View source for Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas

{{Short description|2003 DreamWorks Animation animated film}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name        = Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas
| image       = Sinbad Legend of the Seven Seas poster.jpg
| caption     = Theatrical release poster
| director    = [[Tim Johnson (film director)|Tim Johnson]]<br />Patrick Gilmore
| producer    = [[Mireille Soria]]<br />[[Jeffrey Katzenberg]]
| writer      = [[John Logan (writer)|John Logan]]
| based_on    = [[Sinbad the Sailor]]<ref name=TheGuardian>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/jul/23/iraq.world|title=Why Hollywood drew a veil over Sinbad's Arab roots|first=Seán|last=Clarke|date=July 23, 2003|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=December 13, 2016|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222150924/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/jul/23/iraq.world|url-status=live}}</ref>
| starring    = [[Brad Pitt]]<br />[[Catherine Zeta-Jones]]<br />[[Michelle Pfeiffer]]<br />[[Joseph Fiennes]]
| music       = [[Harry Gregson-Williams]]
| editing     = Tom Finan
| studio      = [[DreamWorks Animation]]
| distributor = [[DreamWorks Pictures]]
| released    = {{film date|2003|7|2}}
| runtime     = 86 minutes
| country     = United States
| language    = English
| budget      = $60 million
| gross       = $80 million<ref name=BOM />
}}
'''''Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas''''' (also known as simply '''''Sinbad''''') is a 2003 American animated [[adventure film]] produced by [[DreamWorks Animation]] and distributed by [[DreamWorks Pictures]]. Featuring the character [[Sinbad the Sailor]], it was directed by [[Tim Johnson (film director)|Tim Johnson]] and Patrick Gilmore and written by [[John Logan (writer)|John Logan]], and stars the voices of [[Brad Pitt]], [[Catherine Zeta-Jones]], [[Michelle Pfeiffer]], and [[Joseph Fiennes]]. It tells the story of Sinbad (voiced by Pitt), a pirate who travels the sea with his dog and his loyal crew, alongside Marina (voiced by Zeta-Jones), the fiancée of his childhood friend Prince [[Proteus]] (voiced by Fiennes), to recover the stolen ''Book of Peace'' from [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]] (voiced by Pfeiffer) to save Proteus from approving Sinbad's [[death sentence]].

Development began when [[Ted Elliott (screenwriter)|Ted Elliott]] and [[Terry Rossio]] developed the story of Sinbad in the vein of the story of [[Damon and Pythias]] before settling on a [[love triangle]]. The project was canceled in 1993, though [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] decided to restart some ideas when he left [[the Walt Disney Company]] and co-founded DreamWorks Pictures in 1994 during the production of ''[[The Prince of Egypt]]'' (1998). Johnson, who attempted to direct his follow-up CGI animated film ''Tusker'' following ''[[Antz]]'' (1998), before eventually scrapped the project, was recruited to direct ''Sinbad'' and teamed with Gilmore. Like the studio's previous film, ''[[Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron]]'' (2002), the film combines [[traditional animation]] and [[computer animation]]. The film blends elements from ''[[One Thousand and One Nights]]'' and [[classical mythology]]. The film's traditional animation and its final line services were provided by Stardust Pictures and [[Bardel Entertainment]], with [[PDI/DreamWorks]] handling its computer animation technology and CG character animation. The score for the film was composed by [[Harry Gregson-Williams]].

''Sinbad'' was released on July 2, 2003, and received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the animation, action sequences, and voice performances, but criticized the storyline, polarizing CGI, and the film's departure from its Arabic origin. Grossing $80 million on a $60 million budget, ''Sinbad'' was considered by analysts to be a [[box-office bomb]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Schaefer|first1=Sandy|title=How DreamWorks' Most Forgettable Film Destroyed Almost Two Decades of Movies|url=https://www.cbr.com/dreamworks-forgettable-sinbad-movie-destroyed-animation/|access-date=February 11, 2024|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=August 26, 2021|quote=DreamWorks Animation's ''Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas'' was an infamous box office bomb that led the studio to ditch traditional animation}}</ref> causing DreamWorks to suffer a $125 million loss on a string of films, which nearly bankrupted them. To date, this soon became the final DreamWorks Animation film to use traditional animation as the studio abandoned and discontinued it in favor of computer animation.<ref name=LATWakeUpCall /> However, DreamWorks brought 2D animation back for the 5-minute short film ''[[Bird Karma]]'' in 2018. Until the releases of ''[[Rise of the Guardians]]'' and ''[[Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken]]'' in 2012 and 2023 respectively, ''Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas'' was Dreamworks Animation's biggest box office failure.

== Plot ==
Sinbad and his pirate crew attempt to steal the magical ''Book of Peace'' and hold it for ransom as one last job before retiring to [[Fiji]]. Sinbad is surprised to see it is being protected while on board to [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]] by Prince Proteus of Syracuse. Proteus was Sinbad's best friend as a child, and he tells him that if their friendship ever meant anything to Sinbad, he can prove it now. Sinbad tries to steal the ''Book'' anyway, but is prevented when [[Cetus (mythology)|Cetus]] attacks the ship. The two work together to fight off Cetus and for a moment reaffirm their bond. Just when it seems the beast is defeated, Sinbad is dragged off the ship. Proteus goes to save Sinbad, but he is stopped by his crew.

Drawn underwater by Cetus, Sinbad is saved by the beautiful Goddess of Discord, [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]], who offers him any boon he desires in exchange for the ''Book of Peace''. Sinbad and his crew go to Syracuse to steal the ''Book'', but after seeing Proteus with his fiancé Lady Marina, Sinbad abandons the mission without giving a motive. Anticipating this, Eris impersonates Sinbad and steals the ''Book'' herself. Sinbad is sentenced to death, whereupon Proteus sends Sinbad to retrieve the ''Book'' instead, [[Damon and Pythias|placing himself as a hostage]], and Marina goes to make sure that Sinbad succeeds. To prevent them from succeeding, Eris sends a group of mythical [[Sirens (mythology)|siren]]s, who entrance and seduce the men aboard Sinbad's ship with their hypnotic singing voices, but do not affect Marina, who pilots the ship to safety and wins the favor of the crew. However, as she and Sinbad continue to argue with each other, Eris soon realizes these disharmonies and sends in a [[Roc (mythology)|roc]]. The giant bird captures Marina, but she is rescued by Sinbad, and they successfully defeat the creature, causing a reconciliation between the two.

After these and other incidents, Sinbad and Marina talk in a brief moment of peace — Marina reveals that she's always dreamed of a life on the sea, and Sinbad reveals that he distanced himself from Proteus 10 years earlier because he loved Marina. They suddenly then reach and enter Eris' realm where she reveals that her plan was to maneuver Proteus into Sinbad's place, leaving Syracuse without an [[heir]] to collapse into chaos. Through Marina, Eris agrees to surrender the ''Book of Peace'' only if Sinbad truthfully tells whether he will return to Syracuse to accept blame and be executed if he does not get the ''Book''. She gives him her word that she will honor the deal, making it unbreakable even for a god. When he answers that he will return, Eris calls him a liar, and returns him and Marina to the mortal world. Ashamed, Sinbad admits the Goddess of Discord is right, truly believing deep down that he is a selfish, black-hearted liar, only for Marina to tell him she is wrong, giving Sinbad a change of heart.

In Syracuse, the time allotted to Sinbad has elapsed. Proteus readies himself to be beheaded, but at the last minute, Sinbad appears and takes his place. An enraged Eris appears suddenly and saves Sinbad by shattering the executioner's sword to pieces. Sinbad, shocked, realizes that this was still part of her test and that he has beaten her by proving his answer to be true after all. Eris is furious but cannot go back on her word as a goddess and begrudgingly gives back the ''Book'' to Sinbad, before leaving, bringing chaos elsewhere. With the true culprit revealed, Sinbad is pardoned for the crime of stealing the ''Book'' and is now well-respected.

With the ''Book of Peace'' restored to Syracuse, Proteus and Sinbad leave still as the best of friends. Sinbad and his crew prepare to leave on another voyage, leaving Marina in Syracuse. Unbeknownst to him, Proteus sees that Marina has fallen deeply in love with Sinbad and life on the sea, and releases her from their engagement, sending her to join Sinbad's ship. Marina surprises Sinbad by revealing her presence on the ship just as it begins to sail, and the two share a kiss. Now together, they and the crew set out on another long voyage as the ship sails into the sunset.

== Voice cast ==
*[[Brad Pitt]] as [[Sinbad the Sailor|Sinbad]], an Arabian adventurous pirate and sailor who plans on retiring to [[Fiji]].
*[[Catherine Zeta-Jones]] as Ambassador Marina, a [[Thracian]] ambassador to a fictional [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]], Proteus's fiancé, and Sinbad's love interest. 
*[[Michelle Pfeiffer]] as [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]], the beautiful and manipulative Goddess of Discord and Chaos who wants to create destruction throughout the world.
*[[Joseph Fiennes]] as Prince Proteus of Syracuse, Sinbad's noble childhood-friend and Marina's fiancé.
*[[Dennis Haysbert]] as Kale, Sinbad's [[Chief mate|first mate]] and friend.
*[[Adriano Giannini]] as "Rat", an Italian lookout of Sinbad's crew.
*[[Timothy West]] as King Dymas of [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]], Proteus' father.
*[[Jim Cummings]] as Luca, an elderly member of Sinbad's crew.
**Cummings also voices The Ambassador leader.
*[[Conrad Vernon]] as Jed, a comically heavily armed member of Sinbad's crew.
*[[Raman Hui]] as Jin, an Asian member of Sinbad's crew who frequently makes bets with Li.
*Chung Chan as Li, an Asian member of Sinbad's crew who frequently makes bets with Jin.
*Andrew Birch as Grum and Chum, members of Sinbad's crew.
*[[Frank Welker]] (uncredited) as Spike, Sinbad's pet mastiff who Marina grows a soft spot for.
*[[Chris Miller (animator)|Chris Miller]] as Tower Guard.

== Production ==
=== Development ===
Shortly after co-writing ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]'' (1992) for [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney]], screenwriters [[Ted Elliott (screenwriter)|Ted Elliott]] and [[Terry Rossio]] came up with the idea of adapting the story of [[Sinbad the Sailor]] in the vein of the story of [[Damon and Pythias]] before settling on a [[love triangle]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Rossio|first=Terry|url=http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp47.100.Million.Mistake.html|title=The One Hundred Million Dollar Mistake|website=Wordplayer|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109171528/http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp47.100.Million.Mistake.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They wrote a treatment inspired by [[screwball comedy film|screwball]] [[romantic comedy]] films with Sinbad as a reserved apprentice cartographer who joins Peri, a free-spirited female smuggler, on an adventure and falls in love.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp37-xtras/wp37x.SINBAD.html|title=Sinbad: 2/8/94 Treatment|website=Wordplayer|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=December 2, 1998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981202222725/http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp37-xtras/wp37x.SINBAD.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite interview|url=http://mjsimpson-films.blogspot.com/2013/04/interview-ted-elliott-and-terry-rossio.html|title=Interview: Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio|interviewer=MJ Simpson|subject=Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio|via=[[Blogger (website)|Blogger]]|date=April 27, 2013|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=April 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418000248/http://mjsimpson-films.blogspot.com/2013/04/interview-ted-elliott-and-terry-rossio.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The story was based largely on the ''Simbad'' comic book written and illustrated by Elena Poirier (1949–1956).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Simbad: el gran amigo del Peneca: año 1, números del 1-17, del 8 de noviembre al 28 de diciembre de 1949 - Memoria Chilena|url=http://www.memoriachilena.gob.cl/602/w3-article-553856.html|access-date=August 30, 2021|website=Memoria Chilena: Portal|language=es|archive-date=August 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830000204/http://www.memoriachilena.gob.cl/602/w3-article-553856.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 1992, Disney had announced they were adapting the story into a potential animated feature.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/07/02/odyssey-sinbad-pocahontas-getting-disney-treatment/|title='Odyssey,' Sinbad, Pocahontas Getting Disney Treatment|work=[[Los Angeles Daily News]]|publisher=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=July 2, 1992|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=September 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913032413/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-07-02/features/9202290009_1_songs-aladdin-studio-chairman-jeffrey-katzenberg|url-status=live}}</ref> The project was cancelled in 1993.

In 1994, [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] had left Disney and co-founded DreamWorks SKG with [[Steven Spielberg]] and [[David Geffen]]. When ''[[The Prince of Egypt]]'' (1998) was in production, Katzenberg decided to restart some ideas that Disney had cancelled. [[Tim Johnson (film director)|Tim Johnson]], who had directed ''[[Antz]]'' (1998), intended to direct his follow-up CGI animated film ''Tusker''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hindes |first=Andrew |url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/d-works-pdi-trumpet-tusker-1117489121/ |title=D'Works, PDI trumpet 'Tusker' |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=December 3, 1998 |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508225440/https://variety.com/1998/film/news/d-works-pdi-trumpet-tusker-1117489121/ |archive-date=May 8, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> Three years later, ''[[Shrek]]'' (2001) was released and because of the film's success, Katzenberg sat down with Johnson and proposed a more irreverent comedic approach to the project. Johnson explained, "There was so much success with this outrageous comedy [''Shrek''] that he didn't feel it was the right time to make a drama. So, ''Tusker'' got shelved."<ref name="TimJohnson">{{cite book |editor=Diamond, Ron |chapter=Tim Johnson Interview |title=On Animation: The Director's Perspective—Volume 1 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UPCyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA317 |pages=331–337 |publisher=[[CRC Press]] |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-138-06653-3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119020811/https://www.google.com/books/edition/On_Animation/UPCyDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA317 |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> Johnson was later recruited to direct ''Sinbad'' and was teamed with Patrick Gilmore, a first-time director. Reflecting on the experience, Johnson acknowledged the film "was a personal struggle" for him; he explained: "Making it was a joy. But it was a dramatic action adventure, and honestly, that's not where my instincts, sense of humor, and strengths are."<ref name="TimJohnson" />

Shortly after writing the screenplay for ''[[Gladiator (2000 film)|Gladiator]]'' (2000), [[John Logan (writer)|John Logan]] was approached by Katzenberg to write the script for an animated film. When he was offered the story of Sinbad, Logan researched the multiple tales of the character before settling on depicting the Greek and Roman versions. He described his first draft script as "very complex, the relationships were very adult. It was too intense in terms of the drama for the audience that this movie was aimed at."<ref>{{cite web|author=Scott B.|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/07/01/an-interview-with-john-logan|title=An Interview with John Logan|website=[[IGN]]|date=July 1, 2003|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726030424/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/07/01/an-interview-with-john-logan|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Casting ===
[[Russell Crowe]] was originally set to voice Sinbad, but he dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.<ref name=EWPreview>{{cite news|title=Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Preview|url=https://ew.com/article/2003/04/25/sinbad-legend-seven-seas/|access-date=January 18, 2014|newspaper=Entertainment Weekly|date=April 25, 2003|archive-date=September 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927152532/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,444346,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was replaced by [[Brad Pitt]], who wanted to make a film that his nieces and nephews could see. He explained, "They can't get into my movies. People's heads getting cut off, and all that."<ref name=EWPreview /> Pitt had already tried to narrate DreamWorks' previous animated film ''[[Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron]]'', but "it didn't work", with [[Matt Damon]] taking over the role.<ref name=EWPreview /> Pitt's purist intentions worried him that his [[Missouri]]an accent would not be suitable for the Middle Eastern character,<ref name=EWPreview /> but was persuaded by the filmmakers that his accent would lighten the mood.<ref name=EWPreview />

[[Michelle Pfeiffer]], who voices [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]], the Goddess of Discord, had struggles with pinning down the character's personality, initially finding her "too sexual," and then too dull. After the third rewrite, Pfeiffer called [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] and told him, "You know, you really can fire me," but he assured her that this was part of the process.<ref name=EWPreview />

=== Animation ===
In January 2001, it was reported that DreamWorks Animation would completely transfer their animation workflow into using the [[Linux]] [[operating system]]. Previously, their animation and rendering software had used [[Silicon Graphics Image]] servers and workstations, but as their hardware began to show slowness, DreamWorks began looking for an alternate platform for superior optimal performance in order to save hardware costs.<ref name=eWeek>{{cite news|last=Galli|first=Peter|url=https://www.eweek.com/servers/linux-plays-starring-role-in-sinbad|title=Linux Plays Starring Role in Sinbad|magazine=[[eWeek]]|date=July 1, 2003|access-date=July 25, 2019}}</ref><ref name=Linux_2002>{{cite news|last=Butcher|first=Matt|title=The stallion and the penguin: DreamWorks uses Linux to create new animated film|url=https://www.linux.com/news/stallion-and-penguin-dreamworks-uses-linux-create-new-animated-film|journal=Linux Journal|date=April 24, 2002|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726030435/https://www.linux.com/news/stallion-and-penguin-dreamworks-uses-linux-create-new-animated-film|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2002, they decided to partner with [[Hewlett-Packard]] for a three-year deal for which they used their dual-processor HP workstations and [[ProLiant]] servers running [[Red Hat Linux]] software.<ref name=eWeek /><ref>{{cite news|last=Perez|first=Juan Carol|url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2679020/sinbad-and-linux-brave-the-high-seas.html|title=Sinbad and Linux brave the high seas|magazine=[[InfoWorld]]|date=July 1, 2003|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726030427/https://www.infoworld.com/article/2679020/sinbad-and-linux-brave-the-high-seas.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Shankland|first=Stephen|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/dreamworks-switches-to-hp-linux/|title=DreamWorks switches to HP, Linux|website=[[ZDNet]]|date=January 30, 2002|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=June 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180610235113/https://www.zdnet.com/article/dreamworks-switches-to-hp-linux/|url-status=live}}</ref> Starting with ''[[Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron]]'' (2002), they had replaced its entire [[render farm]] with [[x86]]-based Linux servers.<ref name=Linux_2002 />

''Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas'' was the first DreamWorks Animation production to completely utilize Linux software, with more than 250 workstations used.<ref name=eWeek /> Starting with [[storyboards]], the artists first drew sketches on paper to visualize the scene, which were later edited into [[animatic]]s. For the character animation, rough character sketches were passed through the ToonShooter software, which digitized the sketches. From that point, the animators were able to easily integrate the animation into existing scenes.<ref name=Linux_2002 /> Production software lead Derek Chan explained, "ToonShooter is an internal tool we wrote for Linux. It captures low resolution 640 x 480 line art that the artists use to time the film."<ref name=RobinRowe>{{cite news|last=Rowe|first=Robin|title=Linux Dreamworks Redux|url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/6103|access-date=October 24, 2012|newspaper=Linux Journal|date=May 28, 2002|archive-date=October 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002064646/http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/6103|url-status=live}}</ref> The animated characters were then digitally colored using the Linux software application, InkAndPaint.<ref name=RobinRowe />

For the visual effects, DreamWorks Animation had used [[Autodesk Maya]] to create water effects. However, the rendering was found to be too photorealistic, and senior software engineer for advanced R&D future films Galen Gornowicz sought to modify the effects so as to closely match the movie's visual development renderings.<ref name=RobinRowe /> Craig Ring, who served as digital supervisor on the film, described four major approaches to water used in the film: compositing ripple distortion over the painted backgrounds; creating fluid simulation; developing a rapid slashing technique to create a surface and then send ripples through the surface; and better integrating the 3D visual effects with stylized, hand drawn splashes.<ref>{{cite news|last=Desowitz|first=Bill|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/sinbad-sets-sail-new-journey-water-surfaces|title='Sinbad' Sets Sail on a New Journey into Water Surfaces|magazine=[[Animation World Network]]|date=July 16, 2003|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726030426/https://www.awn.com/animationworld/sinbad-sets-sail-new-journey-water-surfaces|url-status=live}}</ref>

The film's traditional animation and its final line services were provided by Stardust Pictures and [[Bardel Entertainment]], with [[Pacific Data Images|PDI/DreamWorks]] handling its computer animation technology and CG character animation.

== Release ==
=== Marketing ===
A PC game based on the film was released by [[Atari, Inc. (1993–present)|Atari]], who worked closely with one of the film's directors, Patrick Gilmore. It was released before the VHS and DVD release of the film.<ref>{{cite news|title=Atari Brings the Action of Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas to the Home PC; New PC Game To Be Based on Upcoming Major Motion Picture|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20030512005201/en/Atari-Brings-Action-Sinbad-Legend-Seas-Home|access-date=October 24, 2012|newspaper=Business Wire|date=May 12, 2003|author=DreamWorks SKG|archive-date=September 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925003012/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20030512005201/en/Atari-Brings-Action-Sinbad-Legend-Seas-Home|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Burger King]] released six promotional toys at the time of the film's release, and each toy came with a "Constellation Card".<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/3598.shtml|title=Sinbad Sails His Way Into Burger King|agency=Burger King|publisher=ToyMania|date=June 26, 2003|access-date=July 26, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726135501/http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/3598.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Hasbro]] produced a series of Sinbad figures as part of its G.I. JOE action figure brand.<ref>{{cite news|title=DreamWorks, Hasbro in 'Sinbad' Toy Deal|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-10-fi-hasbro10-story.html|access-date=October 24, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 10, 2002|archive-date=October 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013130326/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jun/10/business/fi-hasbro10|url-status=live}}</ref> The figures were 12" tall and came with a mythical monster.<ref>{{cite news|title=DreamWorks SKG and Hasbro Team Up for Action-Packed G.I. JOE Figures Based On The New Animated Feature Property, 'Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas(TM)'|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dreamworks-skg-and-hasbro-team-up-for-action-packed-gi-joe-figures-based-on-the-new-animated-feature-property-sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seastm-77843957.html|access-date=October 24, 2012|newspaper=PR Newswire|date=June 10, 2002|author=DreamWorks SKG|archive-date=November 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102101839/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dreamworks-skg-and-hasbro-team-up-for-action-packed-gi-joe-figures-based-on-the-new-animated-feature-property-sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seastm-77843957.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Home media ===
''Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas'' was released on [[DVD]] and [[VHS]] on November 18, 2003, by [[DreamWorks Home Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Ball|first=Ryan|title=Sinbad Sails Home|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/sinbad-sails-home/|access-date=November 15, 2013|newspaper=Animation Magazine|date=November 18, 2003|archive-date=April 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410075911/http://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/sinbad-sails-home/|url-status=live}}</ref> The DVD included a six-minute interactive short animated film ''Cyclops Island'', featuring an encounter with the eponymous [[Cyclopes]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Simon|first=Ben|title=Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas|url=http://animatedviews.com/2003/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas/|access-date=October 23, 2012|newspaper=Animated Views|date=November 10, 2003|archive-date=October 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017221959/http://animatedviews.com/2003/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas/|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2014, the film's distribution rights were purchased by [[DreamWorks Animation]] from [[Paramount Pictures]] (owners of the pre-2011 DreamWorks Pictures library) and transferred to [[20th Century Fox]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chney|first1=Alexandra|title=DreamWorks Animation Q2 Earnings Fall Short of Estimates, SEC Investigation Revealed|url=https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/dreamworks-animation-q2-earnings-fall-short-of-estimates-1201271262/|access-date=July 30, 2014|work=Variety|date=July 29, 2014|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623141606/https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/dreamworks-animation-q2-earnings-fall-short-of-estimates-1201271262/|url-status=live}}</ref> before reverting to [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] in 2018; [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment]] subsequently released the film on [[Blu-ray|Blu-ray Disc]] on June 4, 2019, with the ''Cyclops Island'' short removed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Flushed Away and Shark Tale Heading to Blu-ray (UPDATED)|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=24952|access-date=April 18, 2019|work=Blu-ray.com|date=April 12, 2019|archive-date=April 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413135421/https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=24952|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== ''Cyclops Island'' ====
''Cyclops Island'' (also known as ''Sinbad and the Cyclops Island'') is a [[traditionally animated]] interactive [[short film]] that acts as a sequel to ''Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas'', taking place shortly after the events of the previous film.

Instead of travelling to [[Fiji]], Sinbad and his crew decide to spend their vacation on the tropical island of [[Krakatoa]]. While attempting to find a source of fresh water on the island, Marina and Spike run into a tribe of [[Cyclopes]] who they have to defeat with the help of Sinbad, Kale, and Rat. When Sinbad dislodges a large boulder during the fight, a [[volcano]] erupts and the island goes down in flames. Marina then suggests looking for a nicer destination for their next holiday, such as [[Pompeii]].

While watching the short film on DVD, the viewer can choose to follow different characters to see different angles of the same story. The viewer can follow Sinbad, the duo of Kale and Rat, Marina, or Spike. [[Brad Pitt]], [[Catherine Zeta-Jones]], [[Dennis Haysbert]], and [[Adriano Giannini]] all reprised their roles from the original film. On the film's VHS release, the short film takes place after the movie ends but before the credits roll, and is shown in its entirety.

== Reception ==
=== Critical response ===
On the review aggregator website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas'' has an approval rating of 45% based on 128 reviews with an average rating of 5.63/10. The site's consensus reads: "Competent, but not magical."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sinbad_legend_of_the_seven_seas/|title=Sinbad - Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=October 24, 2012|archive-date=October 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025024247/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sinbad_legend_of_the_seven_seas/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which assigns a normalized rating, has a score of 48 based on 33 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web |title=Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas |access-date=October 24, 2012 |website=Metacritic |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104183041/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas |url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A-" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/ |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=CinemaScore |language=en-US |archive-date=January 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102130540/https://www.cinemascore.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Kirk Honeycutt of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' praised the film, writing that "''Sinbad'' is a cartoon that does what matinée [afternoon showings] moviemakers of old never had the resources to do: allow their imagination to run amok in an ancient world that never existed ― but should have." He praised the animation and backgrounds as "lushly rendered by the animation artists, displaying details not only from the world according to [[Ray Harryhausen]]; but from the Greco-Roman world and Middle East. As with all good animation, these serve as backdrops to the comedy and adventure the characters encounter every second."<ref>{{cite news|last=Honeycutt|first=Kirk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030707135659/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com:80/thr/reviews/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1924324|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/reviews/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1924324|title=Film Review: Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 30, 2003|archive-date=July 7, 2003|access-date=May 4, 2020}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film three-and-a-half stars, concluding that "''Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas'' is another worthy entry in the recent renaissance of animation, and in the summer that has already given us ''[[Finding Nemo]]'', it's a reminder that animation is the most liberating of movie genres, freed of gravity, plausibility, and even the matters of lighting and focus. There is no way that [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]] could exist outside animation, and as we watch it, we are sailing over the edge of the human imagination."<ref>{{cite news|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas-2003|access-date=July 26, 2019|publisher=Ebert Digital LLC|date=July 2, 2003|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726135451/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas-2003|url-status=live}}</ref>

Claudia Puig, reviewing for ''[[USA Today]]'', summarized that "''Sinbad'' is a swashbuckling adventure saga that probably will appeal more to older kids. But it's not a wondrous tale. The effects are competent, the action has exciting moments, and the story is interesting enough, but the parts don't add up to a compelling sum."<ref>{{cite news|last=Puig|first=Claudia|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2003-07-01-sinbad_x.htm|title='Sinbad' is good but not legendary|work=USA Today|date=July 1, 2003|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926011312/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2003-07-01-sinbad_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Todd McCarthy of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote, "A passably entertaining animated entry from DreamWorks that's closer to ''[[The Road to El Dorado]]'' than to ''[[Shrek]],'' ''Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas'' tries too strenuously to contemporize ancient settings and characters for the sake of connecting with modern kids."<ref>{{cite news|last=McCarthy|first=Todd|url=https://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas-1200540758/|title=Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Review|work=Variety|date=June 30, 2003|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726030423/https://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas-1200540758/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Elvis Mitchell]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' panned the film, suggesting the film featured a "boatload of celebrities slumming through another not-quite-thawed adventure story." Additionally, he claimed "more thought and care were lavished on the design of the monsters than on the hand-drawn lead characters, who have the same kind of sketchy features as the stars of those animated Bible story cartoons sold on late-night infomercials."<ref>{{cite news|last=Mitchell|first=Elvis|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/02/movies/film-review-a-selfish-adventurer-with-a-selfless-mission.html|title=FILM REVIEW; A Selfish Adventurer With a Selfless Mission|work=The New York Times|date=July 2, 2003|access-date=July 26, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726135451/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/02/movies/film-review-a-selfish-adventurer-with-a-selfless-mission.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

There was additional criticism for the film's departure from its Arabic origin.<ref name=TheGuardian /> [[Jack Shaheen]], a critic of Hollywood's portrayal of Arabs, believed that "the studio feared financial and possibly political hardships if they made the film's hero Arab," and claimed that "if no attempt is made to challenge negative stereotypes about Arabs, the misperceptions continue. It's regrettable that the opportunity wasn't taken to change them, especially in the minds of young people." At one point, Shaheen asked Katzenberg to include some references to [[Arab culture|Arabic culture]] in the film. According to Shaheen, "he didn't seem surprised that I mentioned it, which presumably means that it was discussed early on in the development of the film."<ref>{{cite news|last=Clarke|first=Seán|title=Printing the legend|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/jul/23/iraq.world|access-date=October 24, 2012|website=The Guardian|date=July 23, 2003|archive-date=August 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827044911/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/jul/23/iraq.world|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Box office ===
On the film's opening weekend, the film earned $6.9 million and $10 million since its Wednesday start. It reached sixth place at the box office and faced early competition from ''[[Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines]]'', ''[[Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde]]'', ''[[Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle]]'', ''[[2 Fast 2 Furious]]'', ''[[Finding Nemo]]'', ''[[Rugrats Go Wild]]'', and ''[[Hulk (film)|Hulk]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2003/07-07/195680_he_s_back___terminator_3__tops_.html|title=He's back: 'Terminator 3' tops box office|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[Kitsap Sun]]|date=July 7, 2003|access-date=July 26, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726135453/https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2003/07-07/195680_he_s_back___terminator_3__tops_.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The week after its release, the similarly themed film ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl]]'' premiered, in which ''Sinbad'' grossed $4.3 million finishing seventh.<ref name="RunAground">{{cite news |last=Holson |first=Laura M. |title=Animated Film Is Latest Title To Run Aground At DreamWorks |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/21/business/animated-film-is-latest-title-to-run-aground-at-dreamworks.html |access-date=April 6, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=July 21, 2003 |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406233353/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/21/business/animated-film-is-latest-title-to-run-aground-at-dreamworks.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2003&wknd=28&p=.htm|title=Weekend Box Office Results for July 11-13, 2003|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=July 26, 2019|archive-date=May 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514195036/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2003&wknd=28&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The film closed on October 9, 2003, after earning $26.5 million in the United States and Canada and $54.3 million overseas, for a worldwide total of $80.7 million.<ref name=BOM>{{cite web|title=Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=sinbad.htm|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=October 24, 2012|archive-date=September 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905212757/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=sinbad.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The box office failure of ''Sinbad'' caused a loss of $125 million for DreamWorks Animation. When speaking of the disappointment, Katzenberg commented, "I think the idea of a traditional story being told using traditional animation is likely a thing of the past."<ref name=LATWakeUpCall>{{cite news|last1=Eller|first1=Claudia|last2=Hofmeister|first2=Sallie|title=DreamWorks Sale Sounds Wake-Up Call for Indie Films|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-dec-17-fi-dreamworks17-story.html|access-date=September 11, 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=December 17, 2005|quote=The company nearly went bankrupt twice, Geffen said during a panel discussion in New York this year, adding that when the animated film "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas" flopped in 2003, the resulting $125-million loss nearly sank his company.|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306175411/http://articles.latimes.com/2005/dec/17/business/fi-dreamworks17|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="RunAground" />

== Soundtrack ==
The score was composed by [[Harry Gregson-Williams]], in his fourth collaboration with DreamWorks Animation, following ''[[Antz]]'' (1998), ''[[Chicken Run]]'' (2000), and ''[[Shrek]]'' (2001), as well as his first film that he composed solely by himself for the studio, since he previously worked with [[John Powell (film composer)|John Powell]] on all three of those films. It is also the only DreamWorks hand-drawn film to not have music composed by [[Hans Zimmer]], who previously composed ''[[The Prince of Egypt]]'' (1998), ''[[The Road to El Dorado]]'' (2000; co-composed with Powell), and ''[[Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron]]'' (2002). The soundtrack was released on June 24, 2003.
{{Track listing
| total_length  = 1:04:30
| all_music     = [[Harry Gregson-Williams]], except as noted.
| extra_column  = Artist
| title1        = Let the Games Begin
| length1       = 3:04
| title2        = The Book of Peace
| length2       = 1:41
| title3        = The Sea Monster
| length3       = 3:32
| title4        = Sinbad Overboard
| length4       = 3:27
| title5        = Syracuse
| length5       = 1:16
| title6        = Proteus Proposes
| length6       = 1:12
| title7        = Eris Steals the Book
| length7       = 1:53
| title8        = Lighting Lanterns
| length8       = 1:29
| title9        = The Stowaway
| length9       = 2:35
| title10       = Setting Sail
| length10      = 1:40
| title11       = Sirens
| length11      = 3:22
| title12       = Chipped Paint
| length12      = 2:52
| title13       = The Giant Fish
| length13      = 1:05
| title14       = Surfing
| length14      = 3:04
| title15       = The Roc
| length15      = 2:00
| title16       = Heroics
| length16      = 2:11
| title17       = Rescue!
| length17      = 2:18
| title18       = Is It the Shore or the Sea?
| length18      = 3:28
| title19       = Tartarus
| length19      = 10:12
| title20       = Marina's Love / Proteus' Execution
| length20      = 2:02
| title21       = Sinbad Returns and Eris Pays Up
| length21      = 7:45
| title22       = Into the Sunset / End Credits
| length22      = 2:22
}}

== Video game ==
A video game based on the film developed by [[Small Rockets]] and published by [[Atari]] was released on October 21, 2003, for [[Microsoft Windows]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Scott|first1=Jonathan|title=Sinbad Sails Into Stores|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/21/sinbad-sails-into-stores|website=IGN|access-date=December 6, 2014|date=October 21, 2003|archive-date=March 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325114329/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/21/sinbad-sails-into-stores|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Krause|first1=Staci|title=Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Review|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/23/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas-review|website=IGN|access-date=December 6, 2014|date=January 23, 2004|archive-date=September 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904224945/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/23/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas-review|url-status=live}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Portal|Comedy|Film|United States}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website|https://www.dreamworks.com/movies/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas}}
* {{IMDb title|0165982}}
* {{mojo title|sinbad}}

{{Sinbad the Sailor}}
{{DreamWorks animated films}}
{{Tim Johnson}}
{{John Logan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sinbad Legend Of The Seven Seas}}
[[Category:2003 films]]
[[Category:2003 animated films]]
[[Category:2003 children's films]]
[[Category:2003 computer-animated films]]
[[Category:2003 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2000s American animated films]]
[[Category:2000s fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:2000s monster movies]]
[[Category:American children's animated adventure films]]
[[Category:American children's animated fantasy films]]
[[Category:American fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:American fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:Animated adventure films]]
[[Category:American computer-animated films]]
[[Category:American animated comedy films]]
[[Category:2000s children's fantasy films]]
[[Category:DreamWorks Animation animated films]]
[[Category:DreamWorks Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Harry Gregson-Williams]]
[[Category:Films directed by Tim Johnson]]
[[Category:Films produced by Jeffrey Katzenberg]]
[[Category:Films set in Sicily]]
[[Category:Pirate films]]
[[Category:Animated films set in the Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by John Logan (writer)]]
[[Category:Animated films based on Sinbad the Sailor]]
[[Category:Animated films based on classical mythology]]
[[Category:2000s children's animated films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:Eris (mythology)]]
[[Category:Sirens (mythology)]]
[[Category:Animated films set in Italy]]
[[Category:Animated films about legendary creatures]]
[[Category:English-language fantasy adventure films]]