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Entertainment • Film

Treasure Planet

Treasure Planet is a 2002 American animated science fiction adventure film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Treasure Planet is a 2002 American animated science fiction adventure film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a futuristic adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island, set in outer space. The film was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Premise

The story follows teenage Jim Hawkins as he joins an interstellar voyage in search of legendary treasure. The plot adapts the characters and themes of Treasure Island into a science-fiction setting.

Production

Treasure Planet was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. Disney describes the film as using a futuristic setting while retaining the core adventure structure of Stevenson’s novel.

Release and reception

The film was released on November 27, 2002, including a simultaneous release in regular and IMAX theaters. It received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.

Legacy

Treasure Planet is often noted for its distinctive blend of hand-drawn animation and science-fiction worldbuilding. It has remained a well-known title within Disney’s animated catalogue.

Key facts

  • The film reimagines Treasure Island as a space adventure.
  • It was Disney’s 43rd animated feature film.
  • Treasure Planet was released simultaneously in regular and IMAX theaters.
  • The voice cast includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, David Hyde Pierce, Emma Thompson, and Martin Short.
  • It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed in Canada by Walt Disney Pictures and is part of Disney’s internationally released animated catalogue, making it familiar to Canadian audiences through theatrical, home video, and television distribution.

Frequently asked questions

What is Treasure Planet?
Treasure Planet is a 2002 Disney animated science fiction adventure film based on Treasure Island.
Who directed Treasure Planet?
It was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements.
What is Treasure Planet based on?
It is a futuristic adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island.
When was Treasure Planet released?
It was released on November 27, 2002.
Was Treasure Planet nominated for any awards?
Yes. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

References

  1. D23 — https://d23.com/a-to-z/treasure-planet-film/
    Supports: Release date, directors, runtime, cast, IMAX release, and Academy Award nomination.
  2. Disney Movies — https://movies.disney.com/treasure-planet
    Supports: Official Disney description, release date, genre, directors, and cast.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Disney/Selected_article/14
    Supports: 2002 release, adaptation from Treasure Island, and simultaneous regular/IMAX theatrical release.