View source for Atlantis: The Lost Empire

{{Short description|2001 animated Disney film}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Distinguish|Atlantis, the Lost Continent{{!}}''Atlantis, the Lost Continent''}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Atlantis: The Lost Empire
| image          = Atlantis The Lost Empire poster.jpg
| alt            = The expedition crew stand together as a mysterious woman is floating in the background, surrounded by stone effigies and emitting white beams of light from a crystal necklace.
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Gary Trousdale]]
* [[Kirk Wise]]
}}
| producer       = [[Don Hahn]]
| screenplay     = [[Tab Murphy]]
| story          = {{Plainlist|
* Kirk Wise
* Gary Trousdale
* [[Joss Whedon]]
* [[Bryce Zabel]]
* Jackie Zabel
* Tab Murphy
}}
| based_on       = 
| starring       = <!-- Per ending credits. -->{{Plainlist|
* [[Michael J. Fox]]
* [[James Garner]]
* [[Cree Summer]]
* [[Don Novello]]
* [[Phil Morris (actor)|Phil Morris]]
* [[Claudia Christian]]
* [[Jacqueline Obradors]]
* [[Florence Stanley]]
* [[David Ogden Stiers]]
* [[John Mahoney]]
* [[Jim Varney]]
* [[Corey Burton]]
* [[Leonard Nimoy]]
}}
| music          = [[James Newton Howard]]
| editing        = Ellen Keneshea
| production_companies = [[Walt Disney Feature Animation]]
| distributor    = [[Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]{{efn|name=Disney|Distributed by [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]] through the [[Walt Disney Pictures]] banner.}}
| released       = {{Film date|2001|6|3|[[El Capitan Theatre]]|2001|6|15|United States|ref2=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3628238337/|title=Atlantis: The Lost Empire|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-date=May 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512215454/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=atlantis.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| runtime        = 96 minutes<ref name="TheNumbers" />
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $90–120 million<ref name="TheNumbers">{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2001/ATLNS.php|work=The-Numbers|publisher=Nash Information Services|title=Atlantis: The Lost Empire|access-date=January 6, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220140352/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2001/ATLNS.php|archive-date=December 20, 2013}}</ref><ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news|title=Suddenly, High Stakes for Disney's Film and TV Businesses|first1=Rick|last1=Lyman|first2=Geraldine|last2=Fabrikant|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/21/business/21FILM.html?pagewanted=all|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 21, 2001|access-date=July 4, 2011|quote=Besides, Disney executives maintain that they have made it easier for their animated features to break even by a cost-cutting campaign that made ''Atlantis'', which cost $100 million, about 35 percent cheaper to produce than the studio's other recent animated efforts.|archive-date=January 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140128231928/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/21/business/21FILM.html?pagewanted=all|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BOM">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=atlantis.htm|title=''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' (2001)|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|publisher=Amazon|access-date=July 3, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110606200130/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=atlantis.htm| archive-date= June 6, 2011}}</ref>
| gross          = $186.1 million<ref name="BOM"/>
}}
'''''Atlantis: The Lost Empire''''' is a 2001 American animated [[science fantasy]] [[action film|action]]-[[adventure film]] directed by [[Gary Trousdale]] and [[Kirk Wise]], produced by [[Don Hahn]], and written by [[Tab Murphy]]. Produced by [[Walt Disney Feature Animation]], it stars [[Michael J. Fox]], [[James Garner]], [[Cree Summer]], [[Don Novello]], [[Phil Morris (actor)|Phil Morris]], [[Claudia Christian]], [[Jacqueline Obradors]], [[Florence Stanley]], [[David Ogden Stiers]], [[John Mahoney]], [[Jim Varney]], [[Corey Burton]] and [[Leonard Nimoy]]<!--Order per billing block. Do not reorder--->. Set in 1914, it follows young linguist Milo Thatch, who gains possession of a sacred book, which he believes will guide him and a crew of mercenaries to the lost city of [[Atlantis]].

Development of the film began after production had finished on ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996 film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'' (1996). Instead of another [[Musical film|musical]], directors Trousdale and Wise, producer Hahn, and screenwriter Murphy decided to do an adventure film inspired by the works of [[Jules Verne]]. ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' was notable for adopting the distinctive visual style of [[comic book artist]] [[Mike Mignola]], one of the film's [[production design]]ers. The film made greater use of [[computer-generated imagery]] (CGI) than any of Disney's previous [[Traditional animation|traditionally animated]] features and remains one of the few to have been shot in [[anamorphic format]]. [[Linguistics|Linguist]] [[Marc Okrand]] [[Constructed language|constructed]] an [[Atlantean language]] specifically for use in the film. [[James Newton Howard]] provided the film's musical score. The film was released at a time when audience interest in animated films was shifting away from traditional animation toward films with full CGI.

''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' premiered at the [[El Capitan Theatre]] in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles]], on June 3, 2001, and went into its general release on June 15. The film received mixed reviews from critics.<!--Per WP:FILMLEAD, any summary statement "should reflect an overall consensus explicitly summarized by one or more reliable sources".--> Budgeted at around {{Nowrap|$90–120 million}}, ''Atlantis'' grossed over {{Nowrap|$186 million}} worldwide, {{Nowrap|$84 million}} of which was earned in North America; its lackluster box office response was identified as a result of being released in competition with ''[[Shrek]]'', ''[[Lara Croft: Tomb Raider]]'', ''[[The Fast and the Furious (2001 film)|The Fast and the Furious]]'' and ''[[Dr. Dolittle 2]]''. As a result of the film's [[box office failure]], Disney cancelled a planned [[spin-off (media)|spin-off]] [[animated television series]], ''Team Atlantis''; an underwater [[Disneyland]] attraction; and a volcanic [[Magic Kingdom]] attraction based on it. ''Atlantis'' was nominated for several awards, including seven [[Annie Award]]s, and won Best Sound Editing at the 2002 [[Motion Picture Sound Editors|Golden Reel Awards]]. The film was released on VHS and DVD on January 29, 2002, and on [[Blu-ray]] on June 11, 2013. Despite its initial reception, reception in later years became favorable and has given ''Atlantis'' a [[cult following]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Nina |date=2023-01-11 |title=Animated Cult Classics Worth Checking Out |url=https://movieweb.com/best-cult-classic-animated-movies/ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=MovieWeb |language=en |archive-date=January 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112153254/https://movieweb.com/best-cult-classic-animated-movies/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and reappraisal from critics as a mistreated classic, due in part to Mignola's unique artistic influence.<ref name="GizmoGem">{{cite web |date= August 28, 2015 |first= Katharine |last= Trendacosta |title= Atlantis: The Lost Empire Is a Beautiful Gem of a Movie That Deserved Better Than It Got |website= Gizmodo |url= https://gizmodo.com/atlantis-the-lost-empire-is-a-beautiful-gem-of-a-movie-1727214546 |access-date= December 10, 2021 |archive-date= April 21, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210421210953/https://io9.gizmodo.com/atlantis-the-lost-empire-is-a-beautiful-gem-of-a-movie-1727214546 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="insidethemagic.net">{{cite web|url=https://insidethemagic.net/2020/12/atlantis-the-lost-disney-classic-lt1/|title='Atlantis': The Lost Disney Classic|date=April 22, 2021|website=insidethemagic.net|access-date=April 22, 2021|archive-date=April 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421210956/https://insidethemagic.net/2020/12/atlantis-the-lost-disney-classic-lt1/|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[direct-to-video]] sequel, ''[[Atlantis: Milo's Return]]'', was released in 2003.

==Plot==
<!-- Per [[WP:FILMPLOT]], plot summaries for feature films are 400 to 700 words. -->
In 1914 Washington, D.C., archaeo-linguist Milo Thatch obsesses over finding the legendary lost city of [[Atlantis]], believed to have sunk thousands of years ago. His employers ridicule his theories, but he gains an unexpected ally in eccentric millionaire Preston B. Whitmore, a friend of Milo's deceased adventurer grandfather who also sought the city. Determined to honor his old friend's quest, Whitmore recruits Milo for an expedition to Atlantis, having recently uncovered the ''Shepherd's Journal'', an ancient Atlantean manuscript that contains directions to the lost city.

Aboard the submarine ''Ulysses'', Milo meets his teammates: Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke, Lieutenant Helga Sinclair, demolitions expert Vincenzo Santorini, geologist Gaetan "Mole" Molière, medical officer Joshua Sweet, mechanic Audrey Ramirez, radio operator Wilhelmina Packard, mess cook Jebidiah "Cookie" Farnsworth, and a platoon of mercenaries. Upon reaching a cave entrance leading to the lost city, the submarine is destroyed by a massive mechanical [[leviathan]], killing most of the crew. Milo and the survivors escape in smaller craft, navigating through the cave to emerge among ancient ruins.

Milo translates the journal, guiding the team through caves beneath a dormant volcano until they reach the worn remains of Atlantis. There, they are greeted by Princess Kidagakash "Kida" Nedakh, who, despite being around 8,500 years old, has the appearance of a young woman. She leads them to her father, King Kashekim, who orders them to leave. Learning that Milo can read their language—a skill lost to the Atlanteans over millennia—Kida asks for his help in uncovering their forgotten history and highly-advanced technology, without which the city has declined and resources have dwindled. Milo learns that Atlantis is powered by the Heart of Atlantis, a massive crystal that grants longevity and health to its citizens through the smaller crystals they carry.

Rourke betrays Milo and the Atlanteans, revealing his true intention—to steal the Heart for profit, despite knowing the Atlanteans will perish without it. He mortally wounds the King while seizing control and uncovers the crystal's hidden location beneath the city. Sensing the danger, the crystal merges with Kida, who is then captured by Rourke. He departs with the crystallized Kida and his mercenaries, except for Vincenzo, Molière, Sweet, Audrey, Packard, and Cookie, who refuse to take part in the Atlanteans' destruction. Before dying, the King reveals that Atlantis was devastated by a [[megatsunami]] after he attempted to weaponize the crystal's vast power. To protect the city, the crystal merged with a royal family member, Kida's mother. This created a protective dome over the city's inner district, shielding it from total destruction as Atlantis sank beneath the waves, but Kida's mother never returned. To prevent the crystal from ever merging with Kida, the King hid it, inadvertently accelerating Atlantis' decline. He warns Milo that Kida will be lost forever if she is not soon separated from the crystal and pleads with him to save her.

Alongside his allies, Milo rallies the Atlanteans to reactivate their long-dormant flying machines. Together, they eliminate Rourke and his mercenaries in the volcano. Milo and the others fly the crystallized Kida back to Atlantis as the volcano erupts. Kida ascends into the air and awakens Stone Guardians, who erect a barrier that shields the city from the lava flow. With Atlantis saved, the crystal separates from Kida and remains suspended in the sky. 

Milo chooses to stay in Atlantis with Kida, having fallen in love with her. Before returning to the surface, Vincenzo, Molière, Sweet, Audrey, Packard, and Cookie each receive a small crystal and a share of treasure. The six reunite with Preston on the surface and agree to keep their adventure a secret to protect Atlantis. Preston opens a package from Milo containing his own crystal and a note thanking him. The newly crowned Queen Kida and Milo carve a stone effigy of her father to join those of past rulers floating beside the Heart of Atlantis, as the city stands restored to its former glory.

==Voice cast==
<!--In-universe details about the characters belong in the plot section according to WP:FILMCAST guidelines, please reconsider adding such material to this section as it will most likely be reverted.-->
[[File:Atlantis Milo kida production.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A penciled production sketch showing a man (Milo) on the left embracing a woman (Kida) on the right. A horizontal line is visible on the bottom of the page depicting a reference line for the CinemaScope frame of the drawing.|Production layout sketch of Milo and Kida. Milo's character design was based in part on sketches of the film's language consultant, [[Marc Okrand]].]]
* [[Michael J. Fox]] as Milo James Thatch, a [[Linguistics|linguist]] and [[Cartography|cartographer]] at the Smithsonian who was recruited to decipher ''The Shepherd's Journal'' while directing an expedition to Atlantis.
* [[Cree Summer]] as Kidagakash "Kida" Nedakh, the Princess of Atlantis and Milo's love interest.
** Natalie Strom provided dialogue for Kida as a young child.
** Summer also voiced the unnamed Queen of Atlantis, Kida's mother and Kashekim's wife who was "chosen" by the Crystal during the sinking of the city.
* [[Don Novello]] as Vincenzo "Vinny" Santorini, an [[Italians|Italian]] [[Demolition|demolitions expert]].
* [[Phil Morris (actor)|Phil Morris]] as Dr. Joshua Strongbear Sweet, a [[medic]] of [[African-American]] and [[Arapaho]] descent.
* [[James Garner]] as Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke, the leader of the band of mercenaries for the Atlantean expedition.
* [[Jacqueline Obradors]] as Audrey Rocio Ramirez, a [[Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican]] [[mechanic]] and the youngest member of the expedition.
* [[Florence Stanley]] as Wilhelmina Bertha Packard: an elderly, sarcastic, chain-smoking [[Radio|radio operator]] who is also the expedition's [[photographer]].
* [[John Mahoney]] as Preston B. Whitmore, an eccentric millionaire who funds the expedition to Atlantis. [[Lloyd Bridges]] was originally cast and recorded as Whitmore, but he died before completing the film. Mahoney's zest and vigor led to Whitmore's personality being reworked for the film.<ref>[[#Kurtti01|Kurtti 2001, p. 15.]]</ref>
* [[Claudia Christian]] as Lieutenant Helga Katrina Sinclair, Rourke's [[Germans|German]]-born second-in-command.
* [[Jim Varney]] as Jebidiah Allardyce "Cookie" Farnsworth, a Western-style [[chuckwagon]] chef. Varney died in February 2000, before the production ended, and the film was dedicated to his memory. [[Steven Barr]] recorded supplemental dialogue for Cookie.
* [[Corey Burton]] as Gaetan "Mole" Molière, a [[French people|French]] [[geologist]] who acts like a [[mole (animal)|mole]].
* [[Leonard Nimoy]] as Kashekim Nedakh, the King of Atlantis and Kida's father.
* [[David Ogden Stiers]] as Fenton Q. Harcourt, a board member of the [[Smithsonian Institution]] who dismisses Milo's belief in the existence of Atlantis.

==Production==
===Development===
[[Image:Carlsbad Caverns rail pic.JPG|240px|thumb|alt=A picture of a partially illuminated cave with a jagged rock ceiling and a walkway extended into the cavern.|The production team visited [[Carlsbad Caverns|New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns]] to get a sense of the underground spaces depicted in the film.]]
The idea for ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' was conceived in October 1996 when [[Don Hahn]], [[Gary Trousdale]], [[Kirk Wise]], and [[Tab Murphy]] lunched at a Mexican restaurant in [[Burbank, California]]. Having recently completed ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996 film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'',<ref name="Kurtti-9">[[#Kurtti01|Kurtti 2001, p. 9.]]</ref> the producer, directors and screenwriter wanted to keep the ''Hunchback'' crew together for another film with an "[[Adventureland (Disney)|Adventureland]]" setting rather than a "[[Fantasyland]]" setting.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: History: The Journey Begins'' at 0:08–3:05]]</ref> Drawing inspiration from [[Jules Verne]]'s ''[[Journey to the Center of the Earth]]'' (1864) and ''[[Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas]]'' (1870), they set out to make a film which would fully explore [[Atlantis]] (compared to the brief visit depicted in Verne's novel).<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Story and Editorial: Finding the Story'' at 3:24–3:57]]</ref> While primarily utilizing the Internet to research the mythology of Atlantis,<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: History: Creating Mythology'' at 0:30–1:10]]</ref> the filmmakers became interested in the [[Clairvoyance|clairvoyant]] readings of [[Edgar Cayce]] and decided to incorporate some of his ideas—notably that of a mother-crystal which provides power, healing, and longevity to the Atlanteans—into the story.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: History: Creating Mythology'' at 3:48–4:20]]</ref> They also visited museums and old army installations to study the technology of the early 20th century (the film's time period), and traveled underground in [[Carlsbad Caverns|New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns]] to view the subterranean trails which would serve as a model for the approach to Atlantis in the film.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Art Direction: Designing Atlantis'' at 5:42–9:18]]</ref>

The filmmakers wanted to avoid the common depiction of Atlantis as "crumbled Greek columns underwater", said Wise.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Art Direction: Designing Atlantis'' at 9:30–9:33]]</ref> "From the get-go, we were committed to designing it top to bottom. Let's get the architectural style, clothing, heritage, customs, how they would sleep, and how they would speak. So we brought people on board who would help us develop those ideas."<ref name="FilmJournal">{{cite web|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000692578|title=Finding ''Atlantis''|first=Peter|last=Henn|date=June 1, 2001|work=[[Film Journal International]]|access-date=August 30, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116180317/http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000692578|archive-date=January 16, 2014}}</ref> Art director David Goetz stated, "We looked at [[Mayan architecture]], styles of ancient, unusual architecture from around the world, and the directors really liked the look of Southeast Asian architecture."<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Art Direction: Designing Atlantis'' at 9:50–10:02]]</ref> The team later took ideas from other architectural forms, including [[Cambodian architecture|Cambodian]], [[Indian architecture|Indian]], and [[Architecture in Tibet|Tibetan]] works.<ref name="Kurtti-55">[[#Kurtti01|Kurtti 2001, p. 55.]]</ref> Hahn added, "If you take and deconstruct architecture from around the world into one architectural vocabulary, that's what our Atlantis looks like."<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Art Direction: Designing Atlantis'' at 10:37–10:44]]</ref> The overall design and [[concentric circles|circular]] layout of Atlantis were also based on the writings of [[Plato]],<ref name="Kurtti-55"/> and his quote "in a single day and night of misfortune, the island of Atlantis disappeared into the depths of the sea"<ref>[[#Plato|Plato c. 360 BCE]], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0180:text=Tim.:section=25c ''Timaeus'', Sections 25c–d] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317203053/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0180%3Atext%3DTim.%3Asection%3D25c |date=March 17, 2013 }}. "But at a later time there occurred portentous earthquakes and floods, and one grievous day and night befell them, when the whole body of your warriors was swallowed up by the earth, and the island of Atlantis in like manner was swallowed up by the sea and vanished."</ref> was influential from the beginning of production.<ref name="Kurtti-9"/> The crew wore [[T-shirt]]s which read "ATLANTIS—Fewer songs, more explosions" due to the film's plan as an [[Adventure film|action-adventure]] (unlike previous Disney animated features, which were [[Musical film|musicals]]).<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: History: The Journey Begins'' at 5:28–5:40]]</ref>

====Language====
[[Image:AtlanteanA.png|thumb|right|alt=A drawing of the Atlantean letter A which is a swirl with a dot in the center.|The Atlantean letter ''A'', created by artist John Emerson. Kirk Wise noted that its design was a treasure map showing the path to the crystal, "The Heart of Atlantis".]]
{{Main|Atlantean language}}
[[Marc Okrand]], who developed the [[Klingon language]] for the ''[[Star Trek]]'' television and theatrical productions, was hired to devise the Atlantean language for ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire''. Guided by the directors' initial concept for it to be a "[[Proto-language|mother-language]]", Okrand employed an [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] word stock with its own [[Grammar|grammatical structure]]. He would change the words if they began to sound too much like an actual, spoken language.<ref name="FilmJournal"/> John Emerson designed the written component, making hundreds of random sketches of individual letters from among which the directors chose the best to represent the Atlantean alphabet.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: History: Creating Mythology'' at 5:20–5:47]]</ref><ref>[[#Kurtti01|Kurtti 2001, p. 40.]]</ref> The written language was [[boustrophedon]]: designed to be read left-to-right on the first line, then right-to-left on the second, continuing in a zigzag pattern to simulate the flow of water.<ref name="Language" />

{{blockquote|text=The Atlantean [A] is a shape developed by John Emerson. It is a miniature map of the city of Atlantis (i.e., the outside of the swirl is the cave, the inside shape is the silhouette of the city, and the dot is the location of the crystal). It's a treasure map.|sign=Kirk Wise, director<ref>[[#Kurtti01|Kurtti 2001, p. 82.]]</ref>}}

===Writing===
[[Joss Whedon]] was the first writer to be involved with the film but soon left to work on other Disney projects. According to him, he "had not a shred" in the movie.<ref>[[#Lavery11|Lavery 2011, p. 91.]]</ref> [[Tab Murphy]] completed the screenplay, stating that the time from initially discussing the story to producing a script that satisfied the film crew was "about three to four months".<ref name="Writing">{{cite web|url=http://www.laughingplace.com/News-PID502790-502791.asp|title=An Interview Tab Murphy—''Atlantis'' Screenwriter|work=Theme Park Adventure Magazine|first=Rick|last=West|date=June 14, 2001|publisher=LaughingPlace.com|access-date=September 1, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116183959/http://www.laughingplace.com/News-PID502790-502791.asp|archive-date=January 16, 2014}}</ref> The initial draft was 155 pages, much longer than a typical Disney film script (which usually runs 90 pages). When the first two acts were timed at 120 minutes, the directors cut characters and sequences and focused more on Milo. Murphy said that he created the centuries-old ''Shepherd's Journal'' because he needed a map for the characters to follow throughout their journey.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: History: Creating Mythology'' at 5:58–6:18]]</ref> A revised version of the script eliminated the trials encountered by the explorers as they navigated the caves to Atlantis. This gave the film a faster pace because Atlantis is discovered earlier in the story.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Story and Editorial: Finding the Story'' at 3:58–7:40]]</ref>

{{quote box|width=30%|align=left|quote=The directors often described the Atlanteans using [[Egypt]] as an example. When [[Napoleon]] wandered into Egypt, the people had lost track of their once-great civilization. They were surrounded by artifacts of their former greatness but somehow unaware of what they meant.|source= —Don Hahn, producer<ref>[[#Kurtti01|Kurtti 2001, p. 50.]]</ref>}}

The character of Milo J. Thatch was originally supposed to be a descendant of Edward Teach, otherwise known as [[Blackbeard]] the pirate. The directors later related him to an explorer so he would discover his inner talent for exploration.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Story and Editorial: Finding the Story'' at 2:55–3:24]]</ref> The character of Molière was originally intended to be "professorial" but Chris Ure, a story artist, changed the concept to that of a "horrible little burrowing creature with a wacky coat and strange headgear with extending eyeballs", said Wise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/The-Disney-Industrial-Complex-and-Atlantis-The-Lost-Empire|title=The Disney Industrial Complex and ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire''|last=Messier|first=Max|date=June 12, 2001 |work=FilmCritic.com|publisher=[[AMC Networks|AMC]]|access-date=September 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060310214029/http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/95a45e26914c25ff862562bb006a85f2/dd49aab98adead3a88256a69005c9fe2?OpenDocument|archive-date=March 10, 2006}}</ref><ref>[[#DVD1|''Audio Commentary'' at 17:12–18.00]]</ref> Don Hahn pointed out that the absence of songs presented a challenge for a team accustomed to animating musicals, as action scenes alone would have to carry the film. Kirk Wise said it gave the team an opportunity for more on-screen character development: "We had more screen time available to do a scene like where Milo and the explorers are camping out and learning about one another's histories. An entire sequence is devoted to having dinner and going to bed. That is not typically something we would have the luxury of doing."<ref name="FilmJournal"/>

Hahn stated that the first animated sequence completed during production was the film's [[prologue]]. The original version featured a [[Viking]] war party using ''The Shepherd's Journal'' to find Atlantis and being swiftly dispatched by the Leviathan. Near the end of production, story supervisor John Sanford told the directors that he felt this prologue did not give viewers enough emotional involvement with the Atlanteans. Despite knowing that the Viking prologue was finished and it would cost additional time and money to alter the scene, the directors agreed with Sanford. Trousdale went home and completed the [[storyboards]] later that evening after visiting a strip club where he boarded the new sequence on a napkin.<ref>{{Citation |title=Gary Trousdale on pitching Atlantis to Disney, crafting the story and art style with Mike Mignola | date=February 8, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hbMIYYMTZQ |language=en |access-date=2023-02-15}}</ref> The opening was replaced by a sequence depicting the destruction of Atlantis, which introduced the film from the perspective of the Atlanteans and Princess Kida.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Story and Editorial: Finding the Story'' at 7:40–10:25]]</ref> The Viking prologue is included as an extra feature on the [[#Home media|DVD release]].<ref name="Story2">[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Story and Editorial: Four Deleted Scenes—"The Viking Prologue"'']]</ref>

===Casting===
Kirk Wise, one of the directors, said that they chose [[Michael J. Fox]] for the role of Milo because they felt he gave his characters his own personality and made them more believable on screen. Fox said that voice acting was much easier than his past experience with live action because he did not have to worry about what he looked like in front of a camera while delivering his lines.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: The Voices of Atlantis'' at 0:20–0:56]]</ref> The directors mentioned that Fox was also offered a role for ''[[Titan A.E.]]''; he allowed his son to choose which film he would work on, and he chose ''Atlantis''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2001/05/14/atlantis/|title=Movie Preview: ''Atlantis'' (2001)|date=May 14, 2001|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=December 10, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116184524/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C106688%2C00.html|archive-date=January 16, 2014}}</ref> Viewers have noted similarities between Milo and the film's language consultant, [[Marc Okrand]], who developed the [[Atlantean language]] used in the film. Okrand stated that Milo's supervising animator, [[John Pomeroy]], sketched him, claiming not to know how a linguist looked or acted.<ref name="Language">{{cite web |last=Wloszczyna |first=Susan |date=May 24, 2001 |title=New Movie Trek for Wordsmith |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/2001-05-24-atlantis-lingo.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514011113/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/2001-05-24-atlantis-lingo.htm |archive-date=May 14, 2009 |work=[[USA Today]] |access-date=July 4, 2011}}</ref> Kida's supervising animator, Randy Haycock, stated that her actress, [[Cree Summer]], was very "intimidating" when he first met her; this influenced how he wanted Kida to look and act on screen when she meets Milo.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: The Voices of Atlantis'' at 2:32–2:50]]</ref> Wise chose [[James Garner]] for the role of Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke because of his previous experience with [[action film]]s, especially [[War film|war]] and [[Western (genre)|Western]] films, and said the role "fits him like a glove". When asked if he would be interested in the role, Garner replied: "I'd do it in a heartbeat."<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: The Voices of Atlantis'' at 3:50–4:31]]</ref> Producer Don Hahn was saddened that [[Jim Varney]], the voice of Jebidiah Allardyce "Cookie" Farnsworth, never saw the finished film before he died of lung cancer in February 2000, but mentioned that he was shown clips of his character's performance during his site sessions and said, "He loved it." Shawn Keller, supervising animator for Cookie, stated, "It was kind of a sad fact that [Varney] knew that he was not going to be able to see this film before he passed away. He did a bang-up job doing the voice work, knowing the fact that he was never gonna see his last performance." [[Steven Barr]] recorded supplemental dialogue for Cookie.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: The Voices of Atlantis'' at 10:45–11:31]]</ref>

[[John Mahoney]], who voiced Preston Whitmore, stated that doing voice work was "freeing" and allowed him to be "big" and "outrageous" with his character.<ref name="Cast">[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: The Voices of Atlantis'' at 4:55–5:07]]</ref> Dr. Joshua Sweet's supervising animator, [[Ron Husband]], indicated that one of the challenges was animating Sweet in sync with [[Phil Morris (actor)|Phil Morris']] rapid line delivery while keeping him believable. Morris stated that this character was extreme, with "no middle ground"; he mentioned, "When he was happy, he was ''really'' happy, and when he's solemn, he's ''real'' solemn."<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: The Voices of Atlantis'' at 8:20–9:13]]</ref> [[Claudia Christian]] described her character, Lieutenant Helga Katrina Sinclair, as "sensual" and "striking", and was relieved when she finally saw what her character looked like, joking, "I'd hate to, you know, go through all this and find out my character is a toad."<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: The Voices of Atlantis'' at 10:18–10:39]]</ref> [[Jacqueline Obradors]] said her character, Audrey Rocio Ramirez, made her "feel like a little kid again" and she always hoped her sessions would last longer.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: The Voices of Atlantis'' at 5:59–6:07]]</ref> [[Florence Stanley]] felt that her character, Wilhelmina Bertha Packard, was very "cynical" and "secure": "She does her job, and when she is not busy, she does anything she wants."<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: The Voices of Atlantis'' at 9:38–9:51]]</ref> [[Corey Burton]] mentioned that finding his performance as Gaetan "Mole" Molière was by allowing the character to "leap out" of him while making funny voices. To get into character during his recording sessions, he stated that he would "throw myself into the scene and feel like I'm in this make-believe world".<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: The Voices of Atlantis'' at 6:55–7:10]]</ref> Kirk Wise and [[Russ Edmonds]], supervising animator for Vincenzo "Vinny" Santorini, noted Vinny's actor [[Don Novello|Don Novello's]] unique ability to [[improvisation|improvise]] dialogue while voicing the role. Edmonds recalled, "[Novello] would look at the sheet, and he would read the line that was written once, and he would never read it again! And we never used a written line, it was improvs, the whole movie."<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: The Voices of Atlantis'' at 7:18–7:47]]</ref> Michael Cedeno, supervising animator for King Kashekim Nedakh, was astounded at [[Leonard Nimoy|Leonard Nimoy's]] voice talent in the role, stating that he had "so much rich character" in his performance. As he spoke his lines, Cedeno said the crew would sit there and watch Nimoy in astonishment.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: The Voices of Atlantis'' at 3:00–3:43]]</ref>

===Animation===
[[File:Atlantiswidescreencap.gif|thumb|right|alt=A panoramic production still from the film depicting two distant figures standing atop an Atlantean building tower while overlooking a city and a vast lake of water with clouds in the background.|For comparison, the top image (panoramic view of Atlantis) is cropped to Disney's standard aspect ratio (1.66:1); the bottom image was seen in the film (2.35:1).]]

At the peak of its production, 350 animators, artists and technicians were working on ''Atlantis''<ref name="Raugust 2004">[[#Raugust04|Raugust 2004, n.p.]]</ref> at all three Disney animation studios: [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Feature Animation]] ([[Burbank, California]]), [[Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida]] ([[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]), and [[Animation studios owned by The Walt Disney Company#Disney Animation France|Disney Animation France]] (Paris).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2001/06/15/the-art-of-atlantis-doesnt-just-imitate-life-it-goes-it-one-better/|title=The Art of ''Atlantis'' Doesn't Just Imitate Life, It Goes It One Better|first=Roger|last=Moore|date=June 15, 2001|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|access-date=August 9, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116201606/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2001-06-15/entertainment/0106140377_1_atlantis-explorers-ordnance-museum|archive-date=January 16, 2014}}</ref> The film was one of the few Disney animated features produced and shot in [[35 mm movie film|35mm]] [[anamorphic format]]. The directors felt that a widescreen image was crucial, as a nostalgic reference to old action-adventure films presented in the [[CinemaScope]] format (2.35:1), noting ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'' as an inspiration.<ref name="Widescreen" /> Because switching to the format would require animation desks and equipment designed for widescreen to be purchased, Disney executives were at first reluctant about the idea.<ref name="FilmJournal"/>  The production team found a simple solution by drawing within a smaller frame on the same paper and equipment used for standard [[aspect ratio (image)|aspect ratio]] (1.66:1) Disney-animated films.<ref name="Widescreen">[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: Setting the Scene'' at 1:10–2:28]]</ref> Layout supervisor Ed Ghertner wrote a guide to the widescreen format for use by the layout artists and mentioned that one advantage of widescreen was that he could keep characters in scenes longer because of additional space to walk within the frame.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: Setting the Scene'' at 2:30–3:17]]</ref> Wise drew further inspiration for the format from filmmakers [[David Lean]] and [[Akira Kurosawa]].<ref name="FilmJournal"/>

The film's visual style was strongly based upon that of [[Mike Mignola]], the comic book artist behind ''[[Hellboy]]''. Mignola was one of four production designers (along with Matt Codd, Jim Martin, and [[Ricardo Delgado (comics)|Ricardo Delgado]]) hired by the Disney studio for the film. Accordingly, he provided style guides, preliminary character, and background designs, and story ideas.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Art Direction: Designing Atlantis'' at 0:50–4:33]]</ref> "Mignola's graphic, the angular style was a key influence on the 'look' of the characters," stated Wise.<ref>[[#Kurtti01|Kurtti 2001, ap. 27.]]</ref> Mignola was surprised when first contacted by the studio to work on ''Atlantis''.<ref name="Mignola" /> His artistic influence on the film would later contribute to a [[cult following]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nextmovie.com/blog/disneys-best-movies-animated-features/|title=Disney's 50 Finest: In Order of Awesome|first=Scott|last=Harris|work=NextMovie |date=November 29, 2010|publisher=[[MTV Networks]]|access-date=January 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101113344/http://www.nextmovie.com/blog/disneys-best-movies-animated-features/|archive-date=January 1, 2011|quote=On the other hand, the movie does feature a great cast, including Michael J. Fox and James Garner, along with animation by legendary comic book artist and ''Hellboy'' creator Mike Mignola. Because of this last factor, ''Atlantis'' has become a bit of a cult favorite in some circles&nbsp;...}}</ref>
{{blockquote|text=I remember watching a rough cut of the film and these characters have these big, square, weird hands. I said to the guy next to me, "Those are cool hands." And he says to me, "Yeah, they're your hands. We had a whole meeting about how to do your hands." It was so weird I couldn't wrap my brain around it.|sign=Mike Mignola<ref name="Mignola">{{cite web|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2008-07-06/entertainment/17902595_1_comic-book-mike-mignola-dark-horse-comics/2|title=Mike Mignola, ''Hellboy'' Creator, Didn't See Character's Success Coming|first=Stu|last=Horvath|date=July 6, 2008|work=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=August 29, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612045542/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2008-07-06/entertainment/17902595_1_comic-book-mike-mignola-dark-horse-comics/2|archive-date=June 12, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>}}

The final pull-out shot of the movie, immediately before the end-title card, was described by the directors as the most difficult shot in the history of Disney animation. They said that the pull-out attempt on their prior film, ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', "struggled" and "lacked depth"; however, after making advances in the process of [[Multiplane camera|multiplaning]], they tried the technique again in ''Atlantis''. The shot begins with one {{convert|16|in|cm|1|adj=on}} piece of paper showing a close-up of Milo and Kida. As the camera pulls away from them to reveal the newly restored Atlantis, it reaches the equivalent of an {{convert|18,000|in|cm|adj=on}} piece of paper composed of many individual pieces of paper ({{convert|24|in|cm|0|disp=sqbr}} or smaller). Each piece was carefully drawn and combined with animated vehicles simultaneously flying across the scene to make the viewer see a complete, integrated image.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Animation Production: Setting the Scene'' at 9:44–11:26]]</ref>

[[File:Atlantispropsubmarine.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A large model of a mechanical submarine perched atop a flat table mount.|Scale model of ''Ulysses'' submarine by Greg Aronowitz, used by digital animators as reference during production.<ref name="SubModel">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Atlantis/atlantisfeature052.html|title=An Inside Look at ''Destination: Atlantis''|first=Joe|last=Tracy|date=June 20, 2001|work=Digital Media FX Magazine|access-date=September 27, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117040613/http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Atlantis/atlantisfeature052.html|archive-date=January 17, 2014}}</ref>]]
At the time of its release, ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' was notable for using more [[computer-generated imagery]] (CGI) than any other Disney traditionally animated feature. To increase productivity, the directors had the digital artists work with the [[traditional animation|traditional animators]] throughout the production. Several important scenes required heavy use of digital animation: the Leviathan, the ''Ulysses'' submarine and sub-pods, the Heart of Atlantis, and the Stone Giants.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Digital Production'' at 0:09–4:45]]</ref> During production, after Matt Codd and Jim Martin designed the ''Ulysses'' on paper, Greg Aronowitz was hired to build a scale model of the submarine, to be used as a reference for drawing the 3D ''Ulysses''.<ref name="SubModel"/> The final film included 362 digital-effects shots, and computer programs were used to seamlessly join the 2D and 3D artwork.<ref name="USAToday">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2001-06-07-atlantis.htm|title=Disney Domain Is Under Siege|first=Susan|last=Wloszczyna|date=June 14, 2001|work=USA Today|access-date=July 4, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010810032020/http://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2001-06-07-atlantis.htm|archive-date=August 10, 2001}}</ref> One scene that took advantage of this was the "sub-drop" scene, where the 3D ''Ulysses'' was dropped from its docking bay into the water. As the camera floated toward it, a 2D Milo was drawn to appear inside, tracking the camera. The crew noted that it was challenging to keep the audience from noticing the difference between the 2D and 3D drawings when they were merged.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Digital Production'' at 8:15–9:33]]</ref> The digital production also gave the directors a unique "[[virtual camera]]" for complicated shots within the film. With the ability to operate in the z-plane, this camera moved through a digital [[Wire-frame model|wire-frame set]]; the background and details were later hand-drawn over the wireframes. This was used in the opening flight scene through Atlantis and the submarine chase through the undersea cavern with the Leviathan in pursuit.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Digital Production'' at 5:00–6:20]]</ref>

===Music and sound===
Since the film would not feature any songs, the directors hired [[James Newton Howard]] to compose the [[Film score|score]] after they heard his music on ''[[Dinosaur (2000 film)|Dinosaur]]''. Approaching it as a live-action film, Howard decided to have different musical themes for the cultures of the surface world and Atlantis. In the case of Atlantis, Howard chose an [[Gamelan|Indonesian orchestral sound]] incorporating chimes, bells, and gongs. The directors told Howard that the film would have a number of key scenes without dialogue; the score would need to convey emotionally what the viewer was seeing on screen.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Music and Sound'' at 5:00–8:45]]</ref>

[[Gary Rydstrom]] and his team at [[Skywalker Sound]] were hired for the film's [[Sound recording and reproduction|sound production]].<ref>[[#DVD1|''Audio Commentary'' at 1:50–2:10]]</ref> Like Howard, Rydstrom employed different sounds for the two cultures. Focusing on the machine and mechanical sounds of the early industrial era for the explorers, he felt that the Atlanteans should have a "more organic" sound utilizing ceramics and pottery. The sound made by the Atlantean flying-fish vehicles posed a particular challenge. Rydstrom revealed that he was sitting at the side of a highway recording one day when a [[Semi-trailer truck|semi-truck]] drove by at high speed. When the recording was sped up on his computer, he felt it sounded very organic, and decided to use it in the film. Rydstrom created the [[harmonic]] chiming of the Heart of Atlantis by rubbing his finger along the edge of a champagne flute, the sound of sub-pods moving through the water with a [[Oral irrigator|water pick]], while a ceramic pot from a garden store was used for the sounds of the movement of the Giant stone guardians.<ref>[[#DVD2|''Supplemental Features: Music and Sound'' at 0:05–4:48]]</ref>

==Release==
''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' had its world premiere at Disney's [[El Capitan Theatre]] in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles]], on June 3, 2001<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010601/laf080a.html|title= World Premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE – Update|date=June 1, 2001|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]|access-date= September 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010615001509/http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010601/laf080a.html|archive-date=June 15, 2001}}</ref> and a limited release in New York City and Los Angeles on June 8; a wider release followed on June 15.<ref name="BOM"/><ref name="USAToday"/> At the premiere, ''Destination: Atlantis'' was on display, featuring behind-the-scenes props from the film and information on the legend of Atlantis with video games, displays, laser tag, and other attractions. The [[Aquarium of the Pacific]] also loaned a variety of fish for display within the attraction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID502800.asp|title=''Destination: Atlantis'' at the El Capitan|first=Doobie|last=Moseley|date=June 15, 2001|publisher=LaughingPlace.com|access-date=September 1, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012035536/http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID502800.asp|archive-date=October 12, 2013}}</ref>

===Promotion===
''Atlantis'' was among Disney's first major attempts to utilize [[internet marketing]]. The film was promoted through [[Kellogg Company|Kellogg's]], which created a website with mini-games and a movie-based video game give-away for UPC labels from specially marked packages of ''Atlantis'' breakfast cereal.<ref name="Raugust 2004"/> The film was one of Disney's first marketing attempts through [[mobile network operator]]s, and allowed users to download games based on the film.<ref>{{cite book|last=Steinbock |first=Dan|title=The Mobile Revolution: The Making of Mobile Services Worldwide|year=2007|publisher=[[Kogan Page]]|isbn=978-0-7494-4850-9|pages=158, 304|ref=Steinbock07}}</ref> [[McDonald's]] (which had an exclusive licensing agreement on all Disney releases) promoted the film with [[Happy Meal]] toys, food packaging and in-store decor. The McDonald's advertising campaign involved television, radio, and print advertisements beginning on the film's release date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/mcdonalds-dives-disneys-atlantis|title=McDonald's Dives into Disney's ''Atlantis''|date=June 11, 2001|work=QSR Magazine|publisher=Journalistic, Inc.|access-date=September 1, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012042615/http://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/mcdonalds-dives-disneys-atlantis|archive-date=October 12, 2013}}</ref> [[Frito-Lay]] offered free admission tickets for the film on specially marked snack packages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.awn.com/news/licensing/cheetos-lovers-get-tickets-atlantis|title=Cheetos Lovers Get Tickets To Atlantis|first=Annick|last=Teninge|publisher=[[Animation World Network]]|date=June 21, 2001|access-date=April 23, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012063932/http://www.awn.com/news/licensing/cheetos-lovers-get-tickets-atlantis|archive-date=October 12, 2013}}</ref>

===Home media {{anchor|DVD|Video|Home release}}===
''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' was released on [[VHS]] and [[DVD-Video|DVD]] on January 29, 2002.<ref name="DisneyDVD" /> During the first month of its home release, the film led in VHS sales and was third in VHS and DVD sales combined.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/dvd-sales-explode-january-vhs-wanes-2680|title=DVD Sales Explode in January as VHS Wanes|first=Judith|last=McCourt|date=February 28, 2002|work=[[Home Media Magazine]]|access-date=August 29, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219233337/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/dvd-sales-explode-january-vhs-wanes-2680|archive-date=December 19, 2013}}</ref> Sales and rentals of the VHS and DVD combined would eventually accumulate $157 million in revenue by mid-2003.<ref>[[#Vancheri|Vancheri; Weiskind 2003 p. D–2]] "Consider what happened with ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire''. It earned $84 million at the box office and rebounded with another $157 million in DVD and VHS rentals and sales, according to ''Video Business''."</ref> Both a single-disc DVD edition and a two-disc collector's edition (with bonus features) were released. The single-disc DVD gave the viewer the option of viewing the film either in its original theatrical 2.39:1 aspect ratio or a modified 1.33:1 ratio (utilizing [[pan and scan]]). Bonus features available on the DVD version included audio and visual commentary from the film team, a virtual tour of the CGI models, an Atlantean-language tutorial, an encyclopedia on the myth of Atlantis, and the deleted Viking prologue scene.<ref name="DisneyDVD">{{cite web|url=http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/atlantis-the-lost-empire.html#4102 |title=''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' |publisher=[[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]] |access-date=August 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624124529/http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/atlantis-the-lost-empire.html |archive-date=June 24, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The two-disc collector's edition DVD contained all the single-disc features and a disc with supplemental material detailing all aspects of the film's production. The collector's-edition film could only be viewed in its original theatrical ratio, and also featured an optional [[DTS (company)|DTS 5.1]] track. Both DVD versions, however, contained a [[Dolby Digital|Dolby Digital 5.1]] track and were [[THX]] certified.<ref name="DisneyDVD"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/atlantisce.php |title=''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'': Collector's Edition |first=Michael |last=Rankins |date=May 8, 2002 |publisher=DVD Verdict |access-date=August 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726014412/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/atlantisce.php |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Disney digitally remastered and released ''Atlantis'' on [[Blu-ray]] on June 11, 2013, bundled with its sequel ''[[Atlantis: Milo's Return]]''.<ref name="DisneyBluray">{{cite web|first=John |last=Latchem |url=http://www.homemediamagazine.com/product-news/next-wave-disney-animated-blu-rays-coming-out-june-11-30023 |title=Next Wave of Disney Animated Blu-rays Coming Out June 11 |work=[[Home Media Magazine]] |date=March 28, 2013 |access-date=March 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914174103/http://homemediamagazine.com/product-news/next-wave-disney-animated-blu-rays-coming-out-june-11-30023 |archive-date=September 14, 2013 }}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
Before the film's release, reporters speculated that it would have a difficult run due to competition from ''[[Shrek]]'' and ''[[Lara Croft: Tomb Raider]].'' Regarding the market's shift from traditional animation and competition with CG-animated films, Kirk Wise said, "Any traditional animator, including myself, can't help but feel a twinge. I think it always comes down to story and character, and one form won't replace the other. Just like photography didn't replace painting. But maybe I'm blind to it."<ref name="USAToday"/> Jeff Jensen of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' noted that CGI films (such as ''Shrek'') were more likely to attract the teenage demographic typically not interested in animation, and called ''Atlantis'' a "marketing and creative gamble".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2001/06/22/high-toon/|title=High Toon|first=Jeff|last=Jensen|date=June 22, 2001|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=December 10, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224191749/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C256017%2C00.html|archive-date=December 24, 2013}}</ref>

With a budget of $100 million,<ref name="NYTimes"/> the film opened at #2 on its debut weekend, behind ''Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'', earning $20.3 million in 3,011 theaters.<ref>{{cite news |title='Lara Croft' easily tops US box office |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/06/17/Lara-Croft-easily-tops-US-box-office/8203992750400/ |access-date=28 February 2022 |work=[[United Press International]] |date=17 June 2001 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226175209/https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/06/17/Lara-Croft-easily-tops-US-box-office/8203992750400/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During its second weekend, it would drop into fourth place behind the latter film, ''[[Dr. Dolittle 2]]'' and ''[[The Fast and the Furious (2001 film)|The Fast and the Furious]]'', making $13.2 million.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Reese|first=Lori|title=''The Fast and the Furious'' beats ''Dolittle 2''|url=https://ew.com/article/2001/06/25/fast-and-furious-beats-dolittle-2/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=November 25, 2022|date=June 25, 2001|archive-date=November 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125222401/https://ew.com/article/2001/06/25/fast-and-furious-beats-dolittle-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film's international release began September 20 in Australia and other markets followed suit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=atlantis.htm|title=''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' International Box-Office|work=Box Office Mojo|publisher=Amazon|access-date=July 6, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404115408/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=atlantis.htm|archive-date=April 4, 2014}}</ref> During its 25-week theatrical run, ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' grossed over $186 million worldwide ($84 million from the United States and Canada).<ref name="BOM"/> Responding to its disappointing box-office performance, [[Thomas Schumacher]], then-president of Walt Disney Feature Animation, said, "It seemed like a good idea at the time to not do a sweet fairy tale, but we missed."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/2001-10-31-animation.htm|title='Toons Get Their Very Own Oscar Category|first=Susan|last=Wloszczyna|date=October 31, 2001|work=USA Today|access-date=December 10, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527022348/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/2001-10-31-animation.htm|archive-date=May 27, 2008}}</ref>

===Critical response===
''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' received mixed reviews from critics,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Verrier |first=Richard |date=June 15, 2001 |title=Animation Job Cuts Draw Ire at Disney |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-15-fi-10663-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309001546/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-15-fi-10663-story.html |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |access-date=June 20, 2024 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |quote=the movie has received mixed reviews from critics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Robert |date=December 6, 2001 |title=European audiences discover Atlantis |url=https://www.screendaily.com/european-audiences-discover-atlantis/407706.article |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327172858/https://www.screendaily.com/european-audiences-discover-atlantis/407706.article |archive-date=March 27, 2022 |access-date=June 20, 2024 |work=[[Screen Daily]] |quote=Disney's latest animated effort has still found audiences across Europe despite mixed reviews}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Levine |first=Daniel S. |date=October 31, 2021 |title=Doja Cat's 'Atlantis' Halloween Costume Is a Must-See |url=https://popculture.com/music/news/doja-cat-atlantis-lost-empire-princess-kida-halloween-costume/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031200945/https://popculture.com/music/news/doja-cat-atlantis-lost-empire-princess-kida-halloween-costume/ |archive-date=October 31, 2021 |access-date=June 20, 2024 |work=[[PopCulture.com]] |quote=Atlantis was a box office disappointment for Disney and earned mixed reviews}}</ref> many of whom criticized its story.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dietz |first=Jason |date=November 21, 2018 |title=Every Disney Animated Film, Ranked Worst to Best |url=https://www.metacritic.com/pictures/every-disney-animated-film-ranked-worst-to-best/5/ |access-date=January 24, 2025 |work=[[Metacritic]] |quote=Many critics couldn't get past the muddled, uninspiring story.}}</ref> The review aggregator website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reports that {{RT data|score}} of {{RT data|count}} professional critics have given ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' a positive review; the average rating is {{RT data|average}}. The site's consensus is: "''Atlantis'' provides a fast-paced spectacle, but stints on such things as character development and a coherent plot".<ref name="RotTom">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/atlantis_the_lost_empire|title=''Atlantis: The Lost Empire''|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608115523/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/atlantis_the_lost_empire|archive-date=June 8, 2020|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] assigned the film a weighted average score of 52 out of 100 based on 29 reviews from critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/atlantis-the-lost-empire|title=''Atlantis: The Lost Empire''|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=July 3, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424141313/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/atlantis-the-lost-empire|archive-date=April 24, 2014}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manfredi |first=Lucas |date=November 24, 2022 |title=''Strange World'' CinemaScore Might Be the Lowest Ever For a Walt Disney Animation Studio Film |url=https://www.thewrap.com/strange-world-cinemascore-disney-animation-film/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125002321/https://www.thewrap.com/strange-world-cinemascore-disney-animation-film/ |archive-date=November 25, 2022 |access-date=December 10, 2022 |website=[[TheWrap]]}}</ref>

While critics had mixed reactions to the film in general, some praised it for its visuals, action-adventure elements, and attempt to appeal to an older audience. [[Roger Ebert]] gave ''Atlantis'' three-and-a-half stars out of four. He praised the animation's "clean bright visual look" and the "classic energy of the comic book style", crediting this to the work of Mike Mignola. Ebert gave particular praise to the story and the final battle scene and wrote, "The story of ''Atlantis'' is rousing in an old pulp science fiction sort of way, but the climactic scene transcends the rest, and stands by itself as one of the great animated action sequences."<ref name="Ebert">{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/atlantis-the-lost-empire-2001|title=''Atlantis: The Lost Empire''|first=Roger|last=Ebert|date=June 15, 2001|work=RogerEbert.com|access-date=December 10, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605233148/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20010615%2FREVIEWS%2F106150301%2F1023|archive-date=June 5, 2011}} {{Rating|3.5|4}}</ref> In ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Elvis Mitchell]] gave high praise to the film, calling it "a monumental treat", and stated, "''Atlantis'' is also one of the most eye-catching Disney cartoons since Uncle Walt institutionalized the four-fingered glove."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/08/movies/film-review-under-the-sea-damp-hakuna-matata.html|title=FILM REVIEW; Under the Sea, Damp Hakuna Matata|first=Elvis|last=Mitchell|date=June 8, 2001|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 10, 2021|archive-date=July 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724220437/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/08/movies/film-review-under-the-sea-damp-hakuna-matata.html|url-status=live}}{{Rating|4|5}}</ref> Internet film critic [[James Berardinelli]] wrote a positive review of the film, giving it three out of four stars. He wrote, "On the whole, ''Atlantis'' offers 90 minutes of solid entertainment, once again proving that while Disney may be clueless when it comes to producing good live-action movies, they are exactly the opposite when it comes to their animated division."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/a/atlantis.html|title=''Atlantis'' Review|last=Berardinelli|first=James|date=June 2001|publisher=ReelViews.net|access-date=July 4, 2010|archive-date=July 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711035437/http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/a/atlantis.html|url-status=live}}{{Rating|3|4}}</ref> [[Wesley Morris]] of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' wrote positively of the film's approach for an older audience: "But just beneath the surface, ''Atlantis'' brims with adult possibility."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Atlantis-is-a-find-Disney-emphasizes-2909019.php|title=''Atlantis'' Is a Find, Disney Emphasizes Adventure over Cuteness, Romance and Song|first=Wesley|last=Morris|date=June 15, 2001|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|access-date=December 10, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210195313/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2001%2F06%2F15%2FDD217251.DTL|archive-date=February 10, 2011}}{{Rating|3|4}}</ref>

Other critics felt that the film was mediocre in regards to its story and characters, and that it failed to deliver as a non-musical to Disney's traditional audience. [[Owen Gleiberman]] of ''Entertainment Weekly'' gave the film a C+ rating, writing that the film had "gee-whiz formulaic character" and was "the essence of craft without dream".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2001/06/06/atlantis-lost-empire/ |title=''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' |first=Owen |last=Gleiberman |date=June 6, 2001 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=December 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527035031/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C129378~1~0~atlantislostempire%2C00.html |archive-date=May 27, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Kenneth Turan]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' said the storyline and characterizations were "old-fashioned" and the film had the retrograde look of a Saturday-morning cartoon, but these deficiencies were offset by its "brisk action" and frantic pace.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-08-ca-7799-story.html|title='Atlantis' Seems Like Old Times|first=Kenneth|last=Turan|date=July 8, 2001|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=December 10, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202234428/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jun/08/entertainment/ca-7799|archive-date=December 2, 2013}}{{Rating|3.5|5}}</ref> [[Todd McCarthy]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote, "Disney pushes into all-talking, no-singing, no-dancing and, in the end, no-fun animated territory."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/atlantis-the-lost-empire-1200468877/|title=''Atlantis: The Lost Empire''|first=Todd|last=McCarthy|date=June 7, 2001|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=December 10, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108151325/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117798244?refcatid=31|archive-date=November 8, 2012}}</ref> Stephanie Zacharek of ''[[Salon.com|Salon]]'' wrote of Disney's attempt to make the film for an adult audience, "The big problem with Disney's latest animated feature, ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'', is that it doesn't seem geared to kids at all: It's so adult that it's massively boring."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2001/06/15/atlantis/|title=''Atlantis''—Disney's finally made a cartoon for grown-ups. What was wrong with the old ones they made for kids?|date=June 15, 2001|first=Stephanie|last=Zacharek|work=[[Salon.com|Salon]]|access-date=December 10, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107202846/http://www.salon.com/2001/06/15/atlantis/|archive-date=January 7, 2014}}</ref> Rita Kempley of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' panned the film, calling it a "new-fashioned but old-fangled hash" and wrote, "Ironically Disney had hoped to update its image with this mildly diverting adventure, yet the picture hasn't really broken away from the tried-and-true format spoofed in the far superior ''Shrek''."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/entertainment/movies/reviews/atlantiskempley.htm|title='Atlantis': That Sinking Feeling|last=Kempley|first=Rita|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 15, 2001|access-date=March 25, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518120341/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/entertainment/movies/reviews/atlantiskempley.htm|archive-date=May 18, 2015}}</ref>

In 2015, Katharine Trendacosta at [[io9]] reviewed the film and called it a "Beautiful Gem of a Movie That Deserved Better Than It Got" and said that the film deserves more love than it ended up getting.<ref name="GizmoGem"/> Lindsay Teal considers "Atlantis" to be "a lost Disney classic". Describing the film as highly entertaining, she praises the writing and characterisation – in particular, Sweet, Helga and Kida.<ref name="insidethemagic.net"/> In particular, much praise has been given to the character of Kida.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Augustine |first1=Afiya |date=July 16, 2018 |title=All hail Kida of Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Disney's forgotten queen of color |url=https://www.syfy.com/kida-disney-queen-of-color |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421211003/https://www.syfy.com/kida-disney-queen-of-color |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |access-date=April 22, 2021 |work=SYFY WIRE}}</ref> Summer has regarded the character of Kida as one of her favourite roles and even considers the character among the official Disney Princess line-up.

===Themes and interpretations===
Several critics and scholars have noted that ''Atlantis'' plays strongly on themes of [[anti-capitalism]] and [[anti-imperialism]]. M. Keith Booker, academic and author of studies about the implicit messages conveyed by media, views the character of Rourke as being motivated by "capitalist greed" when he pursues "his own financial gain" in spite of the knowledge that "his theft [of the crystal] will lead to the destruction of [Atlantis]".<ref>[[#Booker09|Booker 2009, p. 68.]]</ref> Religion journalist Mark Pinsky, in his exploration of moral and spiritual themes in popular Disney films, says that "it is impossible to read the movie ... any other way" than as "a devastating, unrelenting attack on capitalism and [[American imperialism]]".<ref>[[#Pinsky04|Pinsky 2004, p. 202.]]</ref> Max Messier of [[AMC Networks|FilmCritic.com]] observes, "Disney even manages to lambast the capitalist lifestyle of the adventurers intent on uncovering the lost city. Damn the imperialists!"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmcritic.com/reviews/2001/atlantis-the-lost-empire/ |title=''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' |first=Max |last=Messier |date=June 12, 2001 |work=FilmCritic.com |publisher=[[AMC Networks]] |access-date=July 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206131254/http://www.filmcritic.com/reviews/2001/atlantis-the-lost-empire/ |archive-date=February 6, 2012  }}</ref> According to Booker, the film also "delivers a rather [[segregationist]] moral" by concluding with the discovery of the Atlanteans kept secret from other surface-dwellers in order to maintain a separation between the two highly divergent cultures.<ref>[[#Booker09|Booker 2009, p. 69.]]</ref> Others saw ''Atlantis'' as an interesting look at [[utopia]]n philosophy of the sort found in classic works of science fiction by [[H. G. Wells]] and Jules Verne.<ref>[[#Montalbano10|Montalbano 2010, p. 183.]]</ref>

===''Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water'' controversy===
When the film was released, some viewers noticed that ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' was similar to the 1990-91 [[anime]] ''[[Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water]]'', particularly in its character design, setting, and story.<ref name=Probe>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2001-05-15|title=Probing the ''Atlantis'' Mystery|first=Lee|last=Zion|date=May 15, 2001|work=[[Anime News Network]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629004303/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2001-05-15|archive-date=June 29, 2011|url-status=live|access-date=July 15, 2012}}</ref> The similarities, as noted by viewers in both Japan and America, were strong enough for its production company [[Gainax]] to be called to sue for [[plagiarism]]. According to Gainax member [[Yasuhiro Takeda]], they only refrained from doing so because the decision belonged to parent companies [[NHK]] and [[Toho]].<ref name=Notenki>{{cite news|url=https://www.gwern.net/docs/eva/2002-takeda-notenkimemoirs|title=The Notenki Memoirs: Studio Gainax And The Men Who Created ''Evangelion''|first=Takeda|last=Yasuhiro|date=March 25, 2019|work=Gwern|access-date=October 29, 2019|archive-date=November 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121215358/https://www.gwern.net/docs/eva/2002-takeda-notenkimemoirs|url-status=live}}</ref> Another Gainax worker, [[Hiroyuki Yamaga]], was quoted in an interview in 2000 as saying: "We actually tried to get NHK to pick a fight with Disney, but even the National Television Network of Japan didn't dare to mess with Disney and their lawyers. [...] We actually did say that but we wouldn't actually take them to court. We would be so terrified about what they would do to them in return that we wouldn't dare."<ref name=Notenki/>

Although Disney never responded formally to those claims, co-director Kirk Wise posted on a Disney animation [[Usenet newsgroup|newsgroup]] in May 2001, "Never heard of ''Nadia'' till it was mentioned in this [newsgroup]. Long after we'd finished production, I might add." He claimed both ''Atlantis'' and ''Nadia'' were inspired, in part, by the 1870 Jules Verne novel ''[[Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas]]''.<ref>[[#Patten04|Patten 2004, p. 187.]]</ref> However, speaking about the clarification, Lee Zion from ''[[Anime News Network]]'' wrote, "There are too many similarities ''not'' connected with ''20,000 Leagues'' for the whole thing to be coincidence."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2001-07-19|title=''Nadia'' vs. ''Atlantis'', Revisited!|first=Lee|last=Zion|date=July 19, 2001|work=[[Anime News Network]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629004315/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2001-07-19|archive-date=June 29, 2011|url-status=live|access-date=July 15, 2012}}</ref> As such, the whole affair ultimately entered popular culture as a convincing case of plagiarism.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbr.com/hollywood-ripped-off-anime/|title=L10 Times Hollywood Ripped Off Anime (And 10 Times It Was Vice Versa): Hollywood: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (Nadia/Castle In The Sky)|first= Reuben |last=Baron|date=April 3, 2015|work=CBR|access-date=December 10, 2021|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112031254/https://www.cbr.com/hollywood-ripped-off-anime/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://kotaku.com/some-say-frozen-ripped-off-a-japanese-anime-heres-why-1548623784|title=Some Say Frozen Ripped Off a Japanese Anime. Here's Why.|first=Brian|last=Ashcraft|date=March 21, 2014|work=[[Kotaku]]|access-date=October 29, 2019|archive-date=October 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031195357/https://kotaku.com/some-say-frozen-ripped-off-a-japanese-anime-heres-why-1548623784|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=cbr>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbr.com/hollywood-ripped-off-anime/|title=10 Times Hollywood Ripped Off Anime (And 10 Times It Was Vice Versa)|first=Reuben|last=Baron|date=July 17, 2018|work=[[Comic Book Resources]]|access-date=October 29, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112031254/https://www.cbr.com/hollywood-ripped-off-anime/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, Reuben Baron from ''[[Comic Book Resources]]'' added to Zion's comment stating, "Verne didn't specifically imagine magic crystal-based technology, something featured in both the Disney movie and the too similar anime. The Verne inspiration also doesn't explain the designs being suspiciously similar to ''Nadia'''s."<ref name=cbr/>

Critics also saw parallels with the 1986 film ''[[Laputa: Castle in the Sky]]'' from [[Hayao Miyazaki]] and [[Studio Ghibli]] (which also featured magic crystals, and ''Atlantis'' directors Trousdale and Wise both acknowledged Miyazaki's works as a major influence on their own work)<ref name=Probe/> and with the 1994 film ''[[Stargate (film)|Stargate]]'' as Milo's characteristics were said to resemble those of [[Daniel Jackson (Stargate)|Daniel Jackson]], the protagonist of ''Stargate'' and its spinoff television series ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' — which coincidentally launched its own spinoff, titled ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]''; the plot of the 1994 film is also paralleled involving a group visiting an unknown world, a fictional language made for the other world's people, the main protagonist having apparent knowledge of the people's culture, falling in love with one of the female locals and electing to stay behind when the others return home.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gateworld.net/opinion/columns/gatewatch/review_atlantis_the_lost_e.shtml|title=Review: ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire''|first=Darren|last=Sumner|publisher=Gateworld|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723134310/http://www.gateworld.net/opinion/columns/gatewatch/review_atlantis_the_lost_e.shtml|archive-date=July 23, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=July 15, 2012|quote=In 1994, Dr. Daniel Jackson decoded an ancient language and unlocked the secrets of the Stargate, sending him and a military unit across the universe to a lost colony of humans. And in 2001, he did it again – decoding the ancient Atlantean language to launch a quest to find the lost continent of Atlantis.}}</ref>

===Accolades {{anchor|Awards}}===
{| class="plainrowheaders wikitable" style="align:center;"
|-
! scope="col"| Award
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Name
! scope="col"| Result
|-
| rowspan="7"| [[29th Annie Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://annieawards.org/29thwinners.html |title=Legacy: 29th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (2001) |publisher=International Animated Film Society |access-date=August 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727191131/http://annieawards.org/29thwinners.html |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> || Individual Achievement in Directing || Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise || {{nom}}
|-
| Individual Achievement in Storyboarding || Chris Ure || {{nom}}
|-
| Individual Achievement in Production Design || David Goetz || {{nom}}
|-
| Individual Achievement in Effects Animation || Marlon West || {{nom}}
|-
| Individual Achievement in Voice Acting – Female || Florence Stanley || {{nom}}
|-
| Individual Achievement in Voice Acting – Male || Leonard Nimoy || {{nom}}
|-
| Individual Achievement for Music Score || James Newton Howard || {{nom}}
|-
| [[DVD Exclusive Awards|2002 DVD Exclusive Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.videopremiereawards.com/HTML/VPAwards2002Winners.html|title=2002 DVD Exclusive Winners|publisher=[[Reed Business Information]]|access-date=August 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040913185325/http://www.videopremiereawards.com/HTML/VPAwards2002Winners.html|archive-date=September 13, 2004 }}</ref> || Original Retrospective Documentary || Michael Pellerin || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Motion Picture Sound Editors|2002 Golden Reel Award]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mixonline.com/sound4picture/film_tv/audio_black_hawk_down/ |title=''Black Hawk Down'' Among MPSE Winners |first=Sarah |last=Benzuly |date=June 1, 2002 |work=[[Mix (magazine)|Mix]] |access-date=August 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920180058/http://mixonline.com/sound4picture/film_tv/audio_black_hawk_down/ |archive-date=September 20, 2012  }}</ref> || Best Sound Editing – Animated Feature Film || Gary Rydstrom, Michael Silvers, Mary Helen Leasman, John K. Carr, Shannon Mills, Ken Fischer, David C. Hughes, and Susan Sanford || {{won}}
|-
| [[Online Film Critics Society Awards 2001]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ofcs.rottentomatoes.com/pages/awards/2001nominees|title=OFCS Awards for 2001 Nominees|publisher=[[Online Film Critics Society]]|access-date=August 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020219080219/http://ofcs.rottentomatoes.com/pages/awards/2001nominees|archive-date=February 19, 2002}}</ref> || [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Film|Best Animated Feature]] || || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2002 Political Film Society<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polfilms.com/atlantis.html|title=''Atlantis: The Lost Empire''|publisher=[[Political Film Society]]|access-date=August 30, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013183919/http://www.polfilms.com/atlantis.html|archive-date=October 13, 2013}}</ref> || [[Political Film Society Award for Democracy|Democracy]] || || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Political Film Society Award for Human Rights|Human Rights]] || || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Political Film Society Award for Peace|Peace]] || || {{nom}}
|-
| [[World Soundtrack Academy|World Soundtrack Awards]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/belgian-film-fest-to-host-world-soundtrack-awards-78485/|title=Belgian Film Fest to Host World Soundtrack Awards|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=September 5, 2001|access-date=December 10, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712070309/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/78485/belgian-film-fest-to-host-world-soundtrack-awards|archive-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> || [[World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film|Best Original Song for Film]] || Diane Warren and James Newton Howard || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Young Artist Award]]s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms23A.htm |title=Twenty-Third Annual Young Artist Awards 2002 |publisher=[[Young Artist Foundation]] |access-date=August 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903210759/http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms23A.htm |archive-date=September 3, 2014 }}</ref> || Best Feature Family Film – Drama || Walt Disney Feature Animation || {{nom}}
|}
<!-- PLACE EXTRA AWARDS ABOVE -->

==Related works==
{{main|Atlantis (franchise)}}
''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' was meant to inspire an [[animated television series]] entitled ''Team Atlantis'', which would have presented the further adventures of its characters. The series would have been akin to an animated [[steampunk]] version of ''[[The X-Files]]'' and feature a [[crossover (storyline)|crossover]] with ''[[Gargoyles (TV series)|Gargoyles]]''. However, because of the film's underperformance at the box office, the series was not produced.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/atlantis-the-lost-empire-sequel-details-revealed/|title=Exclusive: 'Atlantis: The Lost Empire' Co-Director Kirk Wise Reveals Details of Proposed Sequel|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|date=June 5, 2020|access-date=March 26, 2022|archive-date=March 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326165558/https://collider.com/atlantis-the-lost-empire-sequel-details-revealed/|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 20, 2003, Disney released a [[direct-to-video]] sequel titled ''[[Atlantis: Milo's Return]]'', consisting of three episodes planned for the aborted series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/atlantis2.php |title=Atlantis: Milo's Return |first=Michael |last=Rankins |date=July 31, 2003 |publisher=[[DVD Verdict]] |access-date=August 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822064947/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/atlantis2.php |archive-date=August 22, 2011 }}</ref>

[[Disneyland]] planned to revive its [[Submarine Voyage]] ride with an ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' theme with elements from the movie. These plans were canceled and the attraction was re-opened in 2007 as the [[Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage]], its theme based on the 2003 [[Pixar]] film ''[[Finding Nemo]]'', which was far more successful commercially and critically.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-trw-nemo11jun11,0,841709,full.story|title=Disney Brings Submarine Ride Back from the Depths|first=Kimi|last=Yoshino|date=June 11, 2007|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=July 4, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105202736/http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-trw-nemo11jun11,0,841709,full.story|archive-date=November 5, 2012}}</ref> In addition, after the Submarine Voyage's [[Magic Kingdom]] counterpart, [[20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage]], closed down in 1994, four years before Disneyland's, there were proposals of a new attraction that would take its place, with one of them a volcano attraction inspired by that film's Vulcania location, being approved for the Magic Kingdom's [[Adventureland (Disney)#Magic Kingdom|Adventureland]] area. Around 1999, during development of ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'', it was decided that it would be themed to the movie, with it taking place in 1916, two years after the film's events. The ride would have focused on Preston Whitmore, a character from the film, seeking to make Atlantis existence public and offer expeditions to visitors in newly developed vehicles. However, due to mishaps, the vehicles would be forced to make a detour through the lava-filled caverns of the volcano. The attraction would have used a unique hybrid ride system, in which it would start as a standard coaster before the trains hook up to a suspended track midway through to fly through the caverns. The attraction would have been accessed by a new canyon path in between [[Pirates of the Caribbean (attraction)|Pirates of the Caribbean]] and a re-routed [[Jungle Cruise]] that would have led to a Whitmore Enterprises base camp at the edge of the [[Walt Disney World Railroad]] path, with the mountain itself being built outside the berm. However, like the previous Submarine Voyage retheme, the ride was cancelled due to the film's disappointment in the box office.<ref>
{{Cite web|url=https://wdwnt.com/2020/05/going-down-in-flames-the-story-of-atlantis-fire-mountain-at-the-magic-kingdom/,%20https://wdwnt.com/2020/05/going-down-in-flames-the-story-of-atlantis-fire-mountain-at-the-magic-kingdom/|title=Going Down in Flames: The Story of "Atlantis" Fire Mountain at the Magic Kingdom - WDW News Today|date=May 3, 2020|website=wdwnt.com}}</ref>

===Soundtrack===
{{main|Atlantis: The Lost Empire (soundtrack)}}
The [[Atlantis: The Lost Empire (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] to ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' was released on May 22, 2001. It consists primarily of James Newton Howard's score and includes "[[Where the Dream Takes You]]", written by Howard and [[Diane Warren]] and performed by [[Mýa]]. It was also available in a limited edition of 20,000 numbered copies with a unique [[Lenticular printing|3D album cover]] insert depicting the Leviathan from the film. A rare promotional edition (featuring 73 minutes of material, compared to the 53 minutes on standard commercial editions) was intended only for [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] voters but was [[Bootleg recording|bootlegged]] and distributed with fan-created artwork.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/atlantis.html|title=Filmtracks: ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire''|date=May 21, 2001|publisher=[[Filmtracks.com]]|access-date=August 8, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710121111/http://filmtracks.com/titles/atlantis.html|archive-date=July 10, 2014}}{{Rating|4|5}}</ref> The Japanese release has "Crystal Vine", written by [[Dreams Come True (band)|DREAMS COME TRUE]] play during the end credits.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.uta-net.com/song/20600/ | title=「crystal vine/DREAMS COME TRUE」の歌詞 って「イイネ！」 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Atlantis: The Lost Empire (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack/Japanese Version) by James Newton Howard on Apple Music |date=2001-10-31 |url=https://music.apple.com/jp/album/atlantis-the-lost-empire-original-motion-picture/1455262659 |access-date=2024-05-02 |language=en-US |archive-date=May 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502140502/https://music.apple.com/jp/album/atlantis-the-lost-empire-original-motion-picture/1455262659 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Video games===
There are several video games based on the film. ''[[Atlantis: The Lost Empire – Search for the Journal]]'' and ''[[Atlantis: The Lost Empire – Trial by Fire]]'' were developed by [[Zombie Studios]] and published by [[Disney Interactive]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/02/atlantis-the-lost-empire-search-for-the-journal|title=''Atlantis: The Lost Empire—Search for the Journal'' (PC)|first=Dan|last=Adams|date=April 2, 2001|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=May 15, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219191037/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/02/atlantis-the-lost-empire-search-for-the-journal|archive-date=February 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/07/atlantis-the-lost-empire-trial-by-fire|title=''Atlantis: The Lost Empire—Trial by Fire'' (PC)|first=Dan|last=Adams|date=June 7, 2001|website=IGN|access-date=August 8, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219191140/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/07/atlantis-the-lost-empire-trial-by-fire|archive-date=February 19, 2014}}</ref> Both games were released exclusively for [[Microsoft Windows]] computers. Disney distributed over 12 million discs with a demo version of ''Search for the Journal'' in Kellogg's cereal boxes and other promotional venues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/27/cds-n-cereal|title=CDs 'n' Cereal|author=IGN Staff|website=IGN|date=April 27, 2001|access-date=May 15, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219190954/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/27/cds-n-cereal|archive-date=February 19, 2014}}</ref> ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire – The Lost Games'' was released by Disney Interactive for children ages 5 and up, and was compatible with both Windows and [[Classic Mac OS]] computers.

''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' is an [[action-adventure game]] developed by [[Eurocom Entertainment Software]] and published by [[Sony Computer Entertainment]] for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] console. The player controls Milo, Audrey, Molière, Kida, and Vinny as they traverse Atlantis, unlocking its secrets. Some features in the game unlock others (such as a movie) by finding items hidden throughout the game.<ref name=IGNPS>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/07/17/disneys-atlantis-the-lost-empire|title=''Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' (PlayStation)|first=David|last=Zdyrko|date=July 17, 2001|website=IGN|access-date=May 15, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219190917/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/07/17/disneys-atlantis-the-lost-empire|archive-date=February 19, 2014}}</ref> [[THQ]] released ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' for the [[Game Boy Advance]] and [[Game Boy Color]]. On Game Boy Color, it is a [[platform game]] developed by Eurocom Entertainment Software in which the player controls Milo, Audrey, Molière, and Vinny on a quest to discover Atlantis. On Game Boy Advance, it is a platform game developed by [[3d6 Games]] that hinges on searching and collecting crystals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010928/280141_1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011216190823/http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010928/280141_1.html|title=THQ Ships ''Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' for Game Boy Advance|website=[[Business Wire]]|publisher=[[Berkshire Hathaway]]|via=[[Yahoo! Finance|Yahoo.com]]|archive-date=December 16, 2001|date=September 28, 2001|access-date=June 14, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/disneys-atlantis-the-lost-empire/|title=Atlantis: The Lost Empire|publisher=[[GameSpy]]|access-date=May 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051110100942/http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/disneys-atlantis-the-lost-empire/|archive-date=November 10, 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/games/atlantis-the-lost-empire/gbc-16615|title=Atlantis: The Lost Empire - Game Boy Color|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=May 15, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219191124/http://www.ign.com/games/atlantis-the-lost-empire/gbc-16615|archive-date=February 19, 2014}}</ref>

==Legacy==
On June 15, 2021, Disney posted on [[Twitter]]: "20 years ago today, Milo Thatch journeyed to Atlantis.  Happy anniversary to this epic 2001 adventure!"<ref>{{Cite web|title=Disney on Twitter: "20 years ago today, Milo Thatch journeyed to Atlantis. Happy Anniversary to this epic 2001 adventure! #DisneyDecades / Twitter|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/disney/status/1404846169944174596|access-date=June 20, 2021|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-date=July 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724220436/https://mobile.twitter.com/disney/status/1404846169944174596|url-status=live}}</ref> A limited commemorative pin was also released by the company for the anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Payne·June 1|first1=Owen|last2=Read|first2=2021·1 Min|date=June 1, 2021|title=PHOTOS: New Limited Release "Loki" and "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" 20th Anniversary Pins Available at Walt Disney World|url=https://wdwnt.com/2021/06/photos-new-limited-release-loki-and-atlantis-the-lost-empire-20th-anniversary-pins-available-at-walt-disney-world/|access-date=June 20, 2021|website=WDW News Today|language=en-US|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203939/https://wdwnt.com/2021/06/photos-new-limited-release-loki-and-atlantis-the-lost-empire-20th-anniversary-pins-available-at-walt-disney-world/|url-status=live}}</ref> Cast and crew of the movie also celebrated its anniversary by partaking in a 5-hour [[livestream]] on YouTube which had been organized by fans of the film through several platforms as an event and was planned the year before in advance.<ref>{{Citation|title=Atlantis: The Lost Empire's 20th Anniversary Fan Celebration (6/15/21)| date=June 15, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecABcThwkW4|language=en|access-date=June 20, 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624214331/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecABcThwkW4|url-status=live}}</ref> A year later, the cast and crew reunited again on another livestream as part of ''The Tammy Tuckey Show'' who had also hosted the previous year's stream.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIRnP6vbdXs | title="ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE" 20th Anniversary - Cast & Crew Interview - the Tammy Tuckey Show | website=[[YouTube]] | date=June 18, 2022 | access-date=September 10, 2023 | archive-date=September 19, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919111811/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIRnP6vbdXs | url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Atlantis in popular culture]]
* ''[[20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954 film)|20,000 Leagues Under the Sea]]''
* [[Indiana Jones]]
* [[List of underwater science fiction works]]
* [[Kimba the White Lion#Claims of resemblance to The Lion King|''Kimba the White Lion'' and ''The Lion King'' controversy]], a similar plagiarism controversy
* ''[[The Road to El Dorado]]'', another animated film which has gained a [[cult following]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
===Books===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book | last = Booker | first = M. Keith | title = Disney, Pixar, and the Hidden Messages of Children's Films | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=jD9_0jxVmqUC | year = 2009 | publisher = [[Greenwood Publishing Group|Praeger]] | location = [[Westport, Connecticut|Westport, CT]] | isbn = 978-0-313-37672-6 | ref = Booker09 | access-date = October 23, 2015 | archive-date = May 13, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160513051955/https://books.google.com/books?id=jD9_0jxVmqUC | url-status = live }}
* {{cite book |last = Kurtti | first = Jeff | title = Atlantis: The Lost Empire—The Illustrated Script | year = 2001 | publisher = [[Disney Press]] | location = [[Burbank, California|Burbank, CA]] | isbn = 978-0-7868-5327-4 | ref = Kurtti01}}
* {{cite book | editor1-last = Lavery | editor1-first = David | editor2-last = Burkhead | editor2-first = Cynthia | title = Joss Whedon: Conversations | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=IPNSR9PQ76gC&q=atlantis | year = 2011 | publisher = [[University Press of Mississippi]] | location = [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson, MS]] | isbn = 978-1-60473-923-7 | ref = Lavery11 | access-date = October 23, 2015 | archive-date = June 24, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160624053530/https://books.google.com/books?id=IPNSR9PQ76gC&q=atlantis | url-status = live }}
* {{cite book | last = Montalbano | first = Dave | title = The Adventures of Cinema Dave in the Florida Motion Picture World | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=hvfExNxOXpsC | year = 2010 | publisher = [[Xlibris]] | isbn = 978-1-4500-2396-2 | ref = Montalbano10 | access-date = October 23, 2015 | archive-date = April 25, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160425214443/https://books.google.com/books?id=hvfExNxOXpsC | url-status = live }}
* {{cite book | last = Patten | first = Fred | author-link = Fred Patten | title = Watching Anime, Reading Manga: 25 Years of Essays and Reviews | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=81Y1TVYQSrEC&pg=PA185 | year = 2004 | publisher = [[Stone Bridge Press]] | location = [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley, CA]] | pages = 185–189 | chapter = Simba–Kimba Redux? The ''Nadia'' Versus ''Atlantis'' Affair | isbn = 978-1-880656-92-1 | ref = Patten04 | access-date = October 23, 2015 | archive-date = April 29, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160429100916/https://books.google.com/books?id=81Y1TVYQSrEC&pg=PA185 | url-status = live }}
* {{cite book | last = Pinsky | first = Mark I. | title = The Gospel According to Disney: Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=YGtbYTyulb4C&pg=PA194 | year = 2004 | publisher = [[Westminster John Knox Press]] | location = [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville, KY]] | isbn = 978-0-664-22591-9 | pages = 194–202 | chapter = Chapter 31: ''Atlantis'' (2001): Adventure Capitalism | ref = Pinsky04 | access-date = October 23, 2015 | archive-date = April 24, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160424103124/https://books.google.com/books?id=YGtbYTyulb4C&pg=PA194 | url-status = live }}
* {{cite book | author = Plato | author-link = Plato | others = Robert Gregg Bury, trans | title = Plato; in Twelve Volumes, with an English Translation—Vol. 9: Timaeus, Critias, Cleitophon, Menexenus, Epistles | url = https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0180:text=Tim. | year = 1929 | orig-year = c. 360 BCE | publisher = [[Harvard University Press]] | location = [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge, MA]] | oclc = 24252251 | chapter = ''Timaeus'' | ref = Plato | access-date = February 20, 2021 | archive-date = March 8, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210308112211/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0180:text=Tim. | url-status = live }}
* {{cite book | last = Raugust |first = Karen | title = The Animation Business Handbook | year = 2004 | publisher = [[St. Martin's Press]] | location = New York City, NY | isbn = 978-1-4299-6228-5 | ref = Raugust04}}
{{Refend}}

===DVD media===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite video | people = [[Don Hahn]] (prod.), [[Gary Trousdale]] (dir.), & [[Kirk Wise]] (dir.) | title = Atlantis: The Lost Empire—Audio Commentary | medium = DVD | edition = Collector's | series = Disc 1 of 2 | date = January 29, 2002 | publisher = [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]] | location = [[Burbank, California|Burbank, CA]] | id = {{UPC|786936163872}} | ref = DVD1}}
* {{cite video | people = Various cast and crew members | title = Atlantis: The Lost Empire—Supplemental Features| medium = DVD | edition = Collector's | series = Disc 2 of 2 | date = January 29, 2002 | publisher = Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment | location = Burbank, CA | id = {{UPC|786936163872}} | ref = DVD2}}
{{Refend}}

===Periodicals===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite news | title = ''Nemo''-like Stories Pulling Folks into Animated Movies | last1 = Vancheri | first1 = Barbara | last2 = Weiskind | first2 = Ron |newspaper = [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] | page = D–2 | date = July 17, 2003 | ref = Vancheri}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q318975|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no|species=no|c=Category:Atlantis: The Lost Empire}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://archive.org/details/atlantis-script-1-first-draft The first draft of the script by Tab Murphy]
* {{IMDb title|0230011|Atlantis: The Lost Empire}}
* {{TCMDb title|450954|Atlantis: The Lost Empire}}
* {{mojo title|atlantis|Atlantis: The Lost Empire}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|atlantis_the_lost_empire|Atlantis: The Lost Empire}}
* {{Metacritic film|title=Atlantis: The Lost Empire}}

{{Atlantis: The Lost Empire}}
{{Disney theatrical animated features}}
{{Walt Disney Animation Studios}}
{{Gary Trousdale}}
{{Kirk Wise}}
{{Don Hahn}}
{{Joss Whedon}}
{{Portal bar|Animation|Cartoon|Disney|Film}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Atlantis (franchise)]]
[[Category:2001 films]]
[[Category:2001 American animated films]]
[[Category:2001 children's films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2001 science fiction action films]]
[[Category:2000s action adventure films]]
[[Category:2000s science fiction adventure films]]
[[Category:Fictional-language films]]
[[Category:Films set in 1914]]
[[Category:Films set in Atlantis]]
[[Category:Films set in the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Films set in subterranea]]
[[Category:Animated films about father–daughter relationships]]
[[Category:Animated films about princesses]]
[[Category:Animated films set in the 1910s]]
[[Category:Animated films set in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Animated films set in museums]]
[[Category:Disney controversies]]
[[Category:Films directed by Kirk Wise]]
[[Category:Films directed by Gary Trousdale]]
[[Category:Films produced by Don Hahn]]
[[Category:Films scored by James Newton Howard]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Tab Murphy]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Gary Trousdale]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Joss Whedon]]
[[Category:Films involved in plagiarism controversies]]
[[Category:Steampunk films]]
[[Category:Walt Disney Animation Studios films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction adventure films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction action films]]
[[Category:English-language action adventure films]]