Monday, December 18 marks an historic date for DreamWorks Animation, as the 25th anniversary of the theatrical release of the studio’s 2D-animated Torah tale, The Prince of Egypt. Opening in 1998, the film was the studio’s first traditionally animated movie and second feature-length project, following the CG-animated Antz.
To celebrate this milestone, DreamWorks has debuted a series of video reels in which the film’s directors Brenda Chapman (Brave), Simon Wells (Mars Needs Moms) and Steve Hickner (Bee Movie) reflect on the making of this ambitious musical-drama, which tells the story of Moses (watch them below). We also get a special international voice-over medley of the Academy Award-winning original song “When You Believe” by Stephen Schwartz, featuring performances in 25 languages.
Written by Philip LaZebnik (Pocahontas, The Road to El Dorado), adapted from the first 14 chapters of the Book of Exodus, The Prince of Egypt brings to life the story of two brothers — one born of royal blood, the other an orphan with a secret past — who grow up as the best of friends, until the truth ultimately sets them at odd as one becomes the ruler of the most powerful empire on earth, the other the chosen leader of his people.
The film featured a stellar voice cast led by Val Kilmer as Moses (sung by Amick Byram), Ralph Fiennes as Rameses, Michelle Pfeiffer as Tzipporah, Sandra Bullock as Miriam (Sally Dworsky singing), Jeff Goldbum as Aaron, Danny Glover as Jethro (Brian Stokes Mitchell singing), Patrick Stewart as Pharaoh Seti, Helen Mirren as Queen Tuya, Steve Martin and Martin Short as high priests Hotep and Huy, and “Madonna of the East” Ofra Haza as Yocheved — who sang her character’s signature tune “Deliver Us” in an additional, remarkable, 17 languages for the various dubbed versions.
While it was released before the introduction of the animated feature Oscar, The Prince of Egypt won Best Original Song (“When You Believe”) and was nominated for Best Original Score (Schwartz’s music and lyrics complimented by orchestral by Hans Zimmer). The pic won Best Animated Feature from the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards as well as Best Song, was nominated for score and song at the Golden Globes and Grammys, and earned a flurry of Annie Award nominations.
All images and videos courtesy of DreamWorks Animation.
