In 2006, Disney Channel premiered High School Musical, which would soon become a phenomenon. The film launched two sequels, and Disney+ used the series to create High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, a show that takes place at the high school the movies were filmed in. High School Musical also was a jump-off point for many actors' careers, such as Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale. The achievement of the musicals on Disney Channel allowed for Camp Rock and the sequel to be successful.
Camp Rock premiered in 2008 and helped launch Demi Lovato's career and added to the Jonas Brothers' success. Each series was triumphant in ways, but there were some things that each series did better than the other.
Updated on August 26th, 2022 by Amanda Bruce: High School Musical and Camp Rock debuted to huge numbers on the Disney Channel. Their popularity is so great that young Disney fans stream them on Disney Plus today. They’ve never crossed over, but the two franchises get a meta collision in Season 3 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series as some of the characters head to summer camp. The series might have been conceived as a way to bring High School Musical into the real world, but the third season makes Camp Rock one character’s comfort movie, and sees songs from that particular Disney franchise added to the show. The season will leave fans of both franchises comparing the two.
What High School Musical Does Better
High School Musical Has A Successful Spin-Off
While Camp Rock had two successful movies on the Disney Channel, High School Musical had the chance to go beyond that. Not only did it get a third movie with a theatrical release, but it also got a particularly meta series, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
Though the series might not be set in the same universe as High School Musical, but in the real world with characters who watched the movies as young kids, it shows the staying power of the movies. The teenagers who attend the high school where the original movies filmed have a deep love for the movies. These are the moves that helped make all of them want to be performers, and that unabashed love for something that adults might see as cheesy looking back is part of what has made the show resonate with audiences today.
High School Musical's Performances
High School Musical included performances that were more of the classic musical style from the beginning, which allowed the musical outbursts to be more expected from the franchise than in Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. Performances could be on stage, daydreams, impromptu in a kitchen or a pool, but they were always part of the story, pushing it forward.
Camp Rock made its musical moments performances in the context of the movie rather than using the traditional musical format, so the sequel's decision to break that mold became confusing. However, not only did High School Musical keep its musical moments consistent throughout the series, but in each film, the performances became more massive, with more significant choreography and a larger budget. The same is true of the meta Disney Plus series, which has incoporated original High School Musical numbers into the show with its new cast.
High School Musical's Storyline Consistency
The second and third High School Musical films have a secure connection to discussing what happens after high school. Scholarships and college are a big deal and a necessary point of discussion in the movies. However, the overall arc that stays within all three films is Troy's confusion over who he is and what he wants to do. Along the way, Sharpay is also very clear about her wish to end up on Broadway.
The Camp Rock series makes their films feel like two separate entities. While Shane and Mitchie's relationship pushes forward, other attributes either disappear from the first film or are added to the second one.
The Fan Response
Camp Rock may have been successful, but it never matched the overwhelming success of the High School Musical franchise. The trilogy grew beyond expectations with a successful album release, concert tour, and theatrical film release for the final movie. High School Musical 2 was the most-watched Disney Channel original movie with 17.2 million viewers.
While the Camp Rock series did well, it could not match the overall response High School Musical received. The decision to put the cast on tour allowed the movies to feed into the fan response and increase the buzz for the successful franchise. The fact that Disney repeatedly adapted content for fans paved the way for the streaming series to even take place.
High School Musical's Supporting Characters
Several Wildcats were not main characters, but they were still included in the school activities. Kelsi, Martha, and Zeke were just three students that were continually around for the significant events of the films. The supporting characters were celebrated for their differences and interests, using them to grow the characters in each movie.
Camp Rock did not use supporting characters the same way, and they fell more into the background without unique qualities that made those in High School Musical exciting.
High School Musical's Character Development
From running around the school to secretly watch auditions to proudly participating in the spring musical, Troy Bolton grew plenty during the trilogy. But he wasn't the only one. Ryan Evans steps out from Sharpay's thumb in High School Musical 2, finding friends in Chad, Gabriella, and the Wildcats. Several characters grow to accept that they can be more than one thing and support each other.
That same level of growth isn't present in Camp Rock as the focus is more on the characters being able to complete a successful performance than it is any individual character conflicts.
What Camp Rock Does Better
Camp Rock Has More Believable Antagonists
Throughout the High School Musical franchise, Sharpay is the primary antagonist. She initially spends her time alienating other students because she doesn’t want to share the spotlight, only to demonstrate that she does have a heart in the end and show how she’s grown. That repeats for Sharpay in every movie.
Instead of simply having someone who loves the spotlight, Camp Rock (and its sequel) make its antagonists performers who don’t just crave the spotlight. They have reasons for craving that spotlight. Tess is revealed to be hard on her friends because she’s trying so hard to impress her mother, who doesn’t give her the time of day. She’s not intentionally making others miserable, but can’t see how her actions are hurting the people she cares about.
Camp Rock's Equal Focus On Main Characters
In High School Musical, when Troy and Gabriella hit a rough patch in their relationship, Gabriella would disappear from the films, and the focus would remain solely on Troy. Then, once the problem had been sorted out, the two would reunite.
In Camp Rock, Shane and Mitchie are equally relevant. Both Mitchie and Shane's perspectives are shown, which allows them to comes across more as equals to the story. The audience gets to see how both characters are feeling about the situation and how they handle things moving forward.
Camp Rock's Rehearsals
Since Camp Rock is a place of discovering musical sound, a majority of the first film shows Mitchie, Tess, and many others working on their stage presence and performance for Final Jam. Music is woven into the story at every turn. Even in Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, Camp Star is continually working on its performance.
In High School Musical, rehearsals are relevant, especially during High School Musical 3: Senior Year. But, in the first two High School Musical films, rehearsals take a back seat to the other storylines occurring. Young audience members might not realize just how much work really goes into pulling off an elaborate musical performance.
The Supportive Adult Figures
High School Musical's central adult figures were Jack Bolton and Ms. Darbus. The two both had firm beliefs in their fields of interest. However, Jack's love of basketball made it difficult for him to see Troy enjoyed singing. Jack was not always a supportive parent.
Meanwhile, Connie Torres and Brown were still supportive of Mitchie and the rest of the campers. Brown was always encouraging the kids to love music and be more involved.
Camp Rock Treats Music As A Career
Sharpay, Ryan, and Kelsi are the only ones that treat a future in theater seriously. For Troy and Gabriella, while they enjoyed singing, the couple did not consider that avenue so seriously, at least Gabriella never did. Troy only gave it real thought after being accepted to Juilliard. While this has changed in the newer High School Musical series as multiple characters consider paths to careers in the performing arts, that foundation wasn't present in the movies.
Meanwhile, Mitchie went to Camp Rock because she wanted a summer that was about music. Shane, Nate, and Jason were a professional band, Connect Three. Shane mentions how their record label will only let them play certain types of songs. Music was always being discussed in a way where it was a career option.
The Significance Of Location
It isn't that Camp Rock is a better place than East High, but the Wildcats never dealt with nearly losing their school. Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam pins Camp Rock against Camp Star in a competition that ends with only one left standing. In a face-off that could mean the end of Camp Rock forever, Mitchie and her friends must step up to create a performance that will save Camp Rock. While High School Musical 3: Senior Year devotes time to what it means to move forward to college, the Wildcats know that their high school will remain standing after they leave.