10 Mind-Blowing Facts You Didn't Know About Atlantis: The Lost Empire
4. The Movie's Productive Designer Was Hellboy Creator Mike Mignola
It was important for the visuals of Atlantis to have its own unique style that would stand out from its predecessors. The overall movie has a steampunk aesthetic to it with an intentionally flat design and pointed features for each character to make the film flow like a moving comic book.
In order to achieve this, Wise and Trousdale called for the help of Mike Mignola, as he had great experience being the creator behind his own comic book franchise: Hellboy. Mignola was famed for his indie gothic mythology which explored a wealth of fascinating creatures and adventure stories.
He provided style guides, preliminary background and character designs, as well as story ideas. Mignola’s graphic angular style was a key influence on the appearance of the characters. It is because of his work on the film that Atlantis has developed a cult following over the years.