Tarzan (1999)
Based on the 1912 story Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
In the 1880s, a British couple and their infant son are shipwrecked in Equatorial Africa. The adults build a treehouse. Kala, a gorilla, and her mate and gorilla leader, Kerchak, raise their own son however Sabor, a cheetah, kills her son (“Two Worlds”). Kala hears the cries of a baby and discovers the treehouse the British couple had built. She discovers that Sabor had killed the parents, leaving behind their infant son. Kala and the infant are attacked by Sabor but they escape. She decides to adopt the human infant and names him Tarzan; although Kerchak objects. Kala begins to raise Tarzan as her own (“You’ll Be In My Heart”).
A child Tarzan attempts begins to befriend the other gorillas, including Kala’s niece Terk. Tarzan finds himself treated differently because of his different physique. The other children gorilla trick Tarzan into getting an elephant hair which results in an elephant stampede. Tarzan does obtain the elephant hair, befriending Terk and a young paranoid elephant, Tantor, however Kerchak reprimands Tarzan stating that he will never be one of the gorillas. Kala comforts Tarzan and Tarzan decides to make valiant efforts to improve himself (“Son of Man”).
As an adult, Tarzan manages to kill Sabor with a spear, gaining Kerchak's reluctant approval. Meanwhile, a team of human explorers from England, consisting of Professor Archimedes Q. Porter, his daughter Jane, and their hunter escort Clayton, are looking to study the gorillas. Jane accidentally becomes separated from the group and is chased by a baboon troop, until Tarzan rescues her out of sheer curiosity. After comparing her to himself, he realizes they are similar. Jane leads Tarzan back to their camp, however, Terk and friends arrive at the camp before them looking for Tarzan and make a mess of the place (“Trashin’ the Camp”). Kerchak arrives at the campsite and tells all the gorillas to leave before Porter and Clayton arrive and forbids contact with them. Jane tells Porter and Clayton about Tarzan when Tarzan suddenly arrives at the camp unbeknownst to Kerchak. Porter and Clayton both take interest in him; the former in terms of scientific progress, while the latter hopes to have Tarzan lead the group to the gorillas. Despite Kerchak's warnings to avoid the strangers, Tarzan repeatedly returns to the camp. Porter, Clayton, and Jane teach him how to speak English properly, and tell him what the human world is like. Tarzan and Jane begin to fall in love (“Strangers Like Me”); however, she has difficulty convincing Tarzan to lead the humans to the gorillas, as Tarzan fears Kerchak's fury.
The explorers' ship soon returns to retrieve them. Jane asks Tarzan to return with them to England, but Tarzan, in turn, asks Jane to stay with him when Jane says it is unlikely that they will ever return. Clayton convinces Tarzan that Jane will stay with him forever as long as he leads them to the gorillas; Tarzan agrees, and leads the trio to the nesting grounds while Terk and Tantor lure Kerchak. Porter and Jane are excited to mingle with the gorillas, but Kerchak returns and attacks the humans on sight. Tarzan restrains Kerchak while the humans escape; afterward, Kerchak accuses Tarzan of betraying his family, causing Tarzan to flee in shame. Kala takes Tarzan to the treehouse where she found him, reveals his true past, and says that she wants him to be happy whatever he decides. Tarzan puts on his late father's suit, signifying his decision to go to England.
When Tarzan boards the ship with Jane and Porter the next day, they are ambushed by Clayton and his traitorous band of stowaway thugs. Now aware of the location of the nesting grounds, Clayton reveals his plans to capture and sell the gorillas for a fortune, and imprisons Tarzan, Jane, and Porter to prevent them from interfering. Tarzan manages to escape with the help of Terk and Tantor, and he returns to the jungle, rallying the animals to come to the aid of the gorillas and scare off the thugs. Clayton then mortally wounds Kerchak and battles Tarzan across the treetops. Although Tarzan spares Clayton's life and breaks his rifle, Clayton tries to kill him with his machete. Their battle comes to a cluster of vines, and Clayton tries to cut free when a vine becomes tangled around his neck, hanging him to death. Kerchak, with his dying breath, finally accepts Tarzan as his son, and names him the leader of the gorilla troop.
The next day, Porter and Jane prepare to leave on the ship, while Tarzan stays behind with the gorillas. As the ship's rowboat leaves shore, Porter encourages his daughter to stay with the man she loves, and Jane jumps overboard, followed soon after by her father. The Porters reunite with Tarzan and his family, and embark on their new life together (“You’ll Be In My Heart”).
TRIVIA
Visual Style
The design of Tarzan is based on the classic French sculptures that can be found at the Parisian museums.
Technology
Camera movements were done using a software called “Deep Canvas” in which the animators and artists worked together to create each scene. A 3D model of the environment is designed and animated and then the artist paints the whole thing, essentially creating a 3D painting. This technique allows artists to produce CGI backgrounds that look like a traditional painting.
Music
Features music and lyrics by Phil Collins
Easter Egg(s)
During the “Trashin’ the Camp” sequence, a tea set in the camp resembles Mrs Pott and Chip from Beauty and the Beast.
Deleted Scene(s)
A deleted scene shows Terk conversing with the inanimate objects at the human camp, believing them to be alive, before inviting the others to look around.
Notable Scene(s)
Tarzan “surfing” through the woods