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Starring: Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore and Bill Pulman
Director: Don Bluth and Gary Goldman
Rating: 8/10

3D animation and computer generated visual effects, combined with fantastic voice talents not only make Titan: AE an epic space saga that will enthrall audiences young and old alike, but will almost certainly prove to be a landmark in animated film.

The story is set in the 31st century and the Earth is on the brink of destruction. The film tracks the journey of Cale, played by Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting 1997, Dogma 1999, and The Talented Mr.Ripley 1999) the son of the creator of the Titan Project, a space ship designed to save the human race from marauding aliens. While his father saves the Titan, Cale escapes with the others and grows up alone in a deep space drifters’ colony inhabited mostly by mutants.

Fifteen years after the Earth’s destruction Cale is called upon to retrieve the Titan and salvage the remains of any hope for the human race’s survival, closely pursued by the Drej, the army of alien invaders who destroyed the Earth.

The plot is standard sci-fi fare but the treatment is exceptionally well done and unlike most animated features one never grows tired of the visuals.

The cast boasts more stars than your average solar system and features Drew Barrymore (Charlie’s Angels 2000) Bill Pulman (Independence Day 1996) Ron Perlman (Alien Resurrection 1997) John Leguizamo ( Chi-Chi in To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar 1995) and Nathan Lane (The Birdcage 1996). Adding voices to an animated film is said to be one of the most difficult feats an actor can perform, but the characterisations are as seamless as the combination of computer and hand drawn animation.

Directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman are no strangers to the animated film industry and have carved out reputations with collaborations on Anastasia (1997) All Dogs go to Heaven 1989) and Secret of NIMH (1983). Their style is unique in a genre where most films are very much alike.

In the turbulent wake of Japanese animated features like Pokémon and the Akira series, Hollywood has been slow to answer the Far-Eastern domination of this relatively new sub-genre of realistic and highly detailed futuristic animations.

Titan: AE is original and entertaining film-making and may very well be the platform that the American film industry uses to launch their own brand of this genre of film.