YMMV / Balto II: Wolf Quest

• All Animation Is Disney: This film falls victim to being mistaken for a Disney work. It is a Direct to Video, Disney-looking, animated musical released at a time when Disney had many direct-to-video sequels.
• Awesome Music:
  • “Taking You Home” is a sweet, tender song played as Balto and Jenna watch their pups go off to good homes. Even though it’s a happy moment, it’s also bittersweet watching the new parents see their babies taken away - and worse, when nobody wants Aleu.
  • “Who You Really Are” has great, ethereal score and wonderfully pretty vocals from Rob Paulsen, as well as ominous chanting to go along with the trippy, atmospheric visuals.
  • "The Grand Design" is a catchy song that has lovely bass and imposing spoken word by David Carradine and Mark Hamill, really driving home the themes of destiny as the two leaders debate over the fate of the pack.
  • The primary instrumental theme, heard as the last bit of score in the credits, sounds appropriately adventurous and epic befitting the untamed Alaskan wilderness.
• Base-Breaking Character:
  • Since the film's release, Aleu has either been seen as a well-rounded and likeable main character, while others see her as too annoying and impulsive.
  • Niiju has also proved divisive. While Mark Hamill's performance has been praised, some find the character to be a poorly fleshed-out Expy of Steele from the first film, while others prefer him to Steele for being more of a Well-Intentioned Extremist than an arrogant bully.
• Captain Obvious Reveal: When Nava states that the pack will be led by "one who is wolf but does not know it”, the characters immediately assume this to be Balto, which makes no sense since he already accepted his wolf heritage in the previous film. In essence, Nava's prophecy immediately spells out that Aleu, who has spent the whole film struggling with her identity, will be the one to embrace her wolf nature and lead the pack, despite the film itself trying to present this revelation as a major twist later on.
• Esoteric Happy Ending: So how's Balto going to break the news to Jenna that their daughter has left and they'll most likely never see her again?
• He Really Can Act: Maurice LaMarche not only does a splendid job flawlessly imitating Kevin Bacon, but he still delivers a solid performance in his own right. Many voice actors like LaMarche’s friend Rob Paulsen have attested that imitating another actor is one thing, but still giving a good performance is another, and LaMarche does both.
• Popular with Furries: Due to its heavy emphasis on wolves and wolf-dogs, it's arguably even more popular with furries than the original.
• Sequelitis: Few if any will say it’s better than the first film.
• So Okay, It's Average: It’s generally not regarded as a great film or as good as the first film, but most fans concede there was some clear effort put into it with decent songs, a great atmosphere, and an interesting journey for the characters.
• Strawman Has a Point: Niiju does have a point that the pack is running out of food; Nava preaching vague morals and prophecies that even he doesn't fully understand doesn't put food in anyone's mouth. Nava's talk of a vague "grand design" would probably be more well-received if the wolf pack wasn't on the brink of starvation and if Nava had an actual plan to combat the starvation. Granted, Niiju's plan of fighting other animal clans isn’t a great idea either as Nava points out it will only result in further famine in the ecosystem, but it’s not hard to see why the pack joined him for a night.
• Tear Jerker:
  • The scene where Balto and Jenna’s puppies are given away. This is how it has to be given they’re dogs in a human world, but it’s no less heartbreaking to see Jenna weeping as her babies are taken away. The bright side is that the song makes it clear that they’re going to good homes, and will presumably stay in Nome so it’s not goodbye forever, but it’s still parents being forced to let their children go. What’s worse is Aleu not being adopted by anybody and not understanding why, only waving goodbye to her siblings as they’re taken away. By the end, Jenna wants to try again, but Balto refuses to keep putting Aleu through it, knowing exactly what’s going on.
  • As good hearted and wise as Nava is, the climax ultimately makes it clear that he’s simply too old to join the pack on the exodus let alone lead them anymore. He can barely offer any aid to Aleu even before Niju attacks, and when Balto tries to get Aleu to help Nava swim to the pack… Nava gives him a sad look that says it all without saying anything.
  • The ending, where Balto and Aleu part ways over an instrumental "Someone Who Loves You", tugs on the heartstrings.
• They Wasted a Perfectly Good Character:
  • Balto is sidelined in the second half of the film, and contributes very little as the focus mainly shifts to Aleu.
  • The wolf pack are introduced in the last twenty minutes of the film and their plotline is rushed through, meaning they are not well fleshed out. Niiju in particular could have been an interesting and compelling antagonist, but is instead reduced to a one-dimensional villain.
• They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot: The film already has a decent concept of Balto learning to let Aleu grow up and accept herself, but this plotline is weighed down by confusing and and unsubtle supernatural elements.