The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Cruella (2021) tells the origin story of Estella’s transformation into the fashion-obsessed Cruella in 1970s London. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) and 101 Dalmatians (1996) instead follow Cruella’s attempt to steal Dalmatian puppies and the effort to rescue them. The main difference is the point of view: Cruella makes the future villain its protagonist, while the other films make her the antagonist of a puppy-rescue adventure.
How the stories differ
| Film | Story focus | Cruella’s role | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruella (2021) | Estella is a young grifter and aspiring fashion designer in 1970s London. Her relationship with the Baroness and a series of revelations lead her to embrace the Cruella persona. D23’s film entry describes it as a live-action origin story. | Protagonist: the story explores the experiences behind her transformation. | Live action. Disney describes it as comedy/crime, while Disney+ classifies it as drama/crime. |
| One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) | Cruella kidnaps Dalmatian puppies, including 15 from Pongo and Perdita. Pongo uses the Twilight Bark to call on animal allies and help find and rescue them. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film page describes the rescue quest. | Established villain who sets the rescue adventure in motion. | Animated feature. |
| 101 Dalmatians (1996) | After Anita refuses to sell the puppies, Cruella arranges their theft, and Pongo leads the rescue search. Disney’s official film page summarizes the live-action story. | Antagonist who dognaps the puppies. | Live-action family adventure/comedy; it adapts the earlier animated film and Dodie Smith’s novel, as D23’s entry notes. |
Why Cruella feels different
The 1961 and 1996 films are built around the dogs: the theft creates the danger, and the rescue drives the plot. In Cruella, the central question is how Estella becomes the character audiences recognize as Cruella. Fashion ambitions and her conflict with the Baroness matter more than a search for stolen puppies.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Cruella | $12.64 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Cruella | $3.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Disney's Cruella DVD [2021]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51aD+ieG0aS._SL160_.jpg)
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Disney's Cruella DVD [2021] | $17.28 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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CRUELLA/101 DALMATIANS 2-MOVIE COLLECTION | $22.52 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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101 Dalmatians | $3.99 | Buy on Amazon |
That shift also changes the audience’s relationship with Cruella. In the puppy stories, she is the established antagonist. In the 2021 film, viewers follow her as the central character through the events of an origin story; that does not make the three films’ plots interchangeable.
Is Cruella a prequel to 101 Dalmatians?
Cruella is an origin story connected to the 101 Dalmatians franchise and Dodie Smith’s source novel, but the official film pages do not establish it as a strict continuity prequel to either the 1961 animated film or the 1996 live-action adaptation. It is more precise to call it an origin story or a reimagining of Cruella’s beginnings than to assume it fits seamlessly into either film’s timeline.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- CRUELLA/101 Dalmatian 2 FILM COLLECTION
- Product type: PHYSICAL MOVIE
- Brand: Walt. DISNEY
Rank #3
- New Store Stock
Rank #2
#1 Best Overall
- In 1970s London, young fashion designer Estella de Vil becomes obsessed with dogs? skins, especially Dalmatians, until she eventually becomes a ruthless and terrifying legend known as Cruella.
Release dates and setting
- One Hundred and One Dalmatians opened January 25, 1961, according to the Walt Disney Animation Studios film page.
- 101 Dalmatians (1996) opened November 27, 1996, according to D23.
- Cruella was released in the United States on May 28, 2021, and is set in 1970s London during the punk-rock era, according to D23.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
