Overview

Tarzan (1999) is an animated feature from Walt Disney's feature animation division released in 1999. The film retells elements of Edgar Rice Burroughs' classic hero in a family-oriented, musical format and presents the story of a man raised by apes who encounters human civilization for the first time. It was produced by The Walt Disney Company and draws on the basic premise of Burroughs' novel while adapting plot, tone and characters for a modern animated audience; the original author is often noted as the source material (Edgar Rice Burroughs).

Animation and music

The production combined traditional hand-drawn character animation with more modern, digital methods to create dynamic jungle environments. A painting-based 3D workflow—often referred to in coverage as a "Deep Canvas" approach—allowed richly textured, camera-moving backgrounds that interacted with 2-D characters. Musically, the film is closely associated with Phil Collins, who wrote and performed several songs for the soundtrack. One of those songs, "You'll Be in My Heart," received wide recognition and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Cast and characters

The film featured a notable ensemble of voice actors and memorable supporting characters. Principal performers included:

  • Tony Goldwyn as the titular Tarzan
  • Minnie Driver as Jane Porter
  • Rosie O'Donnell as Terk, a ape friend
  • Glenn Close as Kala, Tarzan's adoptive mother
  • Lance Henriksen as Kerchak, the gorilla leader
  • Brian Blessed as Clayton, the antagonist
  • Nigel Hawthorne as Professor Porter

Release and reception

Upon release the picture was commercially successful and opened strongly at the box office, becoming the first Disney animated feature since Pocahontas to debut at number one. Contemporary reviews praised the film's action sequences, visual inventiveness and soundtrack, though some critics noted differences from Burroughs' original novel and debated the film's tonal shifts. The production was notable for its relatively large budget for the era, which industry coverage compared to earlier big-budget Disney features like The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Legacy and notable facts

Tarzan remains one of Disney's more frequently referenced late-1990s animated releases because of its musical hits, technical experimentation blending 2-D and 3-D art, and memorable voice performances. Its soundtrack and the Oscar-winning song helped the film maintain a presence in popular culture beyond its theatrical run. The film also led to subsequent adaptations and merchandise and is often discussed in surveys of animation that trace the shift from traditional to hybrid digital workflows at major studios.