Common Sense Media Review
Kids will be drawn to Disney's fast-paced version.
Parents Need to Know
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Tarzan
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 20 parent reviews
Parents say this movie contains strong visuals and themes but has intense and potentially traumatizing scenes, making it unsuitable for very young or sensitive children. While many appreciate the animation and some positive messages, the dark moments, including depictions of violence and parental deaths, raise concerns regarding its G rating and the impact on younger viewers.
- intense themes
- not for young
- strong visuals
- parental deaths
- violence concerns
- age suitability
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 39 kid reviews
What's the Story?
TARZAN begins with two sets of mothers and fathers care for their babies. One set is human, shipwrecked, and making a new home for themselves in a tree. The other parents are gorillas, raising their baby in the gorilla community. When the human baby's parents and the baby gorilla are killed by a tiger, the gorilla mother, Kala (voiced by Glenn Close), adopts the human baby and raises him as her own. Her mate Kerchak, the leader of the gorillas, agrees reluctantly, but insists that the boy is an outsider, who can never be one of them. The boy, called Tarzan by Kala, is hurt by Kerchak's snub, and tries desperately to fit in. He hurtles through trees at lightning speed and even walks on his knuckles. He's comfortable in his world until more humans come ashore, bringing with them curiosities good and bad. While Jane (Minnie Driver) makes the human world tempting, the hunters and their cruelty draw him back to the jungle. Which life will he choose?
Is It Any Good?
Although there's some pretty serious peril and a few upsetting moments, most kids will be charmed by this version of the popular story. Disney's engaging animated epic owes as much to The Lion King and the tale of the ugly duckling as it does to the Johnny Weissmuller live-action series or the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels.
The storytelling is solid and the characters are memorable, especially Rosie O'Donnell as Tarzan's trouble-loving gorilla friend and Nigel Hawthorne as the bumbling professor. Kids will immediately be drawn in to this version because of its pace and action. Tarzan whips through trees and slides down their trunks like Tony Hawk (indeed the animators watched videos of skaters as inspiration). The music is catchy, too. Phil Collins won an Oscar for the tearjerker "You'll Be in My Heart."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Tarzan and his life between two worlds. Do you think he belongs with the apes or with humans? How did he adapt to life with the apes? Why wasn't he accepted right away? Why does an ape decide to raise Tarzan?
Have you seen any other versions of this story? Which do you like best?
The animators were inspired by skateboarders when they created Tarzan's scenes swinging through the trees. Can you see any skateboarding moves in the animation?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 27, 1999
- On DVD or streaming : October 18, 2005
- Cast : Glenn Close , Minnie Driver , Tony Goldwyn
- Directors : Chris Buck , Kevin Lima
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Walt Disney Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Book Characters , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : nothing that would offend parents for viewing by children
- Award : Academy Award
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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