As we reach different age thresholds it’s natural to look back on the experiences, for better or worse, that shaped who we are today. Some of those experiences may be major events, but some of them may be very subtle in nature. A role model in your life, a meaningful song, or a movie that connected with you in ways you didn’t quite understand. As I recently re-watched Treasure Planet for the first time in years I was slowly reminded of my crush and inspiration that had come from the character of Jim Hawkins. Of course the hair was a major inspiration to me but something about the character and film resonated deeply with my younger self. As an adult I was able to apply a deeper understanding of the movies unique elements and what specifically had appealed to me so much as a young boy. 

Although the movie was not the commercial success Disney had hoped for, which unfortunately led to it being largely forgotten, it has developed a fanbase of millennials who seem to connect with it and for good reason.  The movie is visually stunning. It’s one of the first combinations of CGI and drawn animation, which created a dazzling marriage of old and new. Speaking of old meeting new, the visual artists also envisioned the world of Treasure Planet as a steampunk colonial era combination of old world style ships and clothing with modern technology in space with Aliens and Humans living in harmony. Steampunk has always been very eye catching with its deep leathers and shiny gold combinations and was not necessarily popularized at the time of the film’s release, although manifested often within science fiction. 

In addition to being stylistically bold, the film was also bold in its character developments. The incredibly powerful and intelligent female captain of the ship is one of the first strong independent female characters I remember standing out to me as a young boy. While the character of Long John Silver could have easily been an overly simplified villain, the writers took the character in a more nuanced direction, creating a sympathetic and wise man who was corrupt but still had a lot to offer in spite of being misguided by his greed. Silver even provides a father figure to the disheveled and troubled star of the story. This brings us to our central character, who I could never put my finger on, but always stood out to me both as someone I liked and wanted to be like despite his many shortcomings. 

It was not until my recent viewing as an adult that I realized exactly what it was about Jim that was so appealing to my younger self. Although It was obvious as an adult, I don’t believe it quite consciously registered to my younger self that Jim seems to be coded as queer. Quickly thinking back to everything that takes place in the film I was reminded that this was one of the few Disney cartoons that did not have some form of romantic story arc with the main character. Jim never expresses romantic interest for anyone in the film and the focus of the story is much more based on his personal growth as well as his sense of adventure that takes him to new heights and self discoveries. 

As I watched it under this context, it all began to make so much more sense to me. From the smaller simple details like the one earring he wore and the flowing hair to his deeper personality traits of being a confident but haunted individual who feels stifled. He feels “Other” and is overlooked by the people around him while fighting to be who he knows he is. Outside of all the other reasons I’ve given for why this film does not fit the typical mold of Disney Cartoons, it also takes a much deeper and darker look at its character psychology and does not shy away from some darker subject matter. Even the music that drives the film tends away from happy and upbeat and stays in a meditative, angst, and introspection as the characters struggle with their shortcomings while exploring their greatness. 

When reading an interview with the creative team, it was stated that Jim’s character was partially modeled after James Dean. If you’re not familiar, James Dean was one of the first somewhat visible queer figures in the early days of Hollywood when coming out would be a death sentence for your career. James Dean encapsulated the emotionally fragile, misunderstood, beautiful human being that knew deep down he had so many shining qualities but was stifled by a world that refused to acknowledge him fully for who he was. Jim Hawkins also captures this brooding confidence mixed with fragility that resonated with me before I even knew why. In the famous song “I’m still here” the lyrics and montage explores the inner turmoil of the character. Some of the lyrics speaking about being a question to the world and not being what people see. The song is almost literally about being a whole different person beneath the surface and not being able to trust the people in your life with the truth. The song pairs with a montage of Jim’s rocky relationship with male figures in his life, placed next to his developing appreciation for his relationship with John Silver. John Silver is an older man that actually maintains emotional depth and has guidance to offer Jim, which is clearly a huge piece he’s been missing. Not that this needs to come from a male figure, but queer people don’t get many chances to see people like them who actually have a handle on things and the confidence to be who they are unapologetically especially In the timeframe this film was made. Specifically within men, we are conditioned not to express ourselves and not to show weakness, so even outside of a queer context, boys are not often given positive male figures in their lives who express understanding of emotional complexity and are able to offer guidance and recognition. This statistic is significantly lower when you add a queer filter. 

Whether you see this as a queer film or not, the structure of the story shifts dramatically away from the upbeat musical numbers, romantic story arcs, and straightforward morals that were the widely accepted formula for Disney at the time. Its representation of self exploration, finding authenticity within trauma, and emotional complexity being an expectation as opposed to something to hide from, was a step far outside of the norms. Treasure Planet will always be near to my heart and now I have a deeper understanding of why. It was the representation I needed at a time when I wasn’t allowed to watch things with real representation. It understood the internal conflicts and turmoil I harbored as well as shining a light on how special people like me can be. While it’s not easy to be outside of “Norms” and alienated because of it, it does offer an alternate path and opportunity to chart your own course. While many people fall into the typical molds and paths laid out already, queer people are able to shine a little brighter because their paths take them through the parts that are not already well lit. Jim becoming respected by the people around him was not just the natural happy ending to this plot, it was a representation that even those that are different can live their truth and demand respect for doing so. The ones around us that really matter will support authenticity without forcing their expectations and agenda. Love for the authentic self is the only true love, whether it comes from outside or within.