Synopsis

In 16th-century Spain, two charming swindlers win a map to the fabled city of gold and accidentally reach the New World. When the people of El Dorado mistake them for gods, the pair enjoy wealth and influence while concealing the truth. Their friendship is tested by greed, danger, and the growing realization that escaping with the treasure may condemn the city and its people.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was released on March 31, 2000, and runs 89 minutes.

• It was DreamWorks Feature Animation's third theatrical animated feature, following Antz and The Prince of Egypt.

• The production used traditional hand-drawn animation, enhanced with computer-generated imagery for selected environments and effects.

• Elton John and Tim Rice wrote the songs, while Hans Zimmer and John Powell composed the instrumental score. Unlike many animated musicals, the songs were designed to advance the story rather than simply pause it.

• The film's two central voice performers recorded their dialogue together, an unusual practice for animated productions, where actors generally work separately.

• Several potential sequels were reportedly considered, with the characters traveling to other legendary locations. Those plans were abandoned after the film's disappointing theatrical performance.

• The production budget was estimated at $95 million, while worldwide theatrical earnings totaled approximately $76.4 million.

• A visual joke appears in Tzekel-Kan's sacred book: one illustration echoes the image of a man fishing from the moon in the DreamWorks logo.

• The film later developed a strong cult following, particularly for its musical numbers, comedic tone, stylized character animation, and more mature humor than was typical of mainstream animated features at the time.