Tarzan 1999 Archive ^new^
: Developed by artist/engineer Eric Daniels, Deep Canvas allowed artists to paint directly onto 3D wireframe geometry. The software tracked every brushstroke in 3D space, letting the camera fly through painted environments from any angle. : This innovation earned Disney a Technical Achievement Award
Ideal for Instagram or Facebook fans of the Disney Renaissance. tarzan 1999 archive
Unlike modern films that leak concept art daily on social media, Tarzan sits at a unique crossroads. It was the last major Disney film completed without the internet as the primary marketing tool. Consequently, the archive feels like opening a time capsule from 1998–1999. : Developed by artist/engineer Eric Daniels, Deep Canvas
It wasn't just a collection of concept art or deleted scenes. According to the rumors, the "Archive" was a secret server maintained by a rogue technician at Burbank, containing the raw, unfiltered experiments of the software—the revolutionary tech that allowed Tarzan to "surf" through 3D painted environments. Unlike modern films that leak concept art daily
The "archive" of Disney's 1999 encompasses a rich collection of production history, rare concept art, and digital preservation of the media that defined the film's release. As the 37th Disney animated feature, it marked a significant technological leap for the studio through the introduction of "Deep Canvas" software, which allowed for 3D-painted jungle environments. Digital & Media Archives Internet Archive
For years, the source code and raw Deep Canvas scene files were locked on Silicon Graphics workstations in the now-demolished Feature Animation building in Burbank. Archival leaks in the early 2010s revealed terabytes of unused data: alternate camera moves through the "Trashing the Camp" sequence, rotoscoped vine physics, and test renders of Kala the gorilla moving through fog-shrouded canyons. Much of this material was considered lost when Disney shifted fully to CGI, but fragments have resurfaced via private collectors and former animators. These assets form the holy grail of the archive—a missing link between hand-drawn humanity and digital depth.
Unlike the fictional "closed for cleaning" sign on Disney’s animated vault, the Tarzan archive is continually being rediscovered. In 2023, a former Disney intern uploaded 143 high-resolution production photos to Flickr. In 2024, a German fan found the original Phil Collins multi-tracks for "Two Worlds" in a flea market CD binder.
