June 15, 2001 – The 41st Animated Feature, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, is Released in Theaters Nationwide
“I will find Atlantis on my own, even if I have to rent a rowboat!”
On June 15, 2001, the animated feature film Atlantis: The Lost Empire was released in theaters nationwide after a premiere at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, California. The film was directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, with story by Tab Murphy, Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise, Bryce Zabel, and Jackie Zabel, with treatment by Joss Whedon. It starred the vocal talents of Michael J. Fox as Milo Thatch, Cree Summer as Kida, James Garner as Commander Rourke, Corey Burton as Mole, Claudia Christian as Lieutenant Sinclair, John Mahoney as Preston B. Whitmore, Phil Morris as Professor Sweet, Leonard Nimoy as the King of Atlantis, Jacqueline Obradors as Audrey, Florence Stanley as Wilhelmina Packard, and Jim Varney as Cookie (this was Varney’s last role before his death in 2000). The film did moderately well at the box office, grossing over $186 million worldwide; however, due to the less-than-expected box office, Disney canceled plans for a spin-off television show and a remake of the Submarine Voyage attraction based on the film. It has since become a cult classic among fans for its comic-like animation style.
The film begins with an introduction on how the city of Atlantis was destroyed. The scene then fast-forwards to 1914, at the Smithsonian Museum, where Milo Thatch, cartographer and linguist, is presenting his proposal on finding the lost city and its fabled power source, and bringing it back to the surface. He declares that the team must go to Iceland to find what’s known as the “Shepherd’s Journal,” a book that details a first-hand account of the fabled city. As it turns out, Milo has not been presenting to anyone, but has been practicing his proposal. When he finally tries to present his proposal, the board refuses to believe him, and warns him not to give up a promising career to chase a fairy tale.
Milo looks at the photo of his grandfather and the crew that helped bring back the Shepherd’s Journal from Iceland
Disheartened, Milo arrives home to find waiting in his apartment Helga Sinclair, who gives him an offer he can’t possibly refuse from her employer, Preston B. Whitmore: a chance to find the lost city of Atlantis. Whitmore was a friend of Milo’s grandfather, who gave Whitmore the Shepherd’s Journal before he died, so Whitmore could pass it to Milo when he was ready. He provides Milo a crew and everything necessary for the journey. Soon, they’re loading the ship and are on their way, with Milo meeting the team that helped bring the journal back in the first place. After a series of tunnels and encounters with terrifying mechanical creatures who destroy the ship, the crew uses an escape pod to reach the ancient city.
Milo, injured in the last mishap, is found by a mysterious young woman who heals his injury. After determining that they speak English, the young woman, Kida, insists that Milo be taken to meet her father, the King. The King is not happy to see visitors, as the law states that they cannot see the city and live. Commander Rourke, the leader of the expedition, asks for at least one night in the city so they can resupply, and the King agrees with apprehension. Milo is then asked to get close to Kida, as she wishes to use the visitors to help her people. She then shows Milo all around the city, while asking questions about the world above. When she discovers he can read Atlantian, she asks him for help to translate a mural she found, which would explain the star she saw when her mother was killed in the flood that seemingly destroyed the city.
Kida is chosen by the power source to help protect the city
Unbeknownst to Milo, Captain Rourke and his crew have plans of his own that are unsavory: they wish to capture the Heart of Atlantis, which is the power source of the city, and the star Kida saw as a girl. They capture Kida and threaten to kill her unless Milo helps them get what they want. Discovering its hiding place, Rourke, Sinclair, Kida, and Milo enter the cavern. The crystal around Kida’s neck reacts to the power source, and she ends up possessed, floating in the air to meet the light. As the two meet, the source begins to glow brighter, and Kida has become the power source herself. Rourke locks her up, taking her away to be sold to the highest bidder on the surface. As they prepare to leave, members of the crew begin to take Milo’s side, as they believe that what Rourke plans to do is wrong, and they all remain in Atlantis; the whole city begins to die now that the power source is gone. The King, right before he dies, begs Milo to save Kida, who will be lost to the power source forever if Milo doesn’t get to her in time.
Milo and a group of Atlantian soldiers go after Rourke, and after a fierce battle inside the volcano, the mercenaries are defeated, and Rourke is killed by Milo when struck with a crystal shard that has been in contact with the power source. Due to the destruction, the volcano erupts, and Milo and his team scramble to escape. When the lava threatens to destroy the city, Kida emerges, still part of the crystal, and protects the city with a force field. Kida is then released from her bond with the power source, returning to Milo.
The crew, Milo, and Kida take one last picture together before the crew heads for the surface
The crew returns to the surface, sans Milo, loaded down with lots of ancient treasures. As they meet with Whitmore, all of the crew now very wealthy, he makes them promise to never reveal that they found Atlantis. Milo, who has fallen in love with Kida, decides to remain, and the pair try to rebuild the ancient glory of Atlantis.
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