Treasure Planet: Disney’s Biggest Mistake
The directorial duo of Ron Clements and John Musker changed the fortunes of the feature film animation world and The Walt Disney Company in the 1990s. From “Beauty and the Beast” to “The Lion King,” her work has garnered millions of critical acclaims, set box-office records, and won numerous Oscars for her unparalleled artistry. But the 2002 powerhouse took a hit with the release of Treasure Planet. This entertaining documentary, Treasure Planet: Disney’s Biggest Mistake, outlines the long and complicated history of this notorious failure.
Clements and Musk have long dreamed of turning Robert Lewis Stevenson’s classic into a thrilling space adventure. After a string of unprecedented successes, they finally have the leverage to make it happen. The film’s approach is unorthodox and upends many of Disney’s most enduring tropes.
Taking place scene by scene, the documentary highlights examples of this unconventional thinking extended to storytelling, character development, sound design and animation techniques.
Treasure Planet’s artistic achievements have always been highly respected. Unfortunately, as a documentary detail, the film was derailed by poor timing and studio chief indifference. By the time the film was released, 2D animation had gone downhill, and the cumbersome techniques used by Clements and Musk were increasingly expensive. The film was greenlit by the previous studio system, and its very existence was seen as a thorn in the side of the new executives. They failed to devote all their resources to the release of the film. The dismal box office has marred the prospects for a planned sequel and spoiled an impressive work of cinematic art.
Contrary to the studio’s expectations, the stench of failure didn’t appease the film’s most ardent admirers. A great film was observed by film industry critics and awards committees, and it was discovered by more and more curious moviegoers.
On its face, Treasure Planet: Disney’s Biggest Mistake is a thorough, respectful, and carefully observed survey of a particular movie. On a deeper level, it thoughtfully portrays the ongoing struggle between art and commerce.
