Some people think that the recent reemergence of the Disney animated movie may be nearing an end. Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and the Lion King revitalized Disney's sagging genre, only to have films like Pocohontas, Hercules, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame follow in their wake. In order to remain at the forefront, Disney must continue to make good movies while pushing the limits of animation and storytelling.
There are only so many people who are willing to sit through another animated musical with cute animal sidekicks. This is where Atlantis comes in. The latter was many times funnier, almost loony compared to other animated films. Atlantis is an old-fashioned adventure, with great animation but only a slightly above-average story. It is not typically Disney.
The film features no songs, no animal sidekicks, and an unprecedented PG rating. This is a movie that small kids may not quite understand, and will probably play best to men, adolescent on upward. There is a surprising amount of action, fighting, and death; reminiscent of a comic book. Another element that looks like a comic is the artwork. Dubbed "Dis-nola," the look of Atlantis and its characters is largely due to comic book artist Mike Mignolia.
His is a blocky, angular style that does not look quite realistic, but does look distinctive and stylistic. The resulting characters and setting convincingly meld the two into one. The only character that truly looks Mignolia-esque is Helga, who resembles an old-fashioned femme fatale. Everybody looks familiar enough to be 'Disney,' but different enough to look off-kilter.
The film also uses computer animation to a huge degree, and manages to integrate the characters and backgrounds well. It is all a matter of attention to detail. The makers even enlisted Marc Okrand, the man who created the Klingon and Vulcan languages for Star Trek, create an Atlantean one. The voyage to Atlantis and Atlantis itself is a visual treat, full of breathtaking panoramic shots, including huge, imposing caverns and lush tropical jungles.
There are only so many people who are willing to sit through another animated musical with cute animal sidekicks. This is where Atlantis comes in. The latter was many times funnier, almost loony compared to other animated films. Atlantis is an old-fashioned adventure, with great animation but only a slightly above-average story. It is not typically Disney.
The film features no songs, no animal sidekicks, and an unprecedented PG rating. This is a movie that small kids may not quite understand, and will probably play best to men, adolescent on upward. There is a surprising amount of action, fighting, and death; reminiscent of a comic book. Another element that looks like a comic is the artwork. Dubbed "Dis-nola," the look of Atlantis and its characters is largely due to comic book artist Mike Mignolia.
His is a blocky, angular style that does not look quite realistic, but does look distinctive and stylistic. The resulting characters and setting convincingly meld the two into one. The only character that truly looks Mignolia-esque is Helga, who resembles an old-fashioned femme fatale. Everybody looks familiar enough to be 'Disney,' but different enough to look off-kilter.
The film also uses computer animation to a huge degree, and manages to integrate the characters and backgrounds well. It is all a matter of attention to detail. The makers even enlisted Marc Okrand, the man who created the Klingon and Vulcan languages for Star Trek, create an Atlantean one. The voyage to Atlantis and Atlantis itself is a visual treat, full of breathtaking panoramic shots, including huge, imposing caverns and lush tropical jungles.
About the Author:
It's not your father's Disney, but Atlantis: The Lost Empire ranks up there with some of the very best the Mouse has ever released.
0 comments