The animated film Titan AE takes place in 3028 after an alien race destroys the Earth. A few surviving humans have scattered across the universe in makeshift spacecraft, trying to retain some sense of civilization. Fortunately, the main character, Cale, has a map that can supposedly guide humanity to a secret place called Titan, a place that was created to preserve humanity in the case of an apocalypse. Of course, as the heroes make their way to Titan, aliens do their very best to try and stop them.
In addition to bombing so hard that it bankrupted its studio, Titan AE received mixed reviews from critics. For example, one complaint is that the movie doesn't know what it wants to be, which is entirely fair. Titan AE attempts to bring animation to an adult audience, but at the same time, it still caters to younger viewers. Plus, the score is largely pop music from its time, and it feels out of place today. Another shortcoming is how generic the plot is. How many sci-fi films are there where aliens are about to wipe out humans, but there's a glimmer of hope of survival? (Independence Day, War of the Worlds, etc.) This premise is getting a bit old.
Regardless, Titan AE still has redeeming qualities. After all, this thing was made by Don Bluth, the man who brought us classics like The Secret of NIMH, All Dogs Go to Heaven, and An American Tail. In other words, the animation style is very unique, and it gives a rather whimsical depiction of the universe. Plus, it boasts a pretty impressive cast, including stars like Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore, Bill Pullman, and Ron Perlman. So while it's no Land Before Time, it's definitely worth a watch.
