Synopsis

Computer programmer Kevin Flynn is pulled into the digital world inside the ENCOM mainframe after attempting to expose a corporate rival who stole his work. Forced to compete in dangerous electronic games, Flynn joins the security program TRON and fellow programs seeking freedom from the tyrannical Master Control Program. Together, they fight to restore balance between humans and their computerized creations.

Factoids & Trivia

• Released by Walt Disney Productions on July 9, 1982, TRON became one of the earliest feature films to make extensive use of computer-generated imagery and to present a fully realized computer-generated environment.

• Much of the film's distinctive glowing appearance was created through backlit animation. Live-action footage was photographed in black and white, enhanced frame by frame, and combined with colored light effects.

• The computer used for major visual-effects work had only 2 megabytes of memory and 330 megabytes of storage, specifications that appear tiny by modern standards.

• TRON was disqualified from the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects because Academy voters considered the use of computer-generated imagery to be contrary to the spirit of the category.

• The film's arcade tie-in became a major commercial success. Its popularity helped establish TRON as a lasting video game and science-fiction property, even though the movie itself was initially viewed as a financial disappointment.

• The production incorporates recognizable arcade imagery, including a Pac-Man reference and sounds from the game. A Hidden Mickey can also be seen during the solar sailer sequence.

• Electronic composer Wendy Carlos created the score, combining synthesizers with orchestral writing to give the computer world a sound distinct from conventional science-fiction films of the period.

• The film later developed a strong cult following and influenced generations of visual-effects artists, animators, game designers, and filmmakers.