After “Buzz Lightyear” explored space to infinity and beyond last year, the new original animated film from Mickey Mouse’s house opts for a journey of sorts to the center of the Earth. The influence of Jules Verne’s classic is assumed and one of the starting points for a family saga that crosses eras, generations and realities in an adventure that doesn’t lack the visual dazzle associated with Disney studios. Directed by Don Hall and with Qui Nguyen as co-director and screenwriter – a duo that collaborates again after “Raya and the Last Dragon” (2021) -, “Estranho Mundo” joins the gallery of Disney characters a new clan, the Clades, decisive for humanity to have managed to prosper in Avalonia from the properties of a plant, used as an energy source. Estranho Mundo” data-title=”Estranho Mundo – There’s a Disney “Estranho Mundo” in cinemas: “We hope it can inspire discussions about the way we are treating our planet” – SAPO Mag”>
But stability turns out to be threatened with the discovery of an unknown land, which brings in parallel an unexpected reunion with the past. And it leads to a family reunion, not without some conflicts, crisscrossed with adaptation to a new reality, creatures and threats. With the voices of Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union and Lucy Liu in the main cast, “Estranho Mundo” joins action and adventure with a proposal for ecological reflection, in tune with the concerns of climate change off screens, and expands the embrace of the diversity of Disney productions in recent years – from the greater preponderance of non-Caucasian characters to the way it presents a teen who comes out as gay without drama (and surprisingly openly, given studios’ usually coy approaches to LGBTQIA+ issues). Estranho Mundo” data-title=”Estranho Mundo – There’s a Disney “Estranho Mundo” in cinemas: “We hope it can inspire discussions about the way we are treating our planet” – SAPO Mag”>
In an interview via Zoom, the directors and producer Roy Conli (“Big Hero 6 – The New Heroes”, “Entrelaçados”) reminded SAPO Mag of some steps of their creative adventure:SAPO Mag – “Strange World” is Disney’s 61st animated film. After 60 movies and universes, what new (and strange) world can we explore here?Don Hall – It’s a great action-adventure movie like “King Kong” or “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, but it also has a lot of heart and humor. I hope we can inspire some discussion about how we are treating our planet, our world, and what we are doing to ensure that the next generations live in a livable world.Roy Conli – I think it’s a wonderful story about family, adventure and excitement. A new and exciting world that no one has ever seen. I especially like that it’s a world we can only visit through animation. We could never do justice to this universe in a live-action movie. Roy ConliRoy Conli” data-title=”Roy Conli – There’s a ‘Neither World’ of Disney in theaters: “We hope it can inspire discussion about the way we’re treating our planet” – SAPO Mag”> Roy Conli
Was that environmental awareness present since the film started being planned? How did they develop it?Don Hall – For me, that was the great driving force of the film: talking about the environment. I thought about my children, the world they’re going to inherit, and there’s grim news about climate change, environmental threats, and I wanted to make a film that addressed that. But done in an allegorical way, and with a lot of action and adventure.Qui Nguyen – Undoubtedly. We want to create crazy and fantastic worlds, but that somehow also reflect the world we live in. But although we are talking about the environment as a central theme, we also want to open other windows to our world through very different characters, such as the people who inhabit our world.Was the portrayal of diversity – cultural, ethnic or sexual orientation – also a driving force right from the start?Roy Conli – Right from the start. We wanted to make a film that reflected the world we live in, the studio we work in and the street we live on. We make films for everyone and that is reflected here. Estranho Mundo” data-title=”Estranho Mundo – There’s a Disney “Estranho Mundo” in cinemas: “We hope it can inspire discussions about the way we are treating our planet” – SAPO Mag”>
Qui Nguyen – We work in a studio with some of the best animation professionals in the world and we wanted to have characters that everyone could relate to. We believe that everyone deserves their heroes and we are delighted to be able to add some to the Disney pantheon.Diversity is also reflected in the cast. Did any actor end up influencing the construction of your character in any way, in addition to giving you a voice?Roy Conli – Our actors are collaborators in the way we tell the stories. We don’t animate until we have the voices. Jake Gyllenhaal made a point, when he joined us, not to be a passive voice. He wanted to be a part of creating his character, like any great actor. He was an incredible contributor and so was everyone else. We want you to feel free to improvise and bring ideas, that’s what excites us. The more people collaborate, the greater the reflection of the world on the screen. Jake GyllenhaalJake Gyllenhaalcredits: Lusa, Mag” data-title=”Jake Gyllenhaal – There’s a Disney Strange World in theaters: “We hope it can inspire discussion about how we’re treating our planet” – SAPO Mag”> Jake Gyllenhaal credits: Lusa, Mag
Don, mentioned “King Kong” or “Raiders of the Lost Ark” as movies comparable to “Neither Strange World”. What other classic adventure stories have inspired you?Don Hall – I started with Jules Verne. For me, “Journey to the Center of the Earth” is the origin of action and adventure stories, at least the kind we created in the film, with a group of explorers in an unknown world in the interior of the planet. That was my main reference, along with “The Lost World”, by Arthur Conan Doyle, and “The Sixth Continent”, by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I consider this trio the great founders of the genre in literature. In cinema, “King Kong” was a pioneer. I hope we can honor the tradition of the genre… I think we did. I love the genre, it’s in my blood, and I think the film can be side by side with these sagas. And we tried to add greater thematic depth, talking about how we, as human beings, are living on our planet and what we have to do to guarantee a future for our children.What elements can’t be missing from a Disney movie that we also find in “Estranho Mundo”?Roy Conli – Entertaining is always our priority. Humor and heart too. One of the things Walt Disney said was that for every laugh, there should be a tear. And I think this movie has a big heart, I’ve seen it hundreds of times and I’m always very moved.“STRANGE WORLD” TRAILER: