Toon Talk: Atlantis: The Lost Empire Collector's Edition DVD
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STORY AND EDITORIAL:

Finding the Story:
Details the script writing process for an animated film such as Atlantis. Mention is made of how concepts can come and go during the storyboarding process. At one point in it's development, Atlantis was a virtual "monster parade", with the explorers encountering one fantastic beast after another. These are explored further in the next section.

Deleted Scenes:
Four scenes are included here, including the original Viking Prologue. Originally, the film began with a crew of Vikings searching for Atlantis with the Shepherd's Journal. The Leviathan attacks, their ship is sunk, and the only thing to survive is the Journal itself.

This scene made it all the way to full animation and color, but it was decided that it would serve the story better if the film began in the actual City of Atlantis, introducing us to the King and a young Princess Kida. It's rare that such major cuts are made in animated films, but the DVD format allows it to be seen here for the first time.

The three remaining scenes are filmed storyboards with temporary dialogue, sound and music, and were to be included in the sequence where the Whitmore Expedition is searching for Atlantis. During their quest through the subterranean caves, they encounter the Squid Bats, the Lava Whales and the Land Beast, a large centipede-like creature that does make a brief appearance in the final film.

Original Treatment:
Text and early concept art recount the original story treatment for Atlantis:The Lost Empire.

(c) Disney

ART DIRECTION:

Designing Atlantis:
Early on in development, it was decided that the visual look for Atlantis should be like watching a "moving comic book". Many artists were recruited to help achieve this, most notably popular comic book artist Mike Mignola, whose style was adapted for the overall design of the film. He was also instrumental in establishing the differences between the industrialism of the "surface dwellers" and the mysticism of the Atlanteans.

The Explorer's World and Atlantis Design Galleries:
Galleries containing concept art and background paintings, includes the Ulysses, the road to Atlantis, the City of Atlantis and the Crystal Chamber.

Mike Mignola Design Gallery:
Includes Mignola's character designs for all the explorers and Atlanteans, plus vehicles, creatures and Atlantis itself.

Art Direction Style Guide:
A fascinating gallery detailing the artistic bible used to insure the design philosophy of the film was consistent throughout. Includes explanations of such styles as posterization, composition and how to draw hands the Mike Mignola way.