Skip to main content

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Animated _top_ | Tarzan

If you’ve dismissed Tarzan as “just another 90s Disney movie,” you owe it a rewatch. It’s thrilling, heartbreaking, funny, and visually stunning. It respects its source material while forging its own unique identity. It’s a movie about finding your pack, and it will absolutely find a place in your heart.

(Lance Henriksen) is a more complex “father figure” than first appears. He’s not a villain; he’s a traumatized leader terrified of losing his family again. His final acceptance of Tarzan is devastating and earned. tarzan animated

The villain, (Brian Blessed), is a straightforward but effective antagonist. He’s a trophy hunter who sees animals as property. He has no song, no sympathetic backstory. He’s just pure, greedy menace. And his death (off-screen, but heavily implied by a hanging shadow and a gunshot) is arguably the darkest moment in a Disney film since Scar was eaten alive. It’s chilling. Weaknesses (No Film is Perfect) Tarzan is excellent, but it has a few minor flaws. The pacing is brisk—sometimes too brisk. Tarzan’s transition from learning English to fully understanding human society happens almost overnight. A few extra minutes of runtime could have deepened the culture clash. Also, while the Phil Collins songs work brilliantly as montages, some viewers might miss the traditional “character-stops-to-sing” Disney musical numbers. And Clayton, while effective, lacks the iconic memorability of a Jafar or a Ursula. The Legacy: The Renaissance’s Swan Song Tarzan was the last film of the Disney Renaissance before the studio entered a period of decline in the early 2000s. It stands as a beautiful swan song—an action-adventure film that prioritized emotion, movement, and atmosphere over formula. It’s less sugary than some of its predecessors, more willing to deal with loss, identity, and the darkness of poaching. If you’ve dismissed Tarzan as “just another 90s

The animation holds up spectacularly, the music remains timeless, and the final shot—Tarzan standing between the jungle and the ship, choosing his family—still lands with perfect emotional weight. It’s a movie about finding your pack, and

Here’s a detailed, long-form review of Tarzan (the 1999 Disney animated film), covering its strengths, weaknesses, and lasting impact. When discussing the Disney Renaissance (roughly 1989–1999), the usual heavyweights come to mind: The Little Mermaid , Beauty and the Beast , Aladdin , and The Lion King . Often overlooked, yet standing proudly among them, is Tarzan . Released at the tail end of that golden era, Disney’s animated adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novel is a masterclass in visual storytelling, emotional depth, and musical innovation. It may not have the Broadway bombast of The Lion King or the cultural saturation of Aladdin , but Tarzan is a lean, thrilling, and surprisingly poignant film that has aged beautifully. The Animation: A Deep Canvas of Movement Let’s start with the most immediate wow-factor: the animation. Tarzan was the first major Disney film to heavily integrate deep canvas technology, a technique that gives a 3D depth to 2D backgrounds. The result is breathtaking. The jungles feel vast, vertical, and alive. The famous “surfing” sequences—where Tarzan slides down tree branches, roots, and vines as if they were waves—are not just action scenes; they’re kinetic poetry. The animators, led by the legendary Glen Keane (who animated Tarzan himself), studied real gorillas and Olympic athletes to create a protagonist who moves with both animal ferocity and human grace. Tarzan’s lanky, powerful frame feels completely distinct from any other Disney hero. Every swing, slide, and roll is fluid and exhilarating.

Go to top of page