The Complicated History Behind Disney Animation's Biggest Flop

Before "Treasure Planet" was even close to being released, some people inside Disney had expressed doubts. One notable critic was Michael Eisner, a man who had only pushed to have the film made at the behest of Roy E. Disney. According to the Los Angeles Times, after seeing an early cut of the film, he expressed doubt about the direction that the film had taken but at that point, it was too late to make changes without causing a significant delay.

Others also had concerns about "Treasure Planet," with a frequent issue being the main character of Jim Hawkins, voiced in the film by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Many within Disney were unconvinced about whether this protagonist would appeal to audiences as he was seen as grating and too moody to be relatable. Another notable problem was with the story itself — which was written by Clements, Musker, and Rob Edwards — and was widely believed to be unmemorable, especially in the second half of the film, which insiders reportedly thought lacked any emotional investment.

Speaking to the BBC, Edwards revealed how it was a difficult task to translate the story of "Treasure Island" to a futuristic science-fiction setting without losing the charm of the original story. The team also felt that the narrative would no longer work with Jim Hawkins staying at his original age, making him a teenager in an attempt to modernize him.