This year marks the 20th anniversary of The Road to El Dorado, the cult classic animated adventure film that many regard as a masterpiece of the early 2000s era of animation. Those who praise it, however, might be shocked to realize that, at the time of its release, The Road to El Dorado was a colossal failure, both critically and financially.
This makes one wonder why the film is remembered so fondly today. Similar films from this era don't receive this level of admiration, even critically acclaimed Dreamworks films, like The Prince of Egypt, don't receive this kind of attention. So what is it about The Road to El Dorado that makes people look back on it in a positive light?
2-D ANIMATION'S LAST HURRAH
In regards to theatrical animated features, traditional 2-D animation is increasingly uncommon. While Toy Story and Pixar established films could be entirely animated in a computer, it was the success of movies like Shrek that established that any studio could craft compelling animated stories with CGI. Even Disney, coming off its highly successful Renaissance Era, ended up abandoning its 2-D animated features after Treasure Planet bombed, only returning to the style for The Princess and the Frog and Winnie the Pooh.
It is perhaps because of this that many animation buffs initially returned to The Road to El Dorado, re-examining it given the context of it being one of Dreamworks' last 2-D films. The style the film used was unique for its time, making it a touchstone project in the history of animation.
THE MUSIC
Elton John might be one of the most famous musicians of all time, but for a time during the '90s, many kids growing up knew him as the guy who did the music in The Lion King. John deserves credit for being the man behind some of the greatest songs ever put in an animated feature, but that doesn't mean it's his best work in the medium. He did the music for The Road to El Dorado, only for it to be compared to The Lion King, which is unfair.
The Road to El Dorado's songs aren't as memorable as the classics featured in The Lion King, but they still stand on their own. The music captures the spirit of adventure the film is fueled by and manages to be snazzy fun. It's an underrated aspect of the movie that deserves more credit than it gets.
"A CAST OF SUPPORTING CHARACTERS"
When discussing The Road to El Dorado, three characters stand out: Tulio, Miguel, and Chel, played by the terrific Kevin Kline, Kenneth Brannagh, and Rosie Perez, respectfully. What's interesting about this trio is that they don't feel like traditional heroes in an adventure.
In his review, Roger Ebert claimed The Road to El Dorado "doesn't have a hero; it's about supporting characters." In many ways, this statement is the key to the film's prolonged success. Supporting characters often become fan-favorites because there can be a levity to them. While the main characters are caught up in the emotionally tough drama of the movie, the supporting characters can offer a bit of fun to the proceedings.
THE SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE (WITH FRIENDS)
Building on the prior point, the key to the film's success is how it captures the spirit of adventure and friendship. Many films attempt to be greater than the sum of their parts by exploring deeper themes or ideas. Some movies, like The Hunchback of Notre Dame, have an incredibly powerful theme or idea that is undercut by sloppily applied comic relief. However, The Road to El Dorado succeeds because the writers set out specifically to make a fun story about friendship and adventure -- and only that.
While many films try to show audiences the power of friendship or the bonds of platonic affection, The Road to El Dorado succeeds where many fail because it just shows two buddies going on an adventure, making friends with Chel along the way. It's identifiable without ever hammering in the messages of the film. While many critics argued the film's plot was unremarkable or redundant, it's exactly because of that that audiences become more invested in the characters. Their irreverent perspective on the world helps audiences really grow to love these characters.