Titan A.E. 2000, Rated PG 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

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Starring Matt Damon, Bill Pullman, et al. Released to DVD on November 7, 2000.

Every two years or so, a non-Disney animated film will be released to critical aplomb and box office failure; think Anastasia, The Prince of Egypt and, now, Titan A.E. The reason for this phenomenon is not readily apparent--animated films can be as well made and financially successful as live-action films--it just seems as though without the Disney stamp of approval, animated features are looking at disaster. An adrenalized Bruckheimer-esque movie, Titan A.E. is one animated film that did not deserve this harsh treatment. After barely escaping from Earth, just before the dreg (pronounced dredge) vaporized the planet, Cale (voiced by Matt Damon) has spent his life since then drifting from space colony to space colony, honing is piloting skills along the way, much like a young, animated Luke Skywalker. Tracked down by Korso (Bill Pullman), Cale decides to join the hunt for the Titan A.E., a spaceship that is rumored to be the salvation of all humans. With breath taking design, particularly in the film's climax in an ice field, a sequence that pays homage to Orson Welles' hall of mirror sequence in The Lady From Shanghai, Titan A.E. was a refreshing surprise.