Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26660 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-04-18
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: Spanish
• Dubbed in: Spanish
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 88 minutes

Amazon.com
After viewing Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote to Walt Disney about adapting his novel of an ape-man into a feature animated cartoon. Sixtysome years later, the tale is finally told with brilliant design work that looks unlike any previous animated film. The story is a natural for Disney since the themes of misunderstood central figures have been at the heart of its recent hits. Disney's Tarzan doesn't wander far from the familiar story of a shipwrecked baby who is brought up by apes in Africa. What gives the film its zing is its clever use of music (the songs are sung by Phil Collins himself rather than onscreen characters) and the remarkable animation. Deep Canvas, a 3-D technology, was developed for the film, creating a jungle that comes alive as Tarzan swings through the trees, often looking like a modern skateboarder racing down giant tree limbs. The usual foray of sidekicks, including a rambunctious ape voiced by Rosie O'Donnell, should keep the little ones aptly entertained. The two lead voices, Tony Goldwyn as Tarzan and Minnie Driver as Jane, are inspired choices. Their chemistry helps the story through the weakest points (the last third) and makes Tarzan's initial connection with all things human (including Jane) delicious entertainment. Disney still is not taking risks in its animated films, but as cookie-cutter entertainment, Tarzan makes a pretty good treat. (Ages 5 and up) --Doug Thomas

DVD features
It's the dish--mistakes, unused footage, creative differences, embarrassing behind-the-scene stories--that makes collector's editions so much fun. Unfortunately, this goes against the Disney philosophy of picture-perfection, and this two-set disc shows it; only half of the new materials are engaging. The other half of this second disc, the "Tarzan Archives," is slickly produced filler--more publicity fluff than deep insight on the development of the film and the animation process. Much better are the three abandoned scenes (with voices and storyboards), including a much fiercer opening and ending, plus dozens of sketches made over the years as the designers pursued the luscious look of the film. The original audio demos Phil Collins made for the film are also intriguing (mostly filled with dummy or place-holding lyrics). The new audio commentary (by the producer and two directors) is a "fireside chat" variety, hardly worth more than one listen. Two side-by-side comparisons of storyboards to final film are a great tool to show youngsters how the animated process works, as is animator Glen Keane's talks on animating Tarzan. Also for kids: a read-along book and trivia game. --Doug Thomas

From The New Yorker
Raised by apes, the new, animated Tarzan walks with his heavy shoulders leaning forward and his knuckles dragging along the ground. He's the most apelike of Tarzans: animation, which Edgar Rice Burroughs's material seems to have been waiting for, frees the Disney filmmakers to mix animal and human characteristics without embarrassment. And it frees them to use nature not as a static background with lots of available vines but as a seethingly active habitat. Glen Keane, the chief animator of "Tarzan," has said that he was inspired by watching his skateboarding son. This Tarzan doesn't swing from trees but courses rapidly from branch to branch, glen to glen-he treats the tree canopy and the thick undergrowth below as if they were the swells and hollows of the ocean. At its best, the movie is an exhilarating, surf-topping ride. With Minnie Driver providing the voice of a deliciously flirtatious Jane. -David Denby
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

BUYER BEWARE!!!
After publicizing this release as a 2 disc set, disney finally changed its mind and released it as a barebones single disc. Those who were waiting to get all those great behind the scenes stuff available previously on "tarzan 2 disc collector's edition" will be thoroughly disappointed with this release.

However, those who missed out on previous 2 disc collector's edition and want to own tarzan on a two disc set, still have the option of buying it from amazon.co.uk, where it has been released as a 2-disc special edition with all those behind the scenes stuff from previous collector's edition. Just make sure you have a multi-region dvd player which plays discs from all regions.

Do not buy this unless you just want to own the film. Better still search for the old collector's edition. It will be worth all the money spent.

Great Movie - But Flawed Audio!
The movie is great, I like it at home as much as I did in the theater, BUT...There appears to be a glitch with the sound. The front left and rear right audio channel is SWITCHED. Disney is aware of this problem (on 1.5 million disks) and isn't doing ANYTHING about it!

How to make a gem without violence!
Technically, this movie is perfect. Great songs, beautifully designed scenarios, endearable funny characters and a strong feeling of nostalgia for movies that aim to a higher message. Regretfully, whoever is a parent these days is having a lot of trouble to explain the violence shown in cartoons to their sons. Moreover, it's hard to endorse any t.v. cartoons other than Pinky and the Brain or history related ones. Tarzan demonstrates that there is such thing such as a Family Film and that you can create visually stunning gems as this movie and, still, send a message other than gross scenes or blood and guts spilled all over. Thank you, Disney.