We didn't ever want 'Tarzan' to feel like he was just a man. We didn't want him to stand up straight or wave goodbye. We wanted to make sure he always had that piece of gorilla in him, that he always had an animal attitude about him.
This quote touches on the intentional aboutness of character design and storytelling, emphasizing the importance of maintaining an authenticity to the essence of a character. In the context of creating a character like Tarzan, it highlights the significance of preserving his primal, animalistic traits over human conventions. This approach ensures that the character remains true to his roots — a creature influenced heavily by his environment, instincts, and raw nature, rather than societal constructs of decorum or sophistication. Such a perspective reflects a broader understanding that characters are most compelling and relatable when their core attributes are honest and unaltered. It suggests that by embracing his animal instincts, Tarzan becomes more than just a man; he embodies a bridge between human and wild, embodying the tension and harmony between the two states. This deliberate choice influences the audience's connection to Tarzan, fostering empathy and admiration for his authenticity and unfallen identity. It also underscores a philosophical stance on storytelling: to respect the core traits that define a character, even if they diverge from conventional human behaviors, enriches narrative depth and emotional resonance. This principle extends beyond fictional characters as well, reminding creators to honor the integrity of their characters' intrinsic qualities, crafting a narrative that resonates on a primal, fundamental level.