Jim on Film: Treasure Planet: 101 Reasons
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Interestingly enough, Dr. Doppler and Captain Amelia are less memorable characters than Jim and Silver; however, that does not belittle their rich characterizations. Unusual for an animated film—which is why they are less memorable though not less successful—both characters are particularly witty and well-spoken, characters whose humor is heavily dependant upon smart dialogue rather than one-liners or exaggeration. This can’t be easy to balance in an animated film; compare the success of these characters to the talky ugly duckling character in Chicken Little or most of the characters in DreamWorks’ Madagascar, all of whom seem to stand around and blabber an awful lot without having much interesting to say or do. This also highlights the success of these two characters’ animation as well, that their dialogue fits perfectly with their physical characterizations, that their wit never seems to speak more than their animated demeanor.

This is not to forget Morph, the endearing little shape-shifter who accompanies Jim and Silver on their journey. His childlike perspective is a lot of fun, and he always seems to bring the right touch of heart and comedy to his scenes, often repeating the dialogue of those around him to comedic effect. B.E.N. is another charming character. The vivacious robot who has lost his mind brings to the film its moments of zany comedy without becoming obnoxious.

Finally, I can’t possibly talk about Treasure Planet without praising “I’m Still Here (Jim’s Theme),�? the sole song used in the main storytelling. Many animation fans have criticized the song because its tone is so different from any other used by Feature Animation before. Of course, the songs written for the Disney films of the 1940s and 1950s were very much contemporary for their time, which is why so many of them were recorded by the big music stars of the day. That the studio called upon Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls is not very different from Walt Disney calling upon Peggy Lee to write the songs for Lady and the Tramp. The praises for the song, however, do not end in defense of its genre, but in that it is perfectly suited for the movie. Rock can be a highly emotional musical style, both from the instruments used and for the vocal style required. Emotionally, the song fits what is happening on the screen. As we are shown Jim’s father’s final departure, for example, the music climaxes to highlight the strength of the emotion, and when Silver returns to bring Jim along for the ride after that, the final parts of the song reflect Jim’s excitement.

Lyrically, the song is also a perfect fit for Jim’s emotions. This isn’t surprising considering it has been said that Rzeznik found Jim Hawkins’ story to reflect his own youth. The opening lyrics are “I am a question to the world/Not an answer to be heard,�? which speaks so vividly of Jim’s experiences, that his troubled youth is not an end product but part of the process. The song charts that process, proclaiming his desire “to be real�? and to “feel I belong.�? This conveys Jim’s emotions, of his hiding behind the delinquent exterior—represented by, as discussed in the DVD director’s commentary, the shaded eye mask he sports during his emotional lows—and of his desire to feel part of his father, then Silver. His proclamation that the world doesn’t know him because “I’m not here�? means that the image he shows the world isn’t who he is inside. Then, as Silver enters the picture, the song gets directed at Silver, asking “can you help me be a man.�? As the song progresses, “’Cause I’m not here�? becomes “But I’m still here,�? expressing that who he is at the core hasn’t changed. He’s not in the external mask, but he is the person he longs to be inside, the person Silver encourages him to become, represented in the lyrics “All you wanted I could be/Now you know me, and I’m not afraid.�? The world hasn’t broken him, and throughout all that has happened in his life, he has clung onto knowing “who I am,�? and through it all, Silver brought that out of him, made him change and proclaim that “I’m still here.�? In many other films, both animated and live-action, such song moments are mood-setters, with lyrical content that has little to do with what is happening on screen, but “I’m Still Here (Jim’s Theme)�? works so powerfully with the images of Jim’s past merging with his budding mentorship with Silver, vividly echoing his emotional state and helping us understand why he values Silver so much after his experiences with his father. The song allows the moment to make us feel all that the visuals couldn’t do on their own. It’s a powerful song when taken in context.

Like a great work of literature, Treasure Planet is a film that bears the mark of brilliance and the value of revisiting. Like so many other great pieces of art—including Disney’s own Pinocchio, Fantasia, Bambi, and Sleeping Beauty—only time will tell if contemporary critics, audiences, and Michael Eisner got it right. Despite these detractors, in all aspects—from the beautiful animation and visionary visuals to the richness of character and plot—Treasure Planet is an outstanding film, and I have a feeling that in fifty years, the vision that John Musker and Ron Clements delivered to the screen in 2002 will continue proclaiming, “I’m still here.�?

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-- Jim Miles

-- Posted March 9, 2006