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Jiminy Christmas! IT'S A MACHINE!!!
―Milo Thatch after seeing the Leviathan's eye


The Leviathan is a giant Atlantean artifact that was left near the underwater entrance to Atlantis so that it could protect the city from intruders. Being longer than a submarine, the Leviathan is a mechanical monstrosity that closely resembles a lobster. According to Milo Thatch, the Leviathan's lair has ships from every era, meaning that the giant has killed many men throughout the centuries. It is also capable of flight, as seen just before the destruction of Atlantis.

Background[]

The Shepherd's Journal describes the Leviathan as a sea serpent; while the Bible describes it as a beast that breathes sparks of fire from its mouth. Milo Thatch thought this was merely a ruse, however, and thought that it was a statue. Unbeknownst to him, the Leviathan was, in fact, a real machination that subsequently attacked the Ulysses. Also, the creature was not even a sea serpent, but a giant, robotic, lobster like creature. Also, this creature was able to fly, but being submerged only made it appear to be swimming.

Abilities and Weaknesses[]

The sheer immense size of the Leviathan, which was capable of holding the 382-foot long Ulysses within just its smaller set of claws, allowed it to easily crush its enemies. It can easily destroy enemy ships in one blow by launching powerful bolts of electrical energy from its mouth. However, due to its size, any ship that manages to elude its capture can get into the entrance to Atlantis, where it is too big to fit.

In the original treatment, Milo figures a way to destroy the Leviathan when in a Sub Pod with Helga Sinclair. However, this concept was dropped early in pre-production. All that remains of this are one or two storyboards and an animation test that also contained an early design idea for Helga.

Appearances[]

Atlantis: The Lost Empire[]

Six Leviathans began to fly away from the tsunami. Three Leviathans are swallowed by a gigantic tsunami accidentally/purposefully generated by the King of Atlantis. These machines were used to guard Atlantis, as well as for military purposes.

For 8,800 years, only one of its kind survived the Great Flood. Due to Atlantis completely forgotten all knowledge to the extent of welcoming strangers, the Leviathan is eventually forgotten and it guards the volcanic crater (the only way to Atlantis), destroyed ships and vessels (including a ship containing the Viking Expedition led by Thorfinn Karlsefni) which trespassed its domain.

In 1914, it attacks the submarine Ulysses for trespassing on its territory. The submarine is destroyed and it continues its onslaught by killing 100 crew members in which only the remaining 100 managed to get into the crevice and escaped its wrath.

Atlantis: Milo's Return[]

The Leviathan is known to have investigated the return of Team Atlantis, who returned using the original route instead of using the volcano for some unknown reason, as they would not have encountered the being otherwise. It apparently sensed the Atlantean crystal necklaces the team wore that identified them as Friends of Atlantis and allowed them to pass. Later on, it is mentioned in passing as a possible suspect regarding Kraken attacks, although the Kraken was neither Atlantean nor mechanical.

It is unknown what became of the creature after the raising of Atlantis, but it is presumed that it continues to guard the (no longer needed) entrance.

Gallery[]

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Trivia[]

  • The Leviathan resembles a lobster, much like the other Atlantean vehicles resemble sea creatures. It (or perhaps another of its kind) can be seen flying in the movie prologue.
  • As mentioned by Milo, the creature is one of the three Biblical monsters, the others being the Ziz of the sky, and the Behemoth of the earth, with the Leviathan being of the sea.
  • The Leviathan may also be similar to a Eurypterid also known as a Sea Scorpion, an extinct group of arthropods related to arachnids which include the largest known arthropods that ever lived.
  • In Once Upon a Time, the character Lancelot was also known as Leviathan.
  • In The Avengers, which was directed by Joss Whedon, one of screenwriter of Atlantis: The Lost Empire, giant Chitauri flying machines also called Leviathans.
  • The surviving Leviathan's malicious programming resembled King Kashekim Nedakh's xenophobia towards visitors (the face resembled the king's). Ironically, it represents Atlantis' true might before the Great Flood.
  • The Leviathan's piercing roar during it's pursuit of the remaining subpods and Aqua-Evacs containing the expedition crew is actually the roar of a Gallimimus from Jurassic Park, and the sounds it made on the hydrophone were used by a Brachiosaurus from the same film.
  • In the Disney Animation Building's replica of the Magic Mirror in Disney California Adventure, the Leviathan is used to represent the zodiac symbol Scorpio along the mirror's borders.


v - e - d
Atlantis-the-lost-empire-logo
Media
Films: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (soundtrack/video) • Atlantis: Milo's Return

Books: Atlantis Subterranean Tours: A Traveler's Guide to the Lost CityThe Mythical World of Atlantis, From Plato to DisneyThe Secret of the Shepherd's JournalDisney's Wonderful World of Reading
Video Games: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (video game)Atlantis: Search for the JournalAtlantis: Trial by FireDisney Sorcerer's ArenaDisney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney Dreamlight Valley
Cancelled projects: Team Atlantis

Disney Parks
Fireworks: Disney Animation BuildingDisney Stars and Motor Cars ParadeWonderful World of AnimationWondrous Journeys
Characters
The Lost Empire: Milo ThatchKida NedakhLyle Tiberius RourkeHelga SinclairAudrey RamirezVincenzo SantoriniGaetan MolièreJoshua SweetCookieWilhelmina PackardPreston B. WhitmoreKashekim NedakhQueen of AtlantisAtlanteansThaddeus ThatchFenton Q. HarcourtLeviathan

Milo's Return: ObbyLava WhaleEdgar VolgudKrakkenChakashiAshtin CarnabySam McKeaneErik HellstromSurtr
Deleted Characters: Zoltan the Magnificent

Locations
Washington, D.C.AtlantisIceland
Objects/Vehicles
Shepherd's JournalHeart of AtlantisGungnirKetakMartagUlyssesAqua-Evac
See Also
Atlantean languageAtlantis ExpeditionFire MountainTeam AtlantisWhere the Dream Takes You
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