The Prince of Egypt

The Prince of Egypt
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Name	The Prince of Egypt
Director	Simon Wells, Brenda Chapman
Producer	Penney Finkelman Cox, Sandra Rabins

The Prince of Egypt is an animated musical drama film produced by DreamWorks Animation and released by DreamWorks Pictures. The film features the voice talents of Val Kilmer as Moses, Ralph Fiennes as Rameses II, Michelle Pfeiffer as Tzipporah, Sandra Bullock as Miriam, and Jeff Goldblum as Aaron. The story is based on the biblical account of the life of Moses and the Exodus from Egypt, as described in the Book of Exodus and the Book of Numbers.

Production

The production of The Prince of Egypt involved a team of artists and animators from DreamWorks Animation, including directors Simon Wells and Brenda Chapman, and producers Penney Finkelman Cox and Sandra Rabins. The film's animation was created using a combination of traditional techniques and computer-generated imagery, with the help of software from Silicon Graphics and Alias Systems Corporation. The film's story and characters were developed in consultation with Biblical scholars from Yale University and Harvard University, including John Collins and Lawrence Schiffman. The film's historical accuracy was also verified by Egyptologists from The University of Chicago and The British Museum, including Kathryn Bard and John Baines.

Music

The music for The Prince of Egypt was composed by Hans Zimmer and Stephen Schwartz, with songs performed by Ofra Haza, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey. The film's soundtrack features a mix of Middle Eastern music and Western classical music, with influences from Jewish music and Christian music. The song "Through Heaven's Eyes" was performed by Brian Stokes Mitchell and features a choir from The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. The film's score was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra at Air Lyndhurst Studios and Abbey Road Studios.

Plot

The plot of The Prince of Egypt follows the story of Moses, a prince of Egypt who discovers his true identity as a Hebrew and leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. The film features a number of key events from the biblical account, including the Burning Bush, the Ten Plagues, and the Parting of the Red Sea. The story also explores the relationship between Moses and his adoptive brother Rameses II, who becomes the Pharaoh of Egypt. The film's plot is also influenced by other biblical stories, including the accounts of Joseph and Jacob in the Book of Genesis.

Characters

The characters in The Prince of Egypt include Moses, Rameses II, Tzipporah, Miriam, and Aaron, as well as a number of other figures from the biblical account, including Pharaoh Seti I, Queen Tuya, and Jethro. The film also features a number of original characters, including Hotep and Huy, who serve as advisors to Rameses II. The characters were designed by a team of artists from DreamWorks Animation, including Sandra Equihua and Nicolas Marlet. The voice cast for the film includes Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, and Jeff Goldblum, as well as Danny Glover and Patrick Stewart.

Release

The Prince of Egypt was released in theaters on December 18, 1998, by DreamWorks Pictures. The film was distributed in a number of countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The film was also released on VHS and DVD by DreamWorks Home Entertainment and Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The film's release was accompanied by a number of promotional events, including a premiere at the Mann Village Theatre in Los Angeles and a screening at the Cannes Film Festival.

Reception

The Prince of Egypt received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with praise for its animation, music, and storytelling. The film was nominated for a number of awards, including two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "When You Believe", which was performed by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. The film also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score and the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature. The film's success helped establish DreamWorks Animation as a major player in the animation industry, alongside Walt Disney Feature Animation and Pixar Animation Studios. The film's influence can also be seen in other animated films, including The Road to El Dorado and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. Category:1998 films