Toon Talk: Treasure Planet
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(c) Disney
Glen Keane, the ace animator behind such lithe characters as Ariel, Pocahontas and Tarzan, here returns to his roots with Silver, a hulking villain akin to his work on The Fox and the Hound’s bear and Oliver and Company’s Sykes. But it is his most impressive creation to date, the Beast, which most comes to mind; even the most casual viewer will notice similarities in movements and expressions between the two.
Here Keane, again echoing the theme of the film, melds time honored traditional animation with state-of-the-art computer technology to bring Silver, and all his various parts, to life. Voiced by unknown South African actor Brian Murray with a brusk bravado befitting such a brazen buccaneer, this Silver joins the likes of such other screen Silvers as Robert Newton and even Tim Curry in Muppet Treasure Island (yet another Disney reworking of the book) as a scene-stealer worthy of a planetful of treasure.
Toon Talk Rating: B
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(c) Disney
Toon Talk Trivia:
- Directors Ron Clements and John Musker, who also directed The Great Mouse Detective, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Hercules, can be seen characterized in the scene where Jim and Doppler are looking for the Legacy.
- Treasure Planet is the first simultaneous release of a film in traditional theaters and IMAX/Large Format theaters.
- Another first, Treasure Planet is the first animated film to have its backgrounds entirely painted and rendered digitally.
- Hidden Stitch Alert!: You can see a familiar looking alien hiding amongst the toys in young Jim’s bedroom early in the film.
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt (voice of Jim Hawkins) starred in the Disney remake of Angles in the Outfield.
- David Hyde Pierce (Dr. Dobbler) also voiced Slim in A Bug’s Life as well as characters in the television series Hercules and The Mighty Ducks.
- Martin Short (B.E.N.), who starred in the two Father of the Brides films for Touchstone and The Making of Me film at Epcot, will next be heard in 101 Dalmatians 2: Patch’s London Adventure and The Jungle Book 2.
- Laurie Metcalf (Sara Hawkins) voiced another Disney hero’s mother, Andy’s, in Toy Story and Toy Story 2.
- Roscoe Lee Brown (Mr. Arrow) played a pirate before, in Muppet Treasure Island. He also co-starred in The World’s Greatest Athlete and voiced Francis in Oliver and Company.
- Tony Jay is the voice of the storybook narrator at the start of the film. He is best known as the voice of Frollo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and will also be heard in The Jungle Book 2, as Sher Kahn.
- James Newton Howard returns as the scorer for this latest Disney adventure, after his similar duties for Dinosaur and Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
Coming Soon in Toon Talk:
- Christmas comes early, on December 3rd to be exact, for Disney Home Video fans: the DVD debut of Lilo and Stitch and the ‘second wave’ of Walt Disney Treasure DVDs (Mickey Mouse in Black and White, The Complete Goofy and Behind the Scenes at the Walt Disney Studio) all go on sale.
- Also just in time for Christmas shopping and stocking stuffing, the Toon Talk CD Round-Up returns with a special holiday edition, featuring the new CD soundtracks for Lilo & Stitch, The Happiest Millionaire, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Country Bears, Treasure Planet and more.
- The perfect Disney Christmas gift: The Lion King roars onto IMAX and other large screen theaters on Christmas Day.
- Toon in for the Toon Talk Top 10 - The Best of 2002.
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-- Kirby C. Holt
Kirby, a former Walt Disney World Resort Cast Member (and Trivia Champ), is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...
Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.
The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted November 27, 2002