Tarzan II (2005) (V)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Brian Smith

Writers:

Jim Kammerud (writer)
Rhett Reese (additional story material)

Release Date:

14 June 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family

Plot:

The tale of Tarzan's misadventures as a boy as he searches for his true identity and the meaning of family.

Plot Keywords:

Jungle | Self Discovery | Gorilla | Jungle Adventure | Prequel

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Harrison Chad	...	Tarzan (voice)
George Carlin	...	Zugor (voice)
Brad Garrett	...	Uto (voice)
Ron Perlman	...	Kago (voice)
Estelle Harris	...	Mama Gunda (voice)
Glenn Close	...	Kala (voice)
Lance Henriksen	...	Kerchak (voice)
Brenda Grate	...	Terk (voice)
Harrison Fahn	...	Tantor (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tiffany Evans	...	Voice (voice)
Connor Hutcherson	...	Tonka (voice)
Mary Matilyn Mouser	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Grace Rolek	...	Additional Voices (voice)
April Winchell	...	Additional voices (voice)

Also Known As:

Tarzan 2 (Australia) (DVD title)

Runtime:

72 min | Argentina:75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Finland:K-7 | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/6 | New Zealand:G | Netherlands:AL | UK:U | Argentina:Atp | USA:G (certificate #41190) | Australia:G

Company:

DisneyToon Studios

Quotes:

Tarzan: If you don't let me in, the Zugor will get me!
Zugor: Boo-hoo for you!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#34.2)" (2005)

Surprisingly fun and great animation

Most of the Disney direct to video spin offs fully deserve the hard criticism that they got. They are literally cheap products in every sense of the word. Disney obviously doesn't put these out with high artistic values in mind. They're basically easy money. Besides having weak story lines Disney really messes up with the animation in most of them. Examples: The Atlantis sequel, Christmas Belle, The Hunchback sequel, and... Tarzan and Jane. Especially that last one was absolutely awful. So, much to my surprise, Tarzan II, is quite enjoyable. Obviously it's no match for the theatrical first release (Tarzan I, I guess), but Disney definitely put a lot more effort in this one than we gotten used to over the last few years. The story in essence is still Disney-simple, about a boy who's looking for something he already has: his identity, but it is presented in a fun, relatively fresh way. Besides familiar characters like Tarzan, Terk and Tantor we are offered a couple of cool new characters in the shape of brothers Uto and Kago, and their very funny mother Mama Gunda. But where this sequel truly delivers is in the animation department. The hand animation is colourful, fast and really funny. However, in the CG animation Tarzan II really shines. There are some elements from Tarzan I, like the tree surfing that come back in similar if not better shape, but best of all are the backdrops and the landscapes. They are simply gorgeous with high attention for detail. In fact it's almost a pity Tarzan II wasn't released in theaters first because these panorama's and vista's must look absolutely beautiful on the big screen. If Disney continue on this road with their direct to video movies I sure will be paying them more attention from now on.