By Emily-Rose Toohey
When Generation Z and Millenials on the younger side reflect upon their childhood and the media they consumed, Disney Channel programming is likely one of the first things that comes to mind.
One of the most popular and quite frankly, iconic Disney Channel exports is High School Musical.
The first film dropped in 2006 and was followed by two sequels that were released in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
The franchise became so popular and the songs and actors so beloved, that the third and final instalment (High School Musical 3: Senior Year) was given a proper theatrical release.
Hannah Montana The Movie (2009) was the only other Disney Channel Original Movie to be given a cinema release, which is extremely telling.
But the question remains: does High School Musical hold up looking back on the franchise years later?
From a critical perspective, which seems very unfair for any content produced by Disney Channel, the production design is impeccable.
The colourful sequences, impeccable choreography, and catchy music are very impressive looking back, which I don’t think we appreciated enough as younger viewers.
Even the acting wasn’t completely terrible, especially by Disney Channel standards.
Aside from these clear-cut facts, the overall product is most definitely viewed through a biased lens by most people below the age of 30.
Any flaw or overwhelming cheesiness is easily ignored due to one thing: nostalgia.
The sheer joy that High School Musical instils in viewers who grew up with the franchise is infectious and even more present, and Disney Channel knows it.
A three-season Disney+ spin-off show with new characters titled High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (possibly the worst-named series in history) premiered in 2019 and interest in the original film’s core stars (mostly Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens who played Troy and Gabriella) positioned them in an interesting place in pop culture.
A real-life example of the franchise’s power is as follows: from my own high school experience, at the end of each school year when the year 12 cohort said their goodbyes, consistently, without fail, every school captain made reference to High School Musical in their final speeches.
This is a franchise that shaped and was watched by a whole generation of people and is infused with powerful nostalgia, despite its perhaps questionable quality – what will be the staple show/franchise for the next generation?
