How Milo Thatch Avoids Being A White Savior:
He doesn’t go to Atlantis to teach the Atlanteans the ways of the surface. He may be a linguist and cartographer, but Milo’s got the attitude of an anthropologist, he wants to observe Atlantean culture AS IT IS, and isn’t looking to change or influence it. He wants to know about THEM, he doesn’t want them to be like HIM; he approaches them as a student eager to learn, rather than an expert willing to teach.
He never assumes he knows more than they do. He specifically says to Kida “I can read and write Atlantean, JUST LIKE YOU CAN.” He never claims or acts like he knows more about Atlantean culture and language than Kida, and he’s genuinely upset when he learns the Atlanteans have lost the ability to read their own language. He’s also very aware that he’s most likely getting things wrong; after speaking Atlantean he asks Kida “How’s my accent?” and she immediately replies with “Boorish, provincial, and you speak it through your nose.”
Unlike Rourke, Milo does his best to respect and adhere to the customs and mannerisms of the Atlanteans, rather than assuming surface world behavior is best. When introduced to the king, Milo copies Kida’s bow, and advises Rourke to obey the king’s orders instead of just doing whatever they want. It may not be what he’s used to, but he goes out of his way to emulate Atlantean behaviors out of respect; this is their home, and he’s the foreigner here.
He gives credit for what he knows back to the Atlanteans. When he shows the others how to operate the flying fish, he specifically says “Kida showed me.” She was studying the flying fish and trying to get them to work long before he arrived, and he acknowledges her efforts by giving her the credit for the rediscovery. He even says to her “You deserve credit for even getting this far.” when she first shows him, since she couldn’t even read the instructions but still managed to mostly figure out what they said.
He gets permission. Kida specifically asks for Milo’s help in reading the written history to find answers, and he is INVITED to stay in Atlantis and teach them. The king begs him to save Kida and the rest of Atlantis, and GIVES him the crystal he uses in the battle. Kida welcomes him to Atlantis and shows him the city and it’s culture; he never just assumes he’s welcome or accepted.
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I swear to crescent, if they give me freaking Chicken Little and that annoying little Gurgi but not Jim Hawkins or Milo Thatch, I’m gonna scream in the theater.
“Every main character from every film” is promising... and far too ambitious for them to actually achieve.
EDIT: I made this like a month before the short premiered. THEY’RE ALL IN IT AND I AM SO HAPPY
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