Emperor Kuzco

"When I give the word, your little town thingy will be bye-bye. Bye-bye!"

- Kuzco explaining his plans to Pacha. "It's all about me."

- One of Kuzco's common sayings. "Ha! Boom baby!"

- Kuzco's catchphrase.

Emperor Kuzco is the main protagonist of Disney's 40th feature-length animated film, The Emperor's New Groove, a supporting character in the direct-to-video sequel Kronk's New Groove, the main protagonist of its spinoff television series The Emperor's New School, and a recurring character in House of Mouse.

He is a malevolent and egotistical emperor that, through the course of the first film, must realize the error of his ways, serving as a villainous protagonist until the end of the film. Even after his initial redemption, he still serves as an on and off anti-villain in the other Emperor's New Groove projects and sequels.

In the films, he was voiced by David Spade. In all other appearances, he was voiced by J.P. Manoux.

House of Mouse
Kuzco is a regular guest in House of Mouse, usually in his llama form.

Disney Parks & Cruise Lines
Kuzco appears as a heroic character in some Disney Parks and Cruise Line shows and attractions, such as Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, Disney Dreamers Everywhere!, and cameos in Midship Detective Agency and Villains Tonight!.

Personality
At first Kuzco is selfish, vain, arrogant, rude, and cruel. He punishes those who interrupt his "groove", and plans to force entire villages out of their homes just for a temporary vacation spot. He is even willing to lie and trick those who want to help him, and even goes so far as to try and kill his enemies or even betray those around him.

Later, after having a change of heart, he remained egotistical and a bit selfish, but was all-around kinder and more helpful, though he tended to put himself first.

Quotes
"Will you take a look at that? Pretty pathetic, huh? Well, you'll never believe this, but that llama you're looking at was once a human being. And not just any human being. That guy was an emperor. A rich, powerful ball of charisma. Oh, yeah! This is his story. Well, actually, my story. That's right... I'm that llama. The name is Kuzco... Emperor Kuzco. I was the world's nicest guy and they ruined my life for no reason. Oh, is that hard to believe? Look, I'll tell you what. You go back a ways, you know, before I was a llama, and this will all make sense."

- Kuzco introducing the movie.

"Oh yeah."

- Kuzco

"Let's take a look-see. Hate your hair. Not likely. Yikes. Yikes. Yikes. And, let me guess, you have a great personality."

- Kuzco judging potential brides.

"What is this guy babbling about? He's like the thing that wouldn't shut up."

- Kuzco about one of his advisors.

"Um, how else can I say it? "You're being let go." "Your department's being downsized." "You're part of an outplacement." "We're going in a different direction." "We're not picking up your option." Take your pick. I got more."

- Kuzco firing Yzma.

"I don't make deals with peasants!"

- Kuzco yelling in Pacha's ear.

"Pacha: Uh-oh. Kuzco: Don't tell me. We're about to go over a huge waterfall. Pacha: Yep. Kuzco: Sharp rocks at the bottom? Pacha: Most likely. Kuzco: Bring it on."

- Kuzco and Pacha about to go over a waterfall.

"Pacha: [hanging off the bridge] Kuzco! Kuzco: Yeah? Pacha: Quick, pull me up! Kuzco: No, I don't think I will. Pacha: You're gonna leave me here? Kuzco: Well, I was gonna have you imprisoned for life, but I kinda like this better. Pacha: I thought you were a changed man. Kuzco: Come on, I had to say something to get you to take me back to the city. Pacha: So all of it was a lie? Kuzco: Well yeah. No, wait... Oh, yeah, it all was a lie. Toodles!"

- Kuzco leaving Pacha to die.

"Kuzco: When will you learn that all my ideas are good ones? Pacha: Well, that's funny. Because I thought that you going into the jungle by yourself, being chased by jaguars, lying to me to take you back to the palace were all really bad ideas! Kuzco: Oh, yeah. Anything sounds bad when you say it with that attitude."

- Kuzco and Pacha talking.

Trivia

 * Kuzco is afraid of frogs.
 * There was a deleted scene where several of Kuzco's guards practiced the destruction of Pacha's village on a model town, but it was cut for being too dark and would have potentially pushed Kuzco past the point of redemption in audiences' minds.
 * In the original script, Kingdom of the Sun, Kuzco's name was Manco, and he never spoke in his llama form.