Film
Tarzan of the Apes
Other titles called Tarzan of the Apes: the 1918 film.
- Survival adventure
- Light-hearted
Disney's Tarzan is a thrilling animated adventure that swaps the source novel's darker elements for pure kinetic joy. Propelled by Phil Collins's infectious soundtrack, it's a film about belonging and self-discovery wrapped in jaw-dropping action sequences. The animation moves with unprecedented fluidity—this is a movie that makes you feel the rush of swinging through the canopy. Perfect for families and anyone who loves adventure without cynicism.
If you liked this
The Lion King1994
Both feature sweeping African landscapes, Phil Collins's soaring music, and stories about identity and finding your place in the world. The animation and orchestral ambition set the template for Disney's 90s golden era.
But If you've seen it recently, the story beats are familiar—the misunderstood outsider finding home is emotionally resonant but narratively predictable.
Aladdin1992
Wildly inventive animation, a charismatic lead, and genuine wit. The film moves with the same joyful energy as Tarzan and proves Disney could do action-adventure comedy with real personality and romance.
But The humor skews toward 90s references that have dated, and the pacing is relentlessly zippy—some find it exhausting rather than exhilarating.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire2001
A more grown-up adventure with similar animation dynamism and a cast learning to work as a team in impossible circumstances. Art deco design, genuine danger, and exploration of lost civilizations—it's Tarzan's worldlier cousin.
But It underperformed on release and feels like a cult film rather than a crowd-pleaser; the tone is uneven and some characters feel underdeveloped.
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The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Princess Mononoke1997
Both explore identity through the eyes of someone between two worlds, raised by nature, learning to navigate civilization—but with completely different tones and depths.
Released the same year as Tarzan, this Japanese masterpiece is also about a human raised by nature learning where they belong—but it's gorgeously hand-drawn, far more complex morally, and breathtakingly beautiful. Both films believe in the visceral joy of movement.
But It's serious, violent, and philosophically dense where Tarzan is joyful and clean. The subtitles and runtime (140 minutes) demand investment; this is not a casual watch.
More like this (8)
Moana2016
A modern descendant with the same confidence in spectacle, natural movement through space (water instead of vines), and a protagonist discovering their heritage and destiny. The music and animation choreography are genuinely thrilling.
But Its ubiquity means you've likely heard it already, and for some the emotional beats feel calculated rather than earned.
The Jungle Book1967
Disney's earlier, more whimsical take on jungle adventure with unforgettable characters and a looser, more anarchic energy. It's where Disney learned to make animals charismatic and the forest feel alive.
But The animation is deliberately simple compared to Tarzan's fluidity, and the pacing is meandering—it's a very different beast, slower and stranger.
Hercules1997
From the same era, with similar animation exuberance, a hero learning who he really is, and Alan Menken's magnificent score. It's operatic and unashamed about spectacle and heart.
But The ancient Greece setting gets muddled with modern references, and the plot is closer to a coming-of-age story than an adventure, which some find slight.
How to Train Your Dragon2010
A boy learning to understand a misunderstood creature, stunning sequences of flight and movement through the air, and surprisingly emotional character work alongside genuine danger and stakes.
But It's the first in a franchise now, and viewing one film means missing continuity; the opening setup takes time to establish.
Treasure Planet2002
A gorgeously animated space-age treasure hunt with beautiful character work, a father-figure relationship at its heart, and genuine creativity in its world design. Deeply underrated.
But It flopped commercially and has a slightly awkward tone—mixing steampunk with earnest emotion doesn't always gel, and the pacing drags in places.
Brother Bear2003
Set in a wild landscape with a transformation at its center, a solid Phil Collins score, and a genuine meditation on family and brotherhood wrapped in adventure and magic.
But It arrived at the tail end of Disney's animation renaissance and feels like it's retreading ground; the plot is simpler and less inventive than its contemporaries.
Curious George2006
Both center on a bond between a human and a creature misunderstood by society, and both use that relationship to explore what it means to belong.
A live-action and CGI hybrid about a curious creature from the jungle thrust into the modern world, learning connection and trust. It has Tarzan's warmth and physical comedy but reverses the perspective—the animal is the innocent in our world, not the human in theirs.
But It's gentler and less ambitious visually; the stakes are smaller and the adventure more intimate. Some will find it too simple, too gentle, too yellow.
Samurai Jack2001
Both use animation to celebrate human physicality and movement through space; both are about a skilled outsider learning what home means in a world that doesn't immediately accept them.
An animated series with action sequences as fluid and inventive as Tarzan's vine-swinging—possibly more so. A warrior displaced in time learning survival, honor, and connection in hostile environments. Genndy Tartakovsky's visual style is pure movement and beauty.
But It's episodic rather than one narrative arc; some episodes are filler, and the ending (in the original run) is ambiguous in ways that frustrated viewers. Much darker and more stylized than a Disney film.
People
Directing
- Diane EskenaziDirector
Writing
- Edgar Rice BurroughsNovel
- Mark YoungScenario Writer
Production
- Darcy WrightAssociate Producer
- Diane EskenaziExecutive Producer
- Diane EskenaziProducer