One thing I've noticed is DreamWorks, which had a "second-rate Disney" feel in the early 2000s, has really been stepping up lately. Almost gives me AMD/Intel kinda vibes
Disney had their own in-house "second-rate Disney".
The Crap Sequels Division was called DisneyToons, dedicated to producing low-budget sequels: Cinderella II/III, Mulan 2, The Lion King 1½... That unit was shut down in 2018. Crap sequel production continued under a different part of the organization, with somewhat larger budgets.
Puss In Boots 2 was easily in my top five movies of the past few years. It's just so much better than any animated sequel of a spin-off centered on a joke character has any right to be. It's an excellent film.
The fact that the entire narrative arc depends on it being a sequel makes it even more impressive.