Tarzan
A man raised by gorillas must decide where he really belongs when he discovers he is a human.
Despite a considerable budget of $130.0M, Tarzan became a solid performer, earning $448.2M worldwide—a 245% return.
1 Oscar. 11 wins & 23 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Tarzan
Jane Porter
Kerchak
Kala
Clayton
Professor Archimedes Q. Porter
Terk
Tantor
Main Cast & Characters
Tarzan
Played by Tony Goldwyn
A man raised by gorillas who must choose between his jungle family and his human heritage when explorers arrive.
Jane Porter
Played by Minnie Driver
A curious and adventurous British naturalist who falls in love with Tarzan while studying gorillas in Africa.
Kerchak
Played by Lance Henriksen
The fierce silverback gorilla leader who reluctantly allows Tarzan to remain with the troop but never fully accepts him.
Kala
Played by Glenn Close
Tarzan's adoptive gorilla mother who rescued and raised him with unconditional love despite Kerchak's objections.
Clayton
Played by Brian Blessed
A treacherous hunter posing as Jane's guide who plots to capture the gorillas and exploit them for profit.
Professor Archimedes Q. Porter
Played by Nigel Hawthorne
Jane's absent-minded but lovable father, a scientist eager to study gorillas in their natural habitat.
Terk
Played by Rosie O'Donnell
Tarzan's boisterous gorilla best friend who provides comic relief and loyal friendship throughout his life.
Tantor
Played by Wayne Knight
A neurotic and paranoid elephant who becomes Tarzan's unlikely friend despite his many phobias.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Kala the gorilla loses her baby to Sabor the leopard. Establishes the loss and need that will drive her to adopt Tarzan.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Adult Tarzan defeats Sabor, finally earning respect from the gorillas. However, this victory is disrupted by the arrival of humans (Professor Porter, Jane, and Clayton) - the first humans Tarzan has ever seen.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Tarzan makes the active choice to visit the humans at their camp despite Kerchak's explicit orders. He crosses into their world, leaving the gorilla territory behind., moving from reaction to action.
At 43 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False victory: Tarzan takes Jane to see the gorillas, breaking Kerchak's greatest rule. Jane is overjoyed and accepted by the gorillas. Tarzan feels he can have both worlds - but this sets up the coming betrayal., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 65 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Tarzan leaves with the humans, abandoning his family. Clayton's men attack and cage the gorillas. Kerchak is shot protecting the family. Whiff of death: Tarzan's choice has led to the destruction of his gorilla family., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 69 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Synthesis moment: Tarzan realizes his identity isn't about being gorilla or human - it's about protecting his family. He takes his father's knife and returns to save the gorillas, combining both worlds., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Tarzan's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Tarzan against these established plot points, we can identify how Kevin Lima utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Tarzan within the animation genre.
Kevin Lima's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Kevin Lima films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Tarzan exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Kevin Lima filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll. For more Kevin Lima analyses, see 102 Dalmatians, A Goofy Movie and Enchanted.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Kala the gorilla loses her baby to Sabor the leopard. Establishes the loss and need that will drive her to adopt Tarzan.
Theme
Kerchak tells Kala that the human baby "will never be one of us." The central thematic question: Can Tarzan belong to a world he wasn't born into?
Worldbuilding
Kala finds and adopts baby Tarzan after his parents are killed. Young Tarzan grows up struggling to fit in with the gorilla troop, constantly trying to prove himself despite being different.
Disruption
Adult Tarzan defeats Sabor, finally earning respect from the gorillas. However, this victory is disrupted by the arrival of humans (Professor Porter, Jane, and Clayton) - the first humans Tarzan has ever seen.
Resistance
Tarzan debates whether to approach the humans. He saves Jane from baboons, experiences attraction and curiosity. Kala warns him to stay away, but his fascination grows. He struggles between his gorilla family and his human nature.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Tarzan makes the active choice to visit the humans at their camp despite Kerchak's explicit orders. He crosses into their world, leaving the gorilla territory behind.
Mirror World
Jane begins teaching Tarzan about human civilization. She becomes the mirror showing him his true identity - she represents the human world he's been denied and the connection he's been missing.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Tarzan learning to be human. He discovers human culture, music, and connection with Jane. The playful "Strangers Like Me" sequence shows Tarzan exploring his humanity and falling in love.
Midpoint
False victory: Tarzan takes Jane to see the gorillas, breaking Kerchak's greatest rule. Jane is overjoyed and accepted by the gorillas. Tarzan feels he can have both worlds - but this sets up the coming betrayal.
Opposition
The humans must leave. Jane asks Tarzan to come to England. Clayton manipulates Tarzan into revealing the gorillas' location by exploiting his desire to keep Jane. Kerchak banishes Tarzan after discovering the betrayal.
Collapse
Tarzan leaves with the humans, abandoning his family. Clayton's men attack and cage the gorillas. Kerchak is shot protecting the family. Whiff of death: Tarzan's choice has led to the destruction of his gorilla family.
Crisis
Tarzan's dark night aboard the ship. Kala reveals his true past - shows him his human parents' treehouse. Tarzan must process who he really is and what family truly means.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Synthesis moment: Tarzan realizes his identity isn't about being gorilla or human - it's about protecting his family. He takes his father's knife and returns to save the gorillas, combining both worlds.
Synthesis
The finale battle. Tarzan, Jane, and Porter fight Clayton and free the gorillas. Tarzan uses both human intelligence and gorilla strength. Clayton dies in the vines. Kerchak dies but accepts Tarzan as his son and makes him leader of the family.
Transformation
Mirror of opening: Where Kala once chose between species to save a baby, Jane now chooses to stay in the jungle with Tarzan. Tarzan stands as leader of his family, finally belonging - not as gorilla or human, but as himself.