Movie Info
Movie Name: Titan A.E.
Studio: David Kirschner Productions
Genre(s): Animated/Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Action/Adventure
Release Date(s): June 16, 2000
MPAA Rating: PG
Running and gunning!!!
Earth has been destroyed by an alien race called the Drej and the remains of humanity find themselves scattered across the cosmos on the verge of extinction. The hope for the race could exist in Cale Tucker, the son of a scientist responsible for the legendary Titan which is rumored to be the human race’s last hope. When Cale hooks up with a group of space pirates, he learns he might have the key to finding the Titan. Cale and the crew of the Valkyrie travelling the stars in track of Titan, but the Drej are on their trail and the danger might come from within.
Hey…want to share a spaceship?
Directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, Titan A.E. was a big budget animated film met with mixed reviews which led to low box office returns. It was the first film to ever stream at one of its premieres and also had two prequel novels released to tie into the story (Cale’s Story and Akima’s Story). The movie featured a big cast of voice actors including Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore, Bill Pullman, Nathan Lane, Tone Loc, Jaenene Garafallo, John Leguzamo, Ron Perlman, and Jim Breuer.
I saw these guys in Tron…we’re safe…
Titan A.E. is a strange movie, but I like it a lot. The movie really suffered at the box office and it was generally pointed to as confusion by who the target audience was. While most of the animated films at the time were Disney-based, Titan A.E. went out of its way to not be a Disney movie and probably surprised some parents of younger kids. A great example of this is the sidekick cook who appears to be a typical smart-mouthed Disney character…you expect him to hook-up with Cale and add cracks throughout the movie, but he instantly gets vaporized by the Drej. To me that is what makes Titan A.E. excel. It is clever, different, and fresh. While I like the freshness, it probably turned some of the audience, but it also has allowed the movie to gain a cult following.
The story of Titan A.E. is a pretty strong post-apocalypic story. The characters are likable and pretty fleshed out…something it takes from Disney films and does get right. There are some pretty surprising moments in the film and jaded kids who think they can predict how an animated film will go might find this movie entertaining. It feels like what Disney’s Treasure Planet attempted to be.
She carries a big gun…
The art also is quite good, if not a different style. Don Bluth brings his typical art to the story but time has allowed him to incorporate computer animation. It sometimes doesn’t blend very well, but it does have a certain style to it. I do have to say that the character designs however are a bit generic…I wish they had been a bit more distinctive (though I did think the crazy legs on Stith were fun).
Titan A.E. might have bombed, but it shouldn’t have. It is a good action adventure film and not a kiddy animated movie. It kind of reminds me of the adult Heavy Metal “sequel” Heavy Metal 2000, but for older kids. You might have missed this animated film, but with it and movies like The Iron Giant, you can see that more traditional, non-Disney movies are still an option out there.
