Kenny Ortega Reflects On Impact of 'High School Musical' & 'Descendants'

Kenny Ortega will always be one of our favorites — not only is he behind Descendants, but he was also the director of all three High School Musical movies.

Looking back on the famed franchise, Kenny opened up about the impact of it on fans everywhere.

“I have great nieces & nephews & godchildren that are Descendants fans. This past Halloween, I had my nieces show up at my door dressed as Mal & Evie on Halloween,” Kenny remembers. “It’s wonderful.”

“[But even] better than that is all the fans around the world who have personally told me about how much Descendants and the High School Musical movies actually meant to them.”

Since it’s debt in 2006, the HSM movies have kicked off major careers for its’ six main stars.

“Thousands of young people have said ‘These movies were a big part of my childhood and they empowered me. And they gave me permission to go for the things that I wanted to go for. So thank you. Because I’m doing what I want to do in my life now. And you gave me permission to believe that that was possible,’” Kenny shares.

He continues, “That’s why we all work so hard on these TV movies. They really do have the ability to do more than entertain. They can get across so many great ideas. Like the empowerment of youth. And believing in one’s dreams. And accepting who you are and where you come from. Not being afraid to have a vision for yourself.”

Descendants 2 premieres Friday, July 21st.