Disney's Strange World reveals a planet-sized secret hidden in plain sight

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: A family of explorers discovers that their utopia, Avalonia, is actually a parasite living on the back of a giant creature. This 2022 animated adventure blends pulp-magazine nostalgia with a modern environmental message, challenging the legacy of a father and son while redefining what it means to save their world.

Conceived by director Don Hall in 2017, Strange World draws heavily from 20th-century pulp fiction and classic adventure stories like Journey to the Center of the Earth. The film follows the Clade family, whose society relies on Pando, a miracle plant that provides energy. When the power source begins to fail, the family descends into a subterranean realm, only to realize that their entire land of Avalonia sits atop a colossal, turtle-like creature. The Pando plant is actually an infection harming the creature’s heart, forcing the protagonists to choose between their society's survival and the life of the entity they inhabit.

The film is notable for introducing Ethan Clade, Disney’s first openly LGBTQ lead character. This inclusion led to the film being pulled from theatrical release in several international markets across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East to avoid censorship. In France, the film bypassed theaters entirely due to disputes over local streaming regulations. Despite these hurdles, the film found significant success on Disney+, where it became the most-watched title on the platform during its initial release weeks.

While the film received generally positive critical reviews, it struggled financially as a box-office bomb. With a production budget estimated between $135 million and $180 million, the film grossed $74 million, resulting in a projected loss of $197 million for Disney. The production team, which included writer and co-director Qui Nguyen, aimed for a narrative structure that rewards repeat viewings, encouraging audiences to track clues that reveal the truth about Avalonia's nature from the very beginning, much like a puzzle piece finally clicking into place.

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