12 Greatest Ever Disney Trailers

Not all Disney movies have followed the traditional fairy tale formulas associated with the studio. For their 2001 film Atlantis, Disney Animation ditched their worn-out Disney Renaissance formula for an action-adventure fantasy with lots of big action sequences.

Hellboy creator Mike Mignola oversaw the animation for this new project, and his influence was clear in the two introductory teasers. These did an excellent job establishing the Steampunk - inspired visual style of the film, with plenty of action sequences and mysterious events to capture the attention of viewers. Information on the story and characters was kept to a minimum, but it was evident that we will get an epic journey to the bottom of the ocean, with mysterious chanting and symbols indicating that an incredible hidden world awaits.

The dark and shadowy images in the Atlantis teasers provided an atmosphere of mystery and danger which contrasted impressively with the bright and upbeat Disney style. However, they still managed to make Atlantis seem a classic adventure yarn which shared DNA with Disney favourites like Treasure Island, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Tarzan.

Atlantis was ultimately an ambitious failure, too dark and moody for the usual Disney fans, and too safe and conventional for those who wanted to see something riskier. However, the teasers really emphasised the spectacular animation and made Atlantis seem like a totally distinct entry in the Disney canon.