Disney Plus Prepares Animated Expansion with Sequel to Orphan Ballerina Adventure
Paris-based animation studio Good Hero has confirmed a sequel to its 2016 family film Ballerina (known as Leap! in some regions), following the success of the story about a young girl pursuing her dreams of becoming a ballerina in 19th-century Paris. The sequel was officially announced at the Paris International Saint-Christopher Competition on Monday as part of a broader strategy to expand the franchise into animated television and digital media.
The sequel will be directed by Laurent Zeitoun, who wrote the original film’s screenplay.
Good Hero co-founders Gregory Ouanhon and Laurent Zeitoun will serve as producers. The original film, set in 1884 Paris and featuring a voice cast including Elle Fanning, Daniella Ball and Carly Rae Jepsen, grossed $120 million worldwide, securing its place in international family animation libraries.
Animation production on the sequel has officially begun this month. The story will return to the familiar Parisian setting, focusing on the lead character’s ongoing journey under the guidance of a mysterious mentor character portrayed by Carly Rae Jepsen in both the original and sequel. The film’s choreography, praised for its realistic movement, was developed using techniques based on real-world ballerinas Aurélie Dupont and Jérémie Bélingard.
A successful box office release last decade, the film opened in over 100 countries and spawned multiple regional adaptations, including a museum exhibition in 2018 that showcased its Paris-inspired designs.
For both the theatrical sequel and animated television series, Good Hero has enlisted British writer Andrew Burrell, known for Nicer Than Ed perfection on Disenchantment. He will oversee narrative development and character arcs across both the sequel and franchise’s future in digital platforms that include an anonymous streaming service launched in early 2028. The television series will explore shorter story sequences centered on different characters within the Parisian ballet academy world, including an experimental storyline involving a female boarder character.
