Leap 2! The Top of the World

'Leap 2! The Top of the World (known as Ballerina 2: New Dreams in territories outside the United States and translated from French as Ballerina 2: Dreams of the World') is a American-Canadian-French 2023 3D computer-animated musical adventure film. It was produced by Quad Productions and L'Atelier Animation and distributed by Gaumont and Chronoarts. It is the sequel to the 2016-2017 animated movie Leap! (Ballerina) and features returning staff members such as directors Éric Summer and Éric Warin, co-writer Laurent Zeitoun and writer Raymond Boucher, who makes his movie debut. Soundtrack composer Klaus Badelt returns to produce the film score, this time joined by songwriter Lin-Minuel Miranda, who contributes songs dedicated to the film's characters and scenes à la Disney's animated features.

The story takes place one and a half years after the original movie, and involves protagonists Félicie and Victor traveling with the latter's long-lost friend Hubert and participating in a worldwide talent competition.

Most of the original voice cast from the previous film such as Elle Fanning, Maddie Ziegler, Carly Rae Jepsen and Kate McKinnon reprise their original characters. However, new actors make an appearance in the film such as Jadon Sand (who replaces Dane DaHaan and Nat Wolff as Victor), Emma Watson, Gael García Bernal, and James Earl Jones. Raymond Boucher also stars in the voice role of deuteragonist Hubert.

Plot
The movie begins with an introduction by Félicie summarizing the events of the first movie, before transitioning to summer of 1881, one and a half years later. The now 13-year old orphans Félicie the ballerina and Victor the genius inventor are paid a visit by Hubert, a journalist and long-time friend of Victor, who invites them to a public meeting at the Concorde square. They along with Odette, foster mother of Félicie and Victor, gather at the square and learn of the European Invitational Dream Competition from its top staff members Eugene Lateur, Dimitri Nilovich Rankovsky II, and Sir Gregory Innes. Excited by the promise of expressing their passions around the world, Félicie and Victor are the first to register as competitors. After one week of training with the aid of dance master Louis Mérante and Camille, Félicie's former dance rival, Félicie departs with Victor, Hubert, and Mattie (Victor's engineering partner) to England, the first country to host the competition. The youthful band of competitors form their "Dream Team".

Upon arriving at London, England, the Dream Team crosses paths with two twin musicians Viola, a violinist, and Alice, a pianist, in addition to competing Spanish artist Samuel, who begins a rivalry with Victor. Félicie easily makes friends with Alice and Viola and learns folk dancing, while Samuel challenges Victor's patience and dedication to the point of pulling pranks and outright sabotaging the young genius' projects. Félicie wins the intermediate dance contests, Viola and Alice win first place in the country music contests; unfortunately, Victor and Matty score a measly fourth place in the engineering contests. As a result of his pride being wounded, the inventor grows bitter towards Samuel and his charisma and feels doubtful of his own talents when compared to his friends. Unbeknownst to everyone, EIDC chief director Dimitri goes missing for unknown reasons.

At the end of the first week of the competition, a crime boss named Desperado and his mafia gang Los Desperados Perfectos break Régine Le Haut out of prison. Vengeful, she and Desperado strike a deal that the latter and his partners will become the most powerful criminals in the world if they hunt down and assassinate "the two orphans who tarnished [her] fame".

Cast

 * Elle Fanning as Félicie, a star ballerina at the Paris Opera Ballet.
 * Jadon Sand as Victor, excitable young inventor and Félicie's best friend. (Replaces Dane DaHaan/Nat Wolff from the original film)
 * Raymond Boucher as Hubert, junior reporter and Victor's long-time pen pal.
 * Josh Gad as Matty, Victor's engineering partner. (Replaces Tamir Kapelian)
 * Emma Watson as Viola and Alice, two twin musician sisters from London, England.
 * Gael García Bernal as Samuel, a charismatic Spanish artist and Victor's main rival.
 * Maddie Ziegler as Camille Le Haut, Félicie's former dance rival.
 * Carly Rae Jepsen as Odette, a cleaner and foster mother of Félicie.
 * Terrence Scammell as Louis Mérante, the choreographer of the Paris Opera Ballet.
 * Kate McKinnon as Régine Le Haut, the antagonist of the original film. (Voices Régine in both the US and international English versions)