cared about the franchise wanted to see what was in store for the Wildcats' senior year.
It was fun to watch the elaborate scene on "A Night to Remember" with all the dazzling prom attire. It was also refreshing to see the romance between Chad and Taylor go a little deeper. Not every song in Senior Year can compete with those of the first two movies, but the project still did not disappoint.
The Cheetah Girls: Staying On Cable
The Cheetah Girls: One World has received its fair share of criticism, mainly because Raven-Symoné was not involved. Aside from the noticeable absence of Galleria, the third movie has some good music but does not surpass the quality of the first two stories.
By the same token, the movie's continued DCOM status enabled children all over the world to see an example of Bollywood music and dance, perhaps for the first time in some homes.
High School Musical: Remaining A Worldwide Sensation
The High School Musical trilogy, the CDs, the live shows, and the spin-off series testify to the franchise's worldwide success. Though Troy Bolton's narrative is emphasized the most, there are a lot of other voices and talents that shine throughout each movie.
A perky, musical high school might not be the most realistic thing in the world, but it's still fun to watch.
The Cheetah Girls: Celebrating The Talents Of Young Women
Where High School Musical looks at life through Troy's eyes, The Cheetah Girls is lived through the experiences of four (and then just three) gifted young women.
They represent different backgrounds and have unique dreams, but they learn to lift one another up and embrace the power of their music. Like High School Musical, The Cheetah Girls sold plenty of albums and drew adoring crowds for concerts. Disney Channel wouldn't be the same without the legacy of either franchise, and both of them excel in their own ways.