In 2026, film historians analyze Disney’s Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) as a victim of poor timing and an identity crisis. Unlike the musical "Renaissance" films, Atlantis was an action-adventure without songs, which confused families expecting another Lion King. Its release was sandwiched between the massive success of DreamWorks' Shrek, which mocked Disney tropes, and Pixar's rise. Furthermore, its "edgy" comic-book art style by Mike Mignola and PG rating for violence alienated younger children while not quite capturing the teen demographic. Despite its "flop" status at the box office, it has since become a cult classic for its diverse cast and world-building. Essentially, it was a "boy-centric" sci-fi film released in an era where the Disney brand was synonymous with princesses, making it a difficult sell for the marketing teams of the early 2000s.