If you read my rave review of Mulan you’ll know I mentioned that 1998 & 1999 were two absolutely stellar years for Disney animation and include two films that are in my top three Disney Classics. Both of which are about as close to perfection as I can possibly imagine. Obviously, Mulan was one of those two, and Tarzan is the other. So, buckle up for another review where I sing nothing but praise about one of my all-time favourite films.
Following a shipwreck, a human couple and their infant child make shelter in the jungle as they plan a way to return to civilisation. Elsewhere in the jungle a mother gorilla, Kala (Glenn Close) cares for her infant under the watch of alpha male Kerchack (Lance Henrickson). One day disaster strikes the gorilla’s as they are attacked by a leopard, with Kala’s child among the dead. As they wander the jungle in search of a new home, Kala hears the cries of a child, only to discover that the humans have also fallen victim to the leopard, leaving only their infant child alive. Feeling a sense of motherly duty, Kala adopts the baby as her own, much to the disapproval of Kerchack and the other gorilla’s.
Years later and now an adult, Tarzan (Tony Goldwyn) struggles with his identity and place within the gorilla tribe. But when he saves explorer Jane Porter (Minnie Driver), Tarzan realises that he is not a gorilla but actually a human, and together with Jane’s father Archimedes (Nigel Hawthorne) and hunter Clayton (Brian Blessed), Jane teaches Tarzan about the world outside of the jungle, but at the cost of the safety of his gorilla family.
I’m honestly convinced that when the film was pitched at Disney there was a condition upon this film being made that every single aspect of this film needed to be complete and utter perfection. Like every single aspect of this film has so much care and attention put into it, with incredible vocal performances from the actors; utilising 3D CGI in more advanced ways than ever before in a Disney animation; an incredibly well fleshed out story and characters; and arguably the greatest songs in any Disney film ever. It’s just all so damn good!
Following a shipwreck, a human couple and their infant child make shelter in the jungle as they plan a way to return to civilisation. Elsewhere in the jungle a mother gorilla, Kala (Glenn Close) cares for her infant under the watch of alpha male Kerchack (Lance Henrickson). One day disaster strikes the gorilla’s as they are attacked by a leopard, with Kala’s child among the dead. As they wander the jungle in search of a new home, Kala hears the cries of a child, only to discover that the humans have also fallen victim to the leopard, leaving only their infant child alive. Feeling a sense of motherly duty, Kala adopts the baby as her own, much to the disapproval of Kerchack and the other gorilla’s.
Years later and now an adult, Tarzan (Tony Goldwyn) struggles with his identity and place within the gorilla tribe. But when he saves explorer Jane Porter (Minnie Driver), Tarzan realises that he is not a gorilla but actually a human, and together with Jane’s father Archimedes (Nigel Hawthorne) and hunter Clayton (Brian Blessed), Jane teaches Tarzan about the world outside of the jungle, but at the cost of the safety of his gorilla family.
I’m honestly convinced that when the film was pitched at Disney there was a condition upon this film being made that every single aspect of this film needed to be complete and utter perfection. Like every single aspect of this film has so much care and attention put into it, with incredible vocal performances from the actors; utilising 3D CGI in more advanced ways than ever before in a Disney animation; an incredibly well fleshed out story and characters; and arguably the greatest songs in any Disney film ever. It’s just all so damn good!
Tarzan’s story spans years, from the titular character’s infancy, through childhood, and into early adulthood. You’d think that because the film is under ninety minutes long that it would be a crammed and rushed series of events, but the film allows for some incredibly touching moments, with a great deal of depth provided to the characters, and fully exploring some incredibly interesting problems surrounding personal identity and family. It does this without ever feeling too slow or as though it’s glossing over things. Every single scene is important, and no time is wasted on anything unnecessary.
Tarzan is a brilliant character. As a child we are primarily taken through his feelings of disassociation from the gorilla’s as he is regularly singled out and victimised because he doesn’t look like them. Exploring these themes through a child’s eyes is really emotional as he has no way of knowing any different, and despite his mother’s constant attempts at standing up for him, he is a social outcast in his own home.
As Tarzan grows into adulthood, he turns his sadness from isolation into determination to prove himself. Using his human intuition Tarzan builds tools and manipulates the jungle in ways the gorillas are unable to in order to make their lives easier and more comfortable. Despite this is he still seen as inferior, even though his growing strength and intelligence clearly poses a threat to Kerchack.
Once he meets Jane it’s a whirlwind of emotions as Tarzan learns about what he really is, as he falls in love with Jane. Meanwhile bubbling under the surface, the viewer is increasingly anxious at the looming threat of Clayton growing impatient with Tarzan not taking them to the gorillas.
Jane is probably my favourite character in the film. She toes the line between being the most intelligent person in the room, but also incredibly out of her depth in the wild. It’s interesting to see how to Tarzan, Jane is this fountain of knowledge of this incredible new world, which she is the queen of. Yet in the camp her father and Clayton continually dismiss her knowledge, desires, and needs because she is a woman. It’s a great parallel to draw between animals and humans, as Tarzan values her as a person and for everything she is capable of, despite being raised as an animal; but the people she surrounds herself with continually undermine her and treat her as a second-class citizen because she isn’t a man…something that falls more in line with what you would expect in the animal kingdom.
Tarzan is a brilliant character. As a child we are primarily taken through his feelings of disassociation from the gorilla’s as he is regularly singled out and victimised because he doesn’t look like them. Exploring these themes through a child’s eyes is really emotional as he has no way of knowing any different, and despite his mother’s constant attempts at standing up for him, he is a social outcast in his own home.
As Tarzan grows into adulthood, he turns his sadness from isolation into determination to prove himself. Using his human intuition Tarzan builds tools and manipulates the jungle in ways the gorillas are unable to in order to make their lives easier and more comfortable. Despite this is he still seen as inferior, even though his growing strength and intelligence clearly poses a threat to Kerchack.
Once he meets Jane it’s a whirlwind of emotions as Tarzan learns about what he really is, as he falls in love with Jane. Meanwhile bubbling under the surface, the viewer is increasingly anxious at the looming threat of Clayton growing impatient with Tarzan not taking them to the gorillas.
Jane is probably my favourite character in the film. She toes the line between being the most intelligent person in the room, but also incredibly out of her depth in the wild. It’s interesting to see how to Tarzan, Jane is this fountain of knowledge of this incredible new world, which she is the queen of. Yet in the camp her father and Clayton continually dismiss her knowledge, desires, and needs because she is a woman. It’s a great parallel to draw between animals and humans, as Tarzan values her as a person and for everything she is capable of, despite being raised as an animal; but the people she surrounds herself with continually undermine her and treat her as a second-class citizen because she isn’t a man…something that falls more in line with what you would expect in the animal kingdom.
Where Hunchback of Notre Dame managed to blend the use of 2D and 3D CG animation near seamlessly, Tarzan does look marginally less impressive because the 3D elements are so much more obvious than in some of the other more recent films. However, Tarzan’s 3D CG elements are considerably more complex and frequent than in previous Disney Classics. As Tarzan moves through the jungle at lightning speed, the camera rotates around him, navigates through objects, and gives viewers a true sense of scale of his expansive jungle home. Whilst it does look more noticeable, and hasn’t aged as well as Hunchback’s have, Tarzan undoubtably has the most impressive 3D CG animation in any Disney Classic so far.
Then comes the music, and what wonderful music it is. The score is composed by Mark Mancina who also did the score for The Lion King, and you can clearly see how Tarzan’s music was influenced by Lion King in many moments, however I would argue its considerably more complex and interesting to listen to. But the star of the show is undoubtably Phil Collins’ musical numbers. Rather than Tarzan having traditional Disney musical sections with characters singing, Tarzan favours using Collins as a narrator for many of the films most important moments through song. Some absolute bangers like ‘Son of Man’, ‘Strangers Like Me’, and the Oscar winning ‘You’ll Be In My Heart’ are just three of the incredible songs featured in Tarzan, and it never fails to have me dancing and singing along, even drawing a few tears during the more emotional scenes.
Tarzan was a huge part of my childhood, along with Hercules and Mulan I used to have this film playing on repeat. But unlike the other two, Tarzan resonated with me on a personal level. I’ve always had an extreme fondness for this film, and I’m sure there are issues with it that I simply cannot see with my rose-tinted nostalgia glasses. But Tarzan is, and always will be, one of the first films I ever recommend to people who are after an animated film to watch. To me the film achieves perfection in so many areas, and it is the ultimate film to round of the Renaissance Era of Disney animation going forward into the new millennium.
Then comes the music, and what wonderful music it is. The score is composed by Mark Mancina who also did the score for The Lion King, and you can clearly see how Tarzan’s music was influenced by Lion King in many moments, however I would argue its considerably more complex and interesting to listen to. But the star of the show is undoubtably Phil Collins’ musical numbers. Rather than Tarzan having traditional Disney musical sections with characters singing, Tarzan favours using Collins as a narrator for many of the films most important moments through song. Some absolute bangers like ‘Son of Man’, ‘Strangers Like Me’, and the Oscar winning ‘You’ll Be In My Heart’ are just three of the incredible songs featured in Tarzan, and it never fails to have me dancing and singing along, even drawing a few tears during the more emotional scenes.
Tarzan was a huge part of my childhood, along with Hercules and Mulan I used to have this film playing on repeat. But unlike the other two, Tarzan resonated with me on a personal level. I’ve always had an extreme fondness for this film, and I’m sure there are issues with it that I simply cannot see with my rose-tinted nostalgia glasses. But Tarzan is, and always will be, one of the first films I ever recommend to people who are after an animated film to watch. To me the film achieves perfection in so many areas, and it is the ultimate film to round of the Renaissance Era of Disney animation going forward into the new millennium.