Tarzan 1999 Archive: A Journey Back to the Jungle
In 1999, Disney brought the legendary character of Tarzan to life in a way that captivated audiences worldwide. The animated film, simply titled "Tarzan," was a game-changer in the world of animation, blending stunning visuals, memorable characters, and a soundtrack that still resonates with fans today. As we take a trip down memory lane, let's dive into the "Tarzan 1999 Archive" and uncover the magic behind this timeless classic.
The Making of a Classic
The Tarzan film was a collaborative effort between Disney's animation team and renowned director Kevin Lima. The story drew inspiration from Edgar Rice Burroughs' original novels, with a dash of modern twists and humor. The film's protagonist, Tarzan, was voiced by Tony Goldwyn, who brought a sense of vulnerability and strength to the character.
One of the most striking aspects of the film was its innovative animation style, which blended traditional techniques with cutting-edge computer-generated imagery (CGI). The animation team spent years developing new software to create the lush jungle environments and realistic character movements.
The Music that Made us Swing
The film's soundtrack, composed by Phil Collins, was an integral part of its success. The iconic songs, such as "You'll Be in My Heart" and "Trashin' the Camp," have become synonymous with the Tarzan franchise. Collins' energetic and catchy tunes not only elevated the film's emotional impact but also spawned a new generation of Disney music lovers.
A Look Back at the 1999 Phenomenon
Upon its release, Tarzan received widespread critical acclaim and commercial success. The film grossed over $448 million worldwide, cementing its place as one of the highest-grossing films of 1999. The movie's impact extended beyond the box office, with Tarzan merchandise, including toys, clothing, and theme park attractions, flying off shelves.
The Legacy Lives On
Two decades after its release, Tarzan remains a beloved character in popular culture. The film's influence can be seen in subsequent Disney productions, and its memorable characters have become ingrained in our collective imagination. The movie's themes of identity, community, and self-discovery continue to resonate with audiences of all ages.
Archive Highlights
As we explore the "Tarzan 1999 Archive," we uncover a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes materials, concept art, and interviews with the creative team. Some of the highlights include:
Revisiting the Jungle
As we revisit the "Tarzan 1999 Archive," we're reminded of the film's enduring charm and its place in the pantheon of Disney classics. Whether you're a nostalgic fan or a new generation of viewers discovering Tarzan for the first time, this archive offers a fascinating glimpse into the making of a timeless tale.
Join us on this journey back to the jungle, and experience the magic of Tarzan like never before.
The "archive" of Disney's 1999 encompasses a rich collection of production history, rare concept art, and digital preservation of the media that defined the film's release. As the 37th Disney animated feature, it marked a significant technological leap for the studio through the introduction of "Deep Canvas" software, which allowed for 3D-painted jungle environments. Digital & Media Archives Internet Archive
hosts several preserved files from the film's original release cycle: Tarzan Action Game (1999)
: An ISO image of the PC action game that let players "surf" trees like the movie character. Activity Center & Mini-Games : Digital copies of the Tarzan Activity Center Jungle Tumble used for early home computer entertainment. Video Game Promo VHS
: A digitized version of the original 1999 promotional video sent to retailers. International VHS Versions : Archives of specific regional releases, such as the Hong Kong Cantonese dub Production & Artistic Archives The visual development of
is documented through extensive sketchbooks and concept pieces by legendary animators like Glen Keane Concept Art & Sketches : Repositories like Character Design References ArtInsights
preserve original visual development drawings by artists like Paul Felix and John Watkiss. Retro Reprints Retro Reprints Archive
preserves the covers and contents of the 1999 Golden Books and coloring books, such as Growing Up in the Jungle Always In My Heart Promotional Gallery
Tarzan (1999) Original Movie Posters - Posteritati Movie Poster Gallery Posteritati Tarzan - 1999 - Original Movie Poster – Art of the Movies Art of the Movies Art of Tarzan Character Design References
The year was 1999, and the digital frontier was a wild, untamed jungle. Among the nascent fan sites and early message boards, a legend began to circulate in the deepest corners of the Disney animation community—the Tarzan Archive.
It wasn't just a collection of concept art or deleted scenes. According to the rumors, the "Archive" was a secret server maintained by a rogue technician at Burbank, containing the raw, unfiltered experiments of the Deep Canvas software—the revolutionary tech that allowed Tarzan to "surf" through 3D painted environments. tarzan 1999 archive
The story goes that a young college student named Elias, obsessed with the film’s fluid motion, stumbled upon an unindexed IP address while searching for high-res wallpapers. What he found was a digital ecosystem. There were folders labeled "Uncanny Valley" and "Weightless Physics."
One file, titled Vine_Test_042.mov, supposedly showed Tarzan moving with such terrifying, inhuman speed that it made the viewer dizzy. Another, a text file called The_Porter_Notes, contained scanned sketches of Jane’s father, but his eyes were blacked out with digital ink, accompanied by cryptic annotations about "the geometry of the soul."
Elias spent three days downloading everything he could. He claimed the Archive held a "Directors’ Cut" where the music wasn't Phil Collins' pop hits, but a haunting, rhythmic tribal score that felt like a heartbeat.
On the fourth day, the server vanished. Elias’s computer crashed, his hard drive wiped by a "corrupt sector" that shouldn't have existed. He tried to recreate the images from memory, posting his drawings on GeoCities, but they looked like mere shadows of what he’d seen.
Today, the Tarzan 1999 Archive remains one of the great "lost media" creepypastas of the early internet. Some say it was just a clever marketing ARG that Disney pulled the plug on; others believe it was a digital graveyard for ideas that were simply too advanced—or too strange—for a family film.
Searching for resources related to the 1999 Disney film in the Internet Archive reveals several "helpful papers" and digital assets, including scholarly critiques, activity centers, and archival media. Scholarly & Critical Papers
Disney’s Tarzan and Defining the African Post-Colonial Subject
: This paper, hosted in the Warwick University archive, provides a critical analysis of the film's depiction of Africa from a Western perspective. Tarzan of the Apes - Wikipedia Archival References
: While not a single paper, the Wikipedia entry archives multiple academic sources from 1999, such as Jeff Berglund’s work on the character's history and development. Archival Media & Interactive Resources
The Internet Archive (Archive.org) contains specific digital copies of supplemental "paper" materials and software from the film's release era:
Disney’s Activity Center Tarzan: A digital version of the 1999 software that includes levels of arcade action and a "jungle journal" for creating secret animal languages. Disney’s Tarzan Print Studio
: An archival resource for printing character-themed materials like stationary, posters, and cards. Storybooks & Scripts: Digital scans of books like Disney's Tarzan by Zoehfeld and
are available for borrowing, which translate the film's script into a readable format. Expert Commentary & Production Insights The Making of Disney's Tarzan
: Archival interviews with the animation team detailing how they reinvented Tarzan’s movement based on surfers and animal biology.
Tarzan (1999) Movie Commentary: A fan-hosted commentary archive discussing the production and the iconic Phil Collins soundtrack.
Tarzan 1999 Archive represents a collection of the history, technical breakthroughs, and creative assets behind Walt Disney Feature Animation's 37th animated classic
. Released on June 16, 1999, the film marked the grand finale of the "Disney Renaissance" and pushed the boundaries of what was possible in hand-drawn animation. Production History & Creative Inspiration The development of Disney's
began in 1995, directed by Kevin Lima and Chris Buck. The team sought to create an immersive jungle world that felt three-dimensional and believable. Research Expeditions
: In 1996, the production team embarked on a two-week safari through Kenya and Uganda, including the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, to observe mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Transatlantic Collaboration
: Animation was split across two continents. Lead animator Glen Keane worked on Tarzan in Paris to utilize artists with strong backgrounds in classical anatomy, while the character Jane was animated in California. "Tree Surfing"
: The directors drew inspiration from late-90s extreme sports like skateboarding and snowboarding to define Tarzan's movement, creating a unique "tree surfing" style where he uses his feet to grip vines and branches. Technical Breakthrough: Deep Canvas The most significant item in the technical archive for is the invention of Deep Canvas The Problem
: The team needed to animate 10 minutes of complex, lush jungle sequences with a limited crew. The Solution
: Developed by artist/engineer Eric Daniels, Deep Canvas allowed artists to paint directly onto 3D wireframe geometry. The software tracked every brushstroke in 3D space, letting the camera fly through painted environments from any angle. : This innovation earned Disney a Technical Achievement Award
from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2003 and was later used in films like Atlantis: The Lost Empire Treasure Planet Media & Digital Archive Resources
For fans and researchers looking to explore the film's legacy, several primary resources are preserved online through the Internet Archive Tarzan 1999 Archive: A Journey Back to the
This draft write-up archives the production history, technical innovations, and cultural impact of Disney’s 37th animated feature, Tarzan (1999) Production Overview Original Release: Premiered June 12, 1999, at the El Capitan Theatre , with a general release on June 18, 1999. Source Material:
The first major animated adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' 1912 novel, Tarzan of the Apes Directors: Kevin Lima and Chris Buck. Box Office: $448.2 million worldwide against a $130 million
budget, making it the most expensive animated film ever made at that time. Technical Innovation: Deep Canvas
To allow Tarzan to "surf" through the jungle at high speeds, Disney developed a revolutionary software called Deep Canvas
1999 Disney "Tarzan" archive consists of various digital and physical media preserved on the Internet Archive
. Most of these entries are related to the animated film's original release cycle, including software, soundtracks, and promotional material. Software & Games
Several interactive titles released alongside the film are archived and often available for download or browser-based emulation: Disney's Tarzan Action Game (1999)
: The full PC action-platformer where players control Tarzan as he grows from a child to an adult. Tarzan Activity Center (1999)
: A collection of mini-games and creative activities for children. Tarzan Print Studio
: A tool for creating Tarzan-themed cards, posters, and calendars. Video Game Promo VHS
: A digitized version of the original promotional tape used to market the game in retail stores. Internet Archive Music & Video
The archive includes high-fidelity preservation of the film’s iconic music and behind-the-scenes content: Original Soundtrack (CD)
: Digitized tracks from the Walt Disney Records release, featuring the Academy Award-winning music by Phil Collins. Tarzan in Concert with Phil Collins
: A rare ABC television special featuring live performances, cast interviews (Rosie O'Donnell, Glenn Close), and *NSYNC in the studio. VHS and DVD Captures
: Historical captures of the original home video releases, preserving the initial commercial trailers and quality of the late 90s media. Internet Archive Literature & Comics Disney's Tarzan (Book)
: A 48-page illustrated adaptation of the film published in 1999. Tarzan Comic Strips (1994–1999)
: A collection of serialized Tarzan comic strips that were active during the film's production and release. Production History & Development : Archived documents and books like Disney's Tarzan
by Russell Schroeder that detail the animation process and voice acting. Internet Archive playable version of one of the games, or are you looking for a specific behind-the-scenes clip
Here are a few ways to structure an "Archive" post for Disney's 1999
, depending on whether you want to focus on nostalgia, technical milestones, or deep-cut media. Option 1: The "Jungle Nostalgia" Post
Ideal for Instagram or Facebook fans of the Disney Renaissance.
Headline: 🌿 ARCHIVE: 25 Years of Disney’s Tarzan (1999) 🦍Caption: Sliding back into the deep jungle today. Did you know Tarzan was the final film of the legendary Disney Renaissance? From Phil Collins’ absolute masterpiece of a soundtrack to the groundbreaking "Deep Canvas" animation that let Tarzan surf through the trees, this movie changed the game. Key Archive Highlights:
The Soundtrack: Phil Collins didn’t just sing the songs; he performed them in five different languages for the international releases. The Genesis Archive keeps records of the film's iconic posters and music history.
The Tech: It was the first film to use "Deep Canvas," a software that allowed 2D characters to move through 3D-painted environments.
The Records: With a $130 million budget, it was the most expensive traditionally animated film ever made at the time Wikipedia. Option 2: The "Lost & Found" Media Post Rare Concept Art : A collection of early
Ideal for Tumblr or Twitter (X) collectors and "lost media" enthusiasts.
Headline: ✨ Deep Jungle Archives: The Tarzan (1999) Expansion ✨Caption: Beyond the big screen, the Tarzan universe was massive. Who remembers the 1999 PC "Print Studio" or the Activity Center? You can actually still find these artifacts archived online if you know where to look. Digital Artifacts: Internet Archive Gems: You can find the original Disney's Tarzan Activity Center (1999) and the Tarzan Print Studio preserved for download.
International Versions: There’s even a Cantonese dub from a Hong Kong VHS archived for those looking for the full global experience.
Fan Works: For a different kind of archive, Archive of Our Own (AO3) hosts hundreds of fan-written stories that have kept the jungle alive for decades. Option 3: The "Fun Facts" Carousel Best for a quick-read post.
Fact 1: Sabor the leopard was the only major character who didn't talk, keeping her as a primal, terrifying threat Simple English Wikipedia.
Fact 2: Tarzan’s "tree-surfing" was inspired by professional skateboarder Tony Hawk.
Fact 3: The film won an Oscar for Best Original Song with "You'll Be in My Heart."
Fact 4: Rosie O’Donnell (Terk) and Glenn Close (Kala) provided the voices that gave the gorilla family its heart.
The term Tarzan 1999 Archive refers to two distinct collections:
Unlike modern films that leak concept art daily on social media, Tarzan sits at a unique crossroads. It was the last major Disney film completed without the internet as the primary marketing tool. Consequently, the archive feels like opening a time capsule from 1998–1999.
No article on the Tarzan 1999 Archive would be complete without the music. Phil Collins wrote eight songs, but the archive contains roughly twenty variations.
If you are looking for specific materials, here is where they are typically housed:
The 1999 Disney Archive of Tarzan represents a pivotal era in animation, blending classic hand-drawn mastery with groundbreaking digital innovation. This "archive" of content spans technical breakthroughs, a legendary soundtrack, and a unique character design that redefined the character for a new generation. 🌴 Technical Breakthrough: "Deep Canvas"
The film’s most enduring legacy is the creation of Deep Canvas, a proprietary software developed by Walt Disney Feature Animation.
3D Painting: It allowed artists to paint directly onto 3D geometry. The computer would "remember" every brushstroke's color and pressure, repainting the background as the camera moved.
The "Tree Surfer": This technology enabled the sweeping, high-speed camera shots that tracked Tarzan as he "surfed" through the jungle—a movement style inspired by professional skateboarder Tony Hawk.
Academy Recognition: For this innovation, the development team received a Technical Achievement Award at the Oscars in 2003. 🎵 The Phil Collins Soundtrack
When we talk about the Tarzan 1999 archive, we are referring to a dispersed collection of materials produced during the film’s three-year production (1996–1999). Unlike a single folder or website, this archive exists in multiple forms:
For archivists, 1999 represents a historical inflection point: it was the last major Disney film drawn primarily with traditional ink-and-paint techniques before the studio’s full pivot to CGI. Securing a piece of this archive is like capturing lightning in a bottle.
Unlike the fictional "closed for cleaning" sign on Disney’s animated vault, the Tarzan archive is continually being rediscovered. In 2023, a former Disney intern uploaded 143 high-resolution production photos to Flickr. In 2024, a German fan found the original Phil Collins multi-tracks for "Two Worlds" in a flea market CD binder.
The Tarzan 1999 archive is alive. It exists in official museum collections, in dusty server rooms, in retro game ROMs, and in the shared passion of fans on message boards. Whether you are an animator studying Deep Canvas, a musician dissecting Collins’ chord progressions, or a 90s kid reliving your childhood—the jungle is waiting. Swing in.
Have you found a rare piece of the Tarzan 1999 archive? Share your discoveries with the preservation community. The story is still being written.
Because Disney has not fully released a "Making of" 4K edition, fans have built their own archives. Search GitHub and animation forums for:
If you are a researcher, fan, or historian, you cannot simply Google "Tarzan 1999 archive" and find a single link. The archive is fragmented. Here is your roadmap:
The most valuable component of the Tarzan 1999 archive is the proprietary Deep Canvas technology. To achieve the film’s breathtaking, painterly 3D backgrounds (specifically the famous "surfboard" tree-surfing sequence), Disney engineers developed software that allowed animators to paint textures directly onto 3D polygons.
