Treasure Planet

Treasure Planet
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Screenplay by
Story by
Based onTreasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Produced by
Starring
Edited byMichael Kelly
Music byJames Newton Howard
Production
companies
Distributed byBuena Vista Pictures Distribution
Release dates
  • November 6, 2002 (2002-11-06) (Paris)
  • November 27, 2002 (2002-11-27) (United States)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$140 million[1]
Box office$109.6 million[1]

Treasure Planet is a 2002 American animated science fiction action-adventure film[2] produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a science fiction adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's adventure novel Treasure Island (1883), and it is the third retelling of the story in an outer space setting, following the Bulgarian film Treasure Planet (1982) and the Italian miniseries Treasure Island in Outer Space (1987).[3] It is the third Disney adaptation of the novel, following Treasure Island (1950) and Muppet Treasure Island (1996). In the film's setting, spaceships are powered by solar sails and resemble the 18th-century sailing vessels of the original Treasure Island.

The film was co-written, produced and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, and features the voices of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brian Murray, David Hyde Pierce, Martin Short, Roscoe Lee Browne, Emma Thompson, Michael Wincott, Laurie Metcalf, and Patrick McGoohan. The musical score was composed by James Newton Howard, while some songs were written and performed by John Rzeznik.[4] It marks Clements and Musker's first non-musical film since The Great Mouse Detective (1986). The duo pitched the concept for the film at the same time, where they worked on another Disney animated feature, The Little Mermaid (1989). After they finished their work on Hercules (1997), development of the film officially began. It employs a novel technique of hand-drawn 2D traditional animation set atop 3D computer animation. With a budget of $140 million, it is the most expensive traditionally animated film to date.

Treasure Planet premiered in Paris, France and Cinerama Dome on November 6 and 17, 2002, and received a wide theatrical release on November 27. It was the first film to be released simultaneously in regular and IMAX theaters.[5] The film was a box-office bomb, earning $109 million worldwide against a budget of $140 million, but received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards but lost to Spirited Away (2001). The film has gained a cult following.[6][7]

  1. ^ a b "Treasure Planet 2002". Box Office Mojo. December 6, 2002. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
  2. ^ "Treasure Planet". pluggedin. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Moria". /moria.co.nz. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  4. ^ Murray, Rebecca (November 19, 2002). "John Rzeznik Sets Sail for "Treasure Planet"". About.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2007.
  5. ^ Diorio, Carl (January 25, 2002). "Big Bang for Disney's 'Planet'". Daily Variety. p. 51.
  6. ^ Radulovic, Petrana (July 21, 2020). "Treasure Planet was the rebellious, visionary Disney movie that didn't pay off". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  7. ^ Phillips, Nina (January 11, 2023). "22 Animated Cult Classics Worth Checking Out". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2023.