Film 944: TRON

Film 944: TRON

Trivia: Deborah Harry was among the actresses who were screen tested for the role of Lora/Yori.

All the live action that occurred inside the computer was filmed in black and white, and colorized later with photographic and rotoscopic techniques.

HIDDEN MICKEY: In the "solar sailer" sequence, you'll see, for a brief moment, the silhouette of Mickey Mouse on the ground made to look like part of the terrain.

Although the film was an initial failure, the arcade video games based on it proved to be a tremendous hit and actually out-grossed the film.

The DVD commentary notes that there is almost no camera movement whatsoever in any of the shots of the electronic world with live-action characters in them. They brought in a camera and tripod with metal batwings attached, and literally nailed the camera to the floor; the camera was so locked off that "it wouldn't move even if hit by a car". The few shots with live-action characters which actually have camera movement (about a dozen shots in all) involve simple graphics or animation, such as one-color backlighting.

To inspire the actors, arcade games were placed on the production sets and could be played during downtime. Jeff Bridges apparently was the most adept at the games and found it hard to tear himself away from a game to shoot a scene.

The programmer's cubicles at Encom were shot using the actual programmer's cubicles at The Walt Disney Company's Information Technology group. A matte painting was used to expand the area to a size more appropriate to a software company.

Pac-Man makes a graphical and audible cameo on Sark's control screen just after the light cycles escape the game grid.

The film was disqualified from receiving an Academy Award nomination for special effects, because the Academy felt at the time that using computers was "cheating".

Disneyland guests can play "Space Paranoids" in a Tomorrowland souvenir store, in the back near the Space Mountain exit. The game currently sits next to a "Tron" arcade game, and near several "Fix-It Felix Jr." arcade games. "FLN" holds all of the high scores.