Editing Tron

{{Short description|1982 film by Steven Lisberger}}
{{about|the film|the franchise|Tron (franchise){{!}}''Tron'' (franchise)|other uses|Tron (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Tron
| image          = Tron poster.jpg
| alt            = On the center of a circle, a man releasing a disc upwards into the air, with a woman standing next to him. A beam of light descends upon the disk with another light coming out from the background. A caption reads: "A world inside the computer where man has never been. Never before now."
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Steven Lisberger]]
| producer       = [[Donald Kushner]]
| screenplay     = Steven Lisberger
| story          = {{Plainlist|
* Steven Lisberger
* [[Bonnie MacBird]]
}}
| based_on       = 
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Jeff Bridges]]
* [[Bruce Boxleitner]]
* [[David Warner (actor)|David Warner]]
* [[Cindy Morgan]]
* [[Barnard Hughes]]
}}
| music          = [[Wendy Carlos]]
| cinematography = [[Bruce Logan (filmmaker)|Bruce Logan]]
| editing        = [[Jeff Gourson]]
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
* [[Walt Disney Productions]]
* Lisberger-Kushner Productions
}}
| distributor    = [[Buena Vista Distribution]]
| released       = {{Film date|1982|07|09}}
| runtime        = 96 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $17 million
| gross          = $50 million<ref name=gross>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Daily Variety]]|date=February 24, 1984|page=31|title=Disney Sets 'Tron' B.O. Record Straight}}</ref>
}}

'''''Tron''''' (stylized as '''''TRON''''') is a 1982 American [[science fiction film|science fiction]] [[action adventure film]] written and directed by [[Steven Lisberger]] from a story by Lisberger and [[Bonnie MacBird]]. The film stars [[Jeff Bridges]] as Kevin Flynn, a computer programmer and [[video game developer]] who is transported inside the software world of a mainframe computer where he interacts with programs in his attempt to escape. It also stars [[Bruce Boxleitner]], [[David Warner (actor)|David Warner]], [[Cindy Morgan]], and [[Barnard Hughes]]. ''Tron'' was one of cinema's earliest films to use extensive [[computer-generated imagery]] (CGI).

The inspiration for ''Tron'' dates back to 1976, when Lisberger became intrigued with [[video games]] after seeing ''[[Pong]]''. He and producer [[Donald Kushner]] set up an animation studio to develop ''Tron'' with the intention of making it an animated film. To promote the studio itself, Lisberger and his team created a 30-second animation featuring the first appearance of the title character. Eventually, Lisberger decided to include live-action elements with both backlit and [[computer animation]] for the actual feature-length film. Various studios had rejected the storyboards for the film before [[Walt Disney Pictures|Walt Disney Productions]] agreed to finance and distribute ''Tron''. There, backlit [[Traditional animation|animation]] was finally combined with the 2D computer animation and the live action.

''Tron'' was released on July 9, 1982. The film was a moderate success at the box office, and received positive reviews from critics, who praised its groundbreaking visuals and acting but criticized its storyline as being incoherent. ''Tron'' received nominations for [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnw3u-49CJU Gandhi Wins Costume Design: 1983 Oscars]</ref> and [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7puywQAYfqo E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Wins Best Sound: 1983 Oscars]</ref> at the [[55th Academy Awards]]. It was however disqualified from the [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]] category because at the time the Academy felt that using computer animation was "cheating".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/little-known-sci-fi-fact-why-trons-fx-got-snubbed-oscar|title=Little-known sci-fi fact: Why Tron's FX got snubbed for an Oscar|last=Jackson|first=Matthew|date=March 1, 2013|website=SYFY WIRE|language=en|access-date=January 22, 2019|archive-date=January 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123011724/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/little-known-sci-fi-fact-why-trons-fx-got-snubbed-oscar|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jul/05/tron-steven-lisberger-interview|title='Frankly it blew my mind': how Tron changed cinema – and predicted the future of tech|first=Steve|last=Rose|website=The Guardian|date=July 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107022925/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jul/05/tron-steven-lisberger-interview|archive-date=January 7, 2024}}</ref> ''Tron'' spawned multiple video games (including an [[Tron (video game)|arcade tie-in]] released shortly after the film), and as it became a [[cult film]], a [[Tron (franchise)|multimedia franchise]] including comic books. A sequel titled ''[[Tron: Legacy]]'', directed by [[Joseph Kosinski]], was released in 2010, with Bridges and Boxleitner reprising their roles and Lisberger acting as producer. A commercial success, it was followed by the [[Disney XD]] animated series ''[[Tron: Uprising]]'' in 2012, set between the two films.<ref name="Variety0410">{{cite news|title=Disney XD orders 'Tron: Legacy' toon |first=Michael |last=Schneider |newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=November 4, 2010 |url=https://variety.com/2010/tv/news/disney-xd-orders-tron-legacy-toon-1118026910/ |access-date=November 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118026910 |archive-date=June 30, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> A third installment, ''[[Tron: Ares]]'', is scheduled to be released on October 10, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tjarks |first=Jonathan |date=August 5, 2020 |title='Tron: Legacy' Has a Cult Following for a Reason |url=https://www.theringer.com/movies/2020/8/5/21354861/tron-legacy-cult-following |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805162001/https://www.theringer.com/movies/2020/8/5/21354861/tron-legacy-cult-following |archive-date=August 5, 2020 |access-date=August 6, 2020 |website=The Ringer |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2017 |title=Watch: How 'Tron: Legacy' Built its Legacy with Visual Feats |url=https://nofilmschool.com/2017/06/watch-legacy-tron-legacy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201030829/https://nofilmschool.com/2017/06/watch-legacy-tron-legacy |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |access-date=August 6, 2020 |website=No Film School |language=en}}</ref>

== Plot ==
<!-- Plot summaries should be 400-700 words. See WP:FILMPLOT. Please refrain from adding unnecessary detail. -->
Kevin Flynn is a leading [[Software|software engineer]], formerly employed by large technology corporation ENCOM. He now runs a [[video game arcade]], and attempts to [[Security hacker|hack]] into ENCOM's [[Mainframe computer|system]] with a program called CLU. However, ENCOM's [[Master Control Program (Tron)|Master Control Program]] (MCP) halts his progress and CLU is deleted. Within ENCOM, programmer Alan Bradley and his girlfriend, engineer Lora Baines, discover that the MCP has closed off their access to projects. When Alan confronts the senior executive vice president, Ed Dillinger, he asserts the security measures are an effort to stop outside hacking attempts. However, when Dillinger privately questions the MCP through his computerized desk, he realizes the MCP has expanded into a powerful [[virtual intelligence]] and has been illegally appropriating personal, business, and government programs to increase its own capabilities. As Dillinger rose to the top of ENCOM by presenting Flynn's games as his own, the MCP blackmails Dillinger by threatening to expose his plagiarism if he does not comply with its directives.

Lora deduces that Flynn is the hacker, and she and Alan go to his arcade to warn him. Flynn reveals that he has been trying to locate evidence proving Dillinger's plagiarism. Together, the three form a plan to break into ENCOM and unlock Alan's "Tron" program, a self-governing security measure designed to protect the system and counter the functions of the MCP. Once inside ENCOM, the three split up, and Flynn comes into direct conflict with the MCP through a laboratory terminal. Before Flynn can get the information he needs, the MCP uses an experimental [[laser]] to digitize and upload him into the ENCOM gaming grid<!-- It is a separate setting from the Grid seen in the sequel -->. There, computer programs are living entities appearing in the likeness of the human "Users" (programmers) who created them. The space is ruled by the MCP and its second-in-command, Sark, who coerce programs to renounce their belief in the Users and force those who resist to compete in deadly games.

Flynn is put into the games and plays well; between matches, he befriends two other captured programs, Ram and Tron. The three escape into the system during a round of ''[[light cycle|Light Cycle]]'' (an [[arcade game]] Flynn created and is skilled at), but Flynn and Ram become separated from Tron by an MCP pursuit party. While attempting to help a badly injured Ram, Flynn learns that he can manipulate portions of the system by accessing his programmer knowledge. Just before Ram "derezzes" (dies), he recognizes Flynn as a User, and encourages him to find Tron and free the system. Using his newfound ability, Flynn rebuilds a broken vehicle and disguises himself as one of Sark's soldiers.

Tron enlists help from Yori, a sympathetic program, and at an I/O tower receives information from Alan necessary to destroy the MCP. Flynn rejoins them, and the three board a hijacked solar sailer to reach the MCP's core. However, Sark's command ship destroys the sailer, capturing Flynn and Yori and presumably killing Tron. Sark leaves the command ship and orders its deresolution, but Flynn keeps it intact by manipulating the system again.

Sark reaches the MCP's core on a shuttle carrying captured programs deemed powerful or useful. While the MCP attempts to absorb these programs, Tron, who is still alive, confronts Sark and critically injures him, prompting the MCP to give Sark all its functions. Realizing that his ability to manipulate the system might give Tron an opening, Flynn leaps into the beam of the MCP, distracting it. Seeing a break in the MCP's shield, Tron attacks through the gap and destroys the MCP and Sark, ending the MCP's control over the system and allowing the captured programs to communicate with users again.

Flynn reappears in the real world, rematerialized at the terminal. Tron's victory in the system has released all lockouts on computer access, and a nearby printer proves that Dillinger had plagiarized Flynn's creations. The next morning, Dillinger enters his office to find the MCP deactivated and the proof of his theft publicized. Flynn is subsequently promoted to CEO of ENCOM and is happily greeted by Alan and Lora as their new boss.

== Cast ==
{{See also|List of Tron characters|label1=List of ''Tron'' characters}}

* [[Jeff Bridges]] as [[List of Tron characters#Kevin Flynn|Kevin Flynn]], a former ENCOM programmer and [[video game developer]] who runs an [[video arcade|arcade]] following his termination from the company. He is beamed into the mainframe via a digitizing laser by the [[List of Tron characters#Master Control Program|Master Control Program]].
** Bridges also portrays [[List of Tron characters#Clu|Clu (Codified Likeness Utility)]], a [[Hacking of consumer electronics|hacking]] program developed by Flynn to find evidence of Dillinger's theft in the mainframe.
* [[Bruce Boxleitner]] as [[List of Tron characters#Alan Bradley|Alan Bradley]], Flynn's work partner and fellow ENCOM programmer.
** Boxleitner also portrays [[List of Tron characters#Tron|Tron]], a [[Computer security|security]] program developed by Alan to self-monitor communications between the MCP and the real world.
* [[David Warner (actor)|David Warner]] as [[List of Tron characters#Ed Dillinger|Ed Dillinger]], the senior executive vice president of ENCOM. He was once a coworker of Flynn who used the Master Control Program to steal the latter's work and pass it off as his own, earning himself a series of undeserved promotions.
** Warner also portrays [[List of Tron characters#Sark|Sark]], a command program developed by Dillinger to serve as the MCP's second-in-command. 
**Warner additionally provided the uncredited voice of the [[List of Tron characters#Master Control Program|Master Control Program (MCP)]], a rogue [[artificial intelligence]] [[operating system]] that originated as a [[chess software|chess program]] created by Dr. Walter Gibbs but annexed by Dillinger for his own use. The MCP monitors and controls ENCOM's mainframe.
* [[Cindy Morgan]] as [[List of Tron characters#Lora Baines|Dr. Lora Baines]], Alan's coworker and girlfriend. She and Gibbs collaborate on ENCOM's digitization experiment.
** Morgan also portrays [[List of Tron characters#Yori|Yori]], an [[input/output]] program developed by Lora and an ally of Tron.
* [[Barnard Hughes]] as [[List of Tron characters#Walter Gibbs|Dr. Walter Gibbs]], a co-founder of ENCOM who runs the company's science division. He creates the SHV 20905 digitizing laser with Lora's assistance.
** Hughes also plays [[List of Tron characters#Dumont|Dumont]], a guardian program developed by Gibbs to protect input/output junctions in the mainframe.
* [[Dan Shor]] as [[List of Tron characters#Ram|Ram]], an [[Actuary|actuarial]] program who is a close ally of Tron and Flynn.
** Shor also briefly appears as an ENCOM programmer credited as "Popcorn Co-Worker".
* [[Peter Jurasik]] as [[List of Tron characters#Crom|Crom]], a [[compound interest]] program matched against Flynn on the Game Grid.
* Tony Stephano as Peter, Dillinger's assistant. Stephano additionally played Sark's Lieutenant.

== Production ==
=== Origins ===
The inspiration for ''Tron'' occurred in 1976 when Steven Lisberger, then an animator of drawings with his own studio, looked at a sample reel from a computer firm called [[Mathematical Applications Group, Inc.|MAGI]] and saw ''[[Pong]]'' for the first time.<ref name="Culhane">{{cite news|last=Culhane |first=John |title=Special Effects are Revolutionizing Film |work=[[New York Times]] |date=July 4, 1982 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E3DB123BF937A35754C0A964948260&sec=technology&spon=&pagewanted=all |access-date=January 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E3DB123BF937A35754C0A964948260&sec=technology&spon=&pagewanted=all |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He was immediately fascinated by video games and wanted to do a film incorporating them. According to Lisberger, "I realized that there were these techniques that would be very suitable for bringing video games and computer visuals to the screen. And that was the moment that the whole concept flashed across my mind".<ref name="Patterson, Richard">{{cite news | last = Patterson | first = Richard | title = The Making of ''Tron'' | work = [[American Cinematographer]] | date = August 1982 }}</ref> The film's concept of entering a parallel game world was also inspired by the classic tale ''[[Alice in Wonderland]]''.<ref name="Tron">{{cite magazine |title=The Making of Tron |magazine=Video Games Player |date=September 1982 |volume=1 |issue=1 |publisher=Carnegie Publications |pages=50–5 |url=https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Player_Vol_1_No_1_1982-09_Carnegie_Publications_US/page/n49/mode/2up}}</ref>

Lisberger had already created an early version of the character 'Tron' for a 30 second long animation which was used to promote both Lisberger Studios and a series of various rock radio stations. This backlit [[cel animation]] depicted Tron as a character who glowed yellow; the same shade that Lisberger had originally intended for all the heroic characters developed for the feature-length ''Tron''. This was later changed to blue for the finished film (see [[#Production|Pre-production]] below). The prototype Tron was bearded and resembled the [[Cylon (1978)|Cylon]] Centurions from the 1978 TV series ''[[Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]''. Also, Tron was armed with two "exploding discs", as Lisberger described them on the 2-Disc DVD edition ([[List of Tron characters#Rinzler/Tron|see Rinzler]]).

Lisberger elaborates: "Everybody was doing backlit animation in the 70s, you know. It was that disco look. And we thought, what if we had this character that was a neon line, and that was our Tron warrior&nbsp;– Tron for electronic. And what happened was, I saw ''Pong'', and I said, well, that's the arena for him. And at the same time I was interested in the early phases of computer generated animation, which I got into at MIT in Boston, and when I got into that I met a bunch of programmers who were into all that. And they really inspired me, by how much they believed in this new realm."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/Tron/687709/interview_justin_springer_and_steven_lisberger_coproducers_of_tron_legacy.html |title=Interview: Justin Springer and Steven Lisberger, co-producers of Tron: Legacy |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://www.denofgeek.com/Tron/687709/interview_justin_springer_and_steven_lisberger_coproducers_of_tron_legacy.html |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

He was frustrated by the clique-like nature of computers and video games and wanted to create a film that would open this world up to everyone. Lisberger and his business partner [[Donald Kushner]] moved to the West Coast in 1977 and set up an animation studio to develop ''Tron''.<ref name="Patterson, Richard" /> They borrowed against the anticipated profits of their 90-minute animated television special ''[[Animalympics]]'' to develop storyboards for ''Tron'' with the notion of making an animated film.<ref name="Culhane" /> But after ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' mentioned the project briefly during its early phase, it caught the attention of computer scientist [[Alan Kay]]. He contacted Lisberger and convinced him to use him as an adviser on the movie, then persuaded him to use real CGI instead of just hand-animation.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=WOwyRnZ1oxoC&dq=Tron+hand-animated+back-lit+Variety+Alan+Kay+Xerox+PARC+Lisberger&pg=PA160 Moving Innovation: A History of Computer Animation]</ref>

[[Bonnie MacBird]] wrote the first drafts of Tron with extensive input from Lisberger,<ref name="mm">{{cite web |url=https://mediamikes.com/2011/09/interview-with-trons-bonnie-macbird/ |title=Bonnie MacBird talks about co-writing 1982's "TRON" |first= Mike  |last=Gencarelli |date=September 27, 2011 |website=Media Mikes |access-date=September 18, 2020}}</ref> basing the original personality of Alan on Alan Kay.<ref name="nf">{{cite web |date=October 30, 2012 |title=NTF Exclusive – Tron 30th Anniversary Screening Review! |url=https://nukethefridge.com/ntf-exclusive-tron-30th-anniversary-screening-review/ |access-date=September 18, 2020 |website=Nuke the Fridge |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918215655/http://nukethefridge.com/ntf-exclusive-tron-30th-anniversary-screening-review/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a result of working together, Kay and MacBird became close and later married.<ref name="mm"/> She also created Tron as a character (rather than a visual demo) and Flynn.<ref name="mm"/> Originally, MacBird envisioned Flynn more comedically, suggesting the then 30-year-old [[Robin Williams]] for the role.<ref name="nf"/> Besides many story changes after the script went to Disney, including giving it "a more serious tone with quasi religious overtones",<ref name="mm"/> and removing most of the scientific elements,<ref name="mm"/> none of her dialogue remains in the final film,<ref name="ts">{{cite web |date=2002 |title=March 2002 Q&A; with Bonnie MacBird |url=http://www.tron-sector.com/Articles/article.asp?ID=13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030109182549/http://www.tron-sector.com/Articles/article.asp?ID=13 |archive-date=January 9, 2003 |access-date=September 18, 2020 |website=Tron Sector}}</ref> and there was a "rather bitter credits dispute."<ref name="ts"/>

The film was eventually conceived as an animated film bracketed with live-action sequences.<ref name="Patterson, Richard" /> The rest involved a combination of computer-generated visuals and back-lit animation. Lisberger planned to finance the movie independently by approaching several computer companies but had little success. However, one company, [[Information International Inc.]], was receptive.<ref name="Patterson, Richard" /> He met with Richard Taylor, a representative, and they began talking about using live-action photography with back-lit animation in such a way that it could be integrated with computer graphics. At this point, there was a script and the film was entirely [[storyboard]]ed, with some computer-animation tests completed.<ref name="Patterson, Richard" /> He had spent approximately $300,000 developing ''Tron'' and had also secured $4–5 million in private backing before reaching a standstill. Lisberger and Kushner took their storyboards and samples of computer-generated films to [[Warner Bros.]], [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]], and [[Columbia Pictures]]&nbsp;– all of which turned them down.<ref name="Culhane" />

In 1980, they decided to take the idea to [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Productions]], which was interested in producing more daring productions at the time.<ref name="Patterson, Richard" /> Tom Wilhite, Disney's vice president for creative development, watched Lisberger's test footage and convinced [[Ron W. Miller|Ron Miller]] to give the movie a chance.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1981/04/19/the-disney-draw/e5d46970-9d52-4597-a427-fa8f2467e839/ The Disney Draw – The Washington Post]</ref><ref>[http://jimhillmedia.com/guest_writers1/b/leo_n_holzer/archive/2010/12/15/former-disney-ceo-ron-miller-recalls-his-own-quot-tron-quot-legacy.aspx Former Disney CEO Ron Miller recalls his own "TRON" legacy]</ref> However, Disney executives were uncertain about giving $10–12 million to a first-time producer and director using techniques which, in most cases, had never been attempted. The studio agreed to finance a test reel which involved a [[flying disc]] champion throwing a rough prototype of the discs used in the film.<ref name="Patterson, Richard" /> It was a chance to mix live-action footage with back-lit animation and computer-generated visuals. It impressed the executives at Disney and they agreed to back the film. MacBird and Lisberger's script was subsequently re-written and re-storyboarded with the studio's input.<ref name="Patterson, Richard" /> At the time, Disney rarely hired outsiders to make films for them, and Kushner found that he and his group were given a chilly reception because they "tackled the nerve center&nbsp;– [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|the animation department]]. They saw us as the germ from outside. We tried to enlist several Disney animators, but none came. Disney is a closed group."<ref name="Ansen2">{{cite news | last = Ansen | first = David | title = When You Wish Upon a ''Tron'' | work = [[Newsweek]] | date = July 5, 1982 }}</ref> As a result, they hired [[Wang Film Productions]] for the animation.

=== Production ===
Because of the many special effects, Disney decided in 1981 to film ''Tron'' completely in 65-mm [[Super Panavision]] (except for the computer-generated layers, which were shot in [[VistaVision]]; and both [[Anamorphic format|anamorphic 35mm]] and [[Super 35]], which were used for some scenes in the "real" world, and subsequently "blown up" to 65&nbsp;mm).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in70mm.com/newsletter/2000/60/tron/answer/index.htm |title=In70mm.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://www.in70mm.com/newsletter/2000/60/tron/answer/index.htm |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Three designers were brought in to create the look of the computer world.<ref name="Patterson, Richard" /> French comic book artist [[Jean Giraud]] (also known as Moebius) was the main set and costume designer for the film. Most of the vehicle designs (including Sark's aircraft carrier, the light cycles, the tank, and the solar sailer) were created by industrial designer [[Syd Mead]]. [[Peter Lloyd (illustrator)|Peter Lloyd]], a high-tech commercial artist, designed the environments.<ref name="Patterson, Richard" /> Nevertheless, these jobs often overlapped, leaving Giraud working on the solar sailer and Mead designing terrain, sets and the film's logo. The original 'Program' character design was inspired by Lisberger Studios' logo of a glowing bodybuilder hurling two [[Flying disc|discs]].<ref name="Patterson, Richard" />

To create the computer animation sequences of ''Tron'', Disney turned to the four leading computer graphics firms of the day: [[Information International, Inc.]] of [[Culver City, California]], who owned the [[Foonly#The Foonly F1|Super Foonly F-1]] (the fastest [[PDP-10]] ever made and the only one of its kind); [[Mathematical Applications Group, Inc.|MAGI]] of [[Elmsford, New York]]; [[Robert Abel and Associates]] of California; and [[Digital Effects]] of New York City.<ref name="Patterson, Richard" /> [[Bill Kovacs]] worked on the film while working for Robert Abel before going on to found [[Wavefront Technologies]]. The work was not a collaboration, resulting in very different styles used by the firms.

''Tron'' was one of the first films to make extensive use of any form of [[computer animation]], and it is celebrated as a milestone in the industry, although only fifteen to twenty minutes of such animation were used (mostly scenes that show digital "terrain" or patterns, or include vehicles such as light-cycles, tanks and ships).<ref name="DVD">Interview with [[Harrison Ellenshaw]], supplemental material on ''Tron'' DVD</ref> Because the technology to combine computer animation and live action did not exist at the time, these sequences were interspersed with the filmed characters. One of the computers used had only 2&nbsp;MB of memory and no more than 330&nbsp;MB of storage. This put a limit on detail of background; and at a certain distance, they had a procedure of mixing in black to fade things out, a process called "depth cueing". The film's Computer Effects Supervisor Richard Taylor told them "When in doubt, black it out!", which became their motto.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digitalcontentproducer.com/dcc/revfeat/video_tron/ |title=The influence of Disney's Tron in filmmaking Tron and CG moviemaking |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707/http://digitalcontentproducer.com/dcc/revfeat/video_tron/ |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Originally the film was meant to use white backgrounds like in ''[[THX 1138]]'' inside the Grid, but it would require such huge amounts of lights that it was decided to use black backgrounds instead.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tested.com/art/movies/520562-putting-original-trons-special-effects-together/ |title=Putting Tron's Special Effects Together – Tested |access-date=May 12, 2018 |archive-date=May 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512181521/http://www.tested.com/art/movies/520562-putting-original-trons-special-effects-together/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The computers used at the time could not perform animation, so the frames had to be produced one by one. In some of the more complex sequences, like the Solar Sailer moving through metal canyons, each frame could take up to six hours to produce. There was no way to digitally [[Film-out|print them on film]], either; rather, a motion picture camera was placed in front of a computer screen to capture each individual frame.<ref>[https://variety.com/2017/film/news/tron-jeff-bridges-cgi-1982-disney-anniversary-1202486941/ TRON, Jeff Bridges & CGI: The Classic 80's Film Anniversary&nbsp;– Variety]</ref><ref>[http://www.cgw.com/Press-Center/Web-Exclusives/2011/Original-TRON.aspx Original TRON | Computer Graphics World]</ref><ref>[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/93956/tron#articles-reviews Tron (1982) – Articles – TCM.com]</ref>

Most of the scenes, backgrounds, and visual effects in the film were created using more traditional techniques and a unique process known as "backlit animation".<ref name="Patterson, Richard" /> In this process, live-action scenes inside the computer world were filmed in [[black-and-white]] on an entirely black set, placed in an enlarger for blow-ups and transferred to [[large format]] Kodalith high-contrast film. These negatives were then used to make Kodalith sheets with a reverse (positive) image. Clear cels were laid over each sheet and all portions of the figure except the areas that were exposed for the later camera passes were manually blacked out. Next the Kodalith sheets and cel overlays were placed over a light box while a VistaVision camera mounted above it made separate passes and different color filters. A typical shot normally required 12 passes, but some sequences, like the interior of the electronic tank, could need as many as 50 passes. About 300 matte paintings were made for the film, each photographed onto a large piece of [[Ektachrome]] film before colors were added by gelatin filters in a similar procedure as in the Kodaliths. The mattes, [[rotoscoping|rotoscopic]] and CGI were then combined and composed together to give them a "technological" appearance.<ref name="Ansen2" /><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180522180956/https://computerarchive.org/files/computer/magazines/electronic%20games/Electronic_Games_Issue_08_Vol_01_08_1982_Oct.pdf The Magnificent Look of ... TRON; Electronic Games, 1982-10 – page 56]</ref> With multiple layers of high-contrast, large format positives and negatives, this process required truckloads of [[sheet film]] and a workload even greater than that of a conventional cel-animated feature. The Kodalith was specially produced as large sheets by Kodak for the film and came in numbered boxes so that each batch of the film could be used in order of manufacture for a consistent image. However, this was not understood by the filmmakers and, as a result, glowing outlines and circuit traces occasionally flicker as the film speed varied between batches. After the reason was discovered, this was no longer a problem as the batches were used in order and "zinger" sounds were used during the flickering parts to represent the computer world malfunctioning as Lisberger described it.<ref>The Making of Tron (DVD Feature)</ref> Lisberger later had these flickers and sounds digitally corrected for the 2011 restored Blu-ray release as they were not included in his original vision of the film. Due to its difficulty and cost, this process of back-lit animation was not repeated for another feature film.

Sound design and creation for the film was assigned to Frank Serafine, who was responsible for the sound design on ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture#Sound effects|Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'' in 1979. “There were over 750 units [separate tape segments] in the picture," said Serafine.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Meyer |first1=E. Brad |title=Reeling in the LA sound effects: Behind TRON's soundtrack |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_boston-phoenix_1982-08-17_11_33/page/11/mode/1up |access-date=September 15, 2024 |work=The Boston Phoenix |date=August 17, 1982}}</ref> He created all the sound effects in the movie exclusively by synthesizers and similar electronic devices.<ref>[https://cnmsarchive.wordpress.com/2023/03/25/electronic-music-by-carlos/ ElecTRONic Music by Carlos - Cinefantastique]</ref>

At one point in the film, a small entity called "Bit" advises Flynn with only the words "yes" and "no" created by a [[Votrax]] speech synthesizer.

''[[BYTE]]'' wrote: "Although this film is very much the personal expression of Steven Lisberger's vision, nevertheless [it] has certainly been a group effort".<ref name="sorensen198211">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1982-11/1982_11_BYTE_07-11_Graphics#page/n49/mode/2up | title=Tronic Imagery | work=BYTE | date=November 1982 | access-date=October 19, 2013 | author=Sorensen, Peter | pages=48}}</ref> More than 569 people were involved in the post-production work, including 200 inkers and hand-painters, 85 of them from Taiwan's [[Cuckoo's Nest Studio]]. Unusual for an English-language production, in the end credits the Taiwanese personnel were listed with their names written in [[Chinese characters]].<ref name="Ansen2" />

This film features parts of the [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]]; the multi-story ENCOM laser bay was the target area for the [[Shiva laser|SHIVA]] solid-state multi-beamed laser. Also, the stairway that Alan, Lora, and Flynn use to reach Alan's office is the stairway in Building 451 near the entrance to the main machine room. The cubicle scenes were shot in another room of the lab. At the time, ''Tron'' was the only film to have scenes filmed inside this lab.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lasers.llnl.gov/about/people/people_of_nif/rod_saunders.php |title=The People of NIF: Rod Saunders: Each Day is an Adventure |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805/https://lasers.llnl.gov/about/people/people_of_nif/rod_saunders.php |archive-date=August 5, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The original script called for "good" programs to be colored yellow and "evil" programs (those loyal to Sark and the MCP) to be colored blue. Partway into production, this coloring scheme was changed to blue for good and red for evil, but some scenes were produced using the original coloring scheme: Clu, who drives a tank, has yellow circuit lines, and all of Sark's tank commanders are blue (but appear green in some presentations). Also, the light-cycle sequence shows the heroes driving yellow (Flynn), orange (Tron), and red (Ram) cycles, while Sark's troops drive blue cycles; similarly, Clu's tank is red, while tanks driven by crews loyal to Sark are blue.

Because of all the personal information about citizens which exist inside computer networks, such as social security number and driver's license, the idea was that each real world person has a digital counterpart inside the Grid based on information about them, which is why it was decided to use some of the same actors in both worlds.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of-IF7R-fgo&t=16s Making of Tron]</ref>

Budgeting the production was difficult by reason of breaking new ground in response to additional challenges, including an impending [[Directors Guild of America]] strike and a fixed release date.<ref name="Patterson, Richard" /> Disney predicted at least $400 million in domestic sales of merchandise, including an arcade game by [[Midway Games|Bally Midway]] and three [[Mattel]] [[Intellivision]] home video games.<ref name="Ansen2" />

The producers also added [[Easter egg (media)|Easter eggs]]: during the scene where Tron and Ram escape from the [[Light Cycle]] arena into the system, [[Pac-Man]] can be seen behind Sark (with the corresponding sounds from the ''Pac-Man'' arcade game being heard in the background), while a "[[Hidden Mickey]]" outline (located at time 01:12:29 on the re-release Blu-ray) can be seen below the solar sailer during the protagonists' journey.<!-- The whole paragraph --> The film set also included the arcade games ''[[Space Invaders]]'' (1978), ''[[Asteroids (video game)|Asteroids]]'' (1979) and ''[[Pac-Man]]'' (1980).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaudiosi |first1=John |title='Tron: Legacy' Director, Disney Hoping to Extend Film Franchise Via Video Games |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disneys-tron-remains-pinnacle-hollywood-61415 |access-date=20 April 2021 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=17 December 2010}}</ref>

''Tron'' was originally meant to be released during the Christmas season of 1982, but when chairman of the Disney board [[Card Walker]] found out the release date of [[Don Bluth]]'s film ''[[The Secret of NIMH]]'' was in early July, he rushed it into a summer release to be able to compete with Bluth, and it ended up competing with films like ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'', ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'', ''[[Blade Runner]]'' and ''[[Poltergeist (1982 film)|Poltergeist]]''.<ref>[http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2012/01/04/new-william-kallay-book-reveals-quot-how-tron-changed-visual-effects-and-disney-forever.aspx New William Kallay book reveals "How Tron Changed Visual Effects and Disney Forever"]</ref>

=== Music ===
{{Main|Tron (soundtrack){{!}}''Tron'' (soundtrack)}}
The soundtrack for ''Tron'' was written by pioneer electronic musician [[Wendy Carlos]], who is best known for her album ''[[Switched-On Bach]]'' and for the soundtracks to many films, including the [[Stanley Kubrick]]-directed films ''[[A Clockwork Orange (film)|A Clockwork Orange]]'' and ''[[The Shining (film)|The Shining]]''. The music, which was the first collaboration between Carlos and her partner Annemarie Franklin,<ref name="KeyboardMag">{{cite journal|last=Moog|first=Robert|title=The Soundtrack of TRON|journal=Keyboard Magazine|date=November 1982|pages=53–57|access-date=July 16, 2009|url=http://www.wendycarlos.com/other/PDF-Files/KbdOnTRON*.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202105815/http://wendycarlos.com/other/PDF-Files/KbdOnTRON*.pdf|archive-date=December 2, 2010}}</ref> featured a mix of an analog [[Moog synthesizer]] and [[Crumar]]'s GDS digital synthesizer (complex [[Additive synthesis|additive]] and [[FM synthesis|phase modulation]] [[sound synthesis|synthesis]]), along with non-electronic pieces performed by the [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]] (hired at the insistence of Disney, which was concerned that Carlos might not be able to complete her score on time). Two additional musical tracks ("1990's Theme" and "Only Solutions") were provided by the American band [[Journey (band)|Journey]] after British band [[Supertramp]] pulled out of the project. An album featuring dialogue, music and sound effects from the film was also released on LP by Disneyland Records in 1982.

== Reception and legacy ==
=== Box office ===
''Tron'' was released on July 9, 1982, in 1,091 theaters in the United States and Canada grossing [[USD]] $4 million on its opening weekend. It went on to gross $33 million in the United States and Canada<ref name="boxoffice">{{cite web|title=''Tron'' |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=tron.htm |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=tron.htm |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and $17 million overseas, for a worldwide gross of approximately $50 million,<ref name=gross/> which was Disney's highest-grossing live action film for 5 years.<ref name=letters>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Daily Variety]]|page=10|date=February 23, 1984|title=Letters to the Editor|last=Lisberger|first=Steven|author-link=Steven Lisberger}}</ref>

In addition, the film had $70 million in wholesale merchandise sales.<ref name=letters/>

Despite the gross and merchandise sales, it was seen as a financial disappointment, and the studio wrote off some of its $17 million budget.<ref>Stewart, James B. (2005). ''DisneyWar: The Battle for the Magic Kingdom'' (p. 45). New York: [[Simon & Schuster]]</ref>

=== Critical response ===
The film was well-received by critics. [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film four out of four stars and described it as "a dazzling movie from Disney in which computers have been used to make themselves romantic and glamorous. Here's a technological sound-and-light show that is sensational and brainy, stylish and fun".<ref name="Ebert">{{cite news|last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=''Tron'' |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=January 1, 1982 |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19820101/REVIEWS/201010350/1023 |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19820101/REVIEWS/201010350/1023 |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, near the end of his review, he noted (in a positive tone), "This is an almost wholly technological movie. Although it's populated by actors who are engaging (Bridges, Cindy Morgan) or sinister (Warner), it's not really a movie about human nature. Like ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' or ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' but much more so, this movie is a machine to dazzle and delight us".<ref name="Ebert" /> Ebert closed his first annual Overlooked Film Festival with a showing of ''Tron''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival #1 Schedule |url=http://ebertfest.com/one/schedule.htm |access-date=December 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710/http://ebertfest.com/one/schedule.htm |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Gene Siskel]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' also awarded four out of four stars, calling it "a trip, and a terrifically entertaining one at that...It's a dazzler that opens up our minds to our new tools, all in a traditional film narrative."<ref>[[Gene Siskel|Siskel, Gene]] (July 9, 1982). "Marvelous 'TRON' sends Disney soaring into the '80s". ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. Section 3, pp. 1–2.</ref> Each gave the film "two thumbs up".<ref>[https://siskelebert.org/?p=6633 Tron, The Secret of NIMH, The Devil's Playground, Gregory's Girl, 1982 - Siskel and Ebert Movie Reviews]</ref> ''Tron'' was also featured in Siskel and Ebert's video pick of the week in 1993.<ref>[https://siskelebert.org/?p=2771 Life with Mikey, Super Mario Bros., Guilty as Sin, What's Love Got to Do with It, 1993 - Siskel and Ebert Movie Reviews]</ref>

''InfoWorld''{{'}}s Deborah Wise was impressed, writing that "it's hard to believe the characters acted out the scenes on a darkened soundstage... We see characters throwing illuminated [[Frisbee]]s, driving 'lightcycles' on a video-game grid, playing a dangerous version of [[jai alai]] and zapping numerous fluorescent tanks in arcade-game-type mazes. It's exciting, it's fun, and it's just what video-game fans and anyone with a spirit of adventure will love—despite plot weaknesses."<ref>Deborah Wise, "Unabashed fan and critics' critic talk about Disney's ''Tron''," ''InfoWorld'' Vol. 4, No. 30 (August 2, 1982): [https://books.google.com/books?id=NjAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Tron+film+characters&pg=PA71 70-71].</ref>

On the other hand, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' disliked the film and said in its review, "''Tron'' is loaded with visual delights but falls way short of the mark in story and viewer involvement. Screenwriter-director Steven Lisberger has adequately marshalled a huge force of technicians to deliver the dazzle, but even kids (and specifically computer game geeks) will have a difficult time getting hooked on the situations".<ref name="Variety">{{cite news|title=''Tron'' |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=January 1, 1982 |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117795896.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117795896.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In her review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Janet Maslin]] criticized the film's visual effects: "They're loud, bright and empty, and they're all this movie has to offer".<ref name="Maslin">{{cite news|last=Maslin |first=Janet |title=''Tron'' |work=[[New York Times]] |date=July 9, 1982 |url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=2&res=9500E7DB103BF93AA35754C0A964948260&partner=Rotten%20Tomatoes&oref=slogin&oref=login |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=2&res=9500E7DB103BF93AA35754C0A964948260&partner=Rotten+Tomatoes&oref=slogin&oref=login |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The ''[[Washington Post]]'''s Gary Arnold wrote, "Fascinating as they are as discrete sequences, the computer-animated episodes don't build dramatically. They remain a miscellaneous form of abstract spectacle".<ref name="Arnold">{{cite news | last = Arnold | first = Gary | title = Duel of Two Disneys | newspaper = [[Washington Post]] | pages = C1 | date = July 10, 1982 }}</ref> In his review for ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', [[Jay Scott]] wrote, "It's got momentum and it's got marvels, but it's without heart; it's a visionary technological achievement without vision".<ref name="Scott">{{cite news | last = Scott | first = Jay | title = ''Tron'' Beautiful but Heartless | work = The Globe and Mail | date = July 10, 1982 }}</ref>

[[Colin Greenland]] reviewed the home video release of ''Tron'' for ''[[Imagine (game magazine)|Imagine]]'' magazine, and stated that "three plucky young programmers descend into the micro-world to battle the Master Control Program with a sacred frisbee. Loses much of its excitement on the little screen."<ref name="Imagine25">{{cite journal | last = Greenland|first = Colin |author-link=Colin Greenland| title =Fantasy Media  | type = review | journal = [[Imagine (AD&D magazine)|Imagine]] | issue = 25| pages =47 | publisher = TSR Hobbies (UK), Ltd. |date=April 1985| issn = }}</ref>

On review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds a 73% rating based on the reviews of 71 critics, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The website's consensus states: "Though perhaps not as strong dramatically as it is technologically, TRON is an original and visually stunning piece of science fiction that represents a landmark work in the history of computer animation."<ref>{{rotten-tomatoes|id=tron|Tron}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] gave the film a score of 58 based on 13 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web|title=TRON Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/tron|website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref>

In the year it was released, the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] refused to nominate ''Tron'' for a special-effects [[Academy Award]] because, as director Steven Lisberger puts it, "The Academy thought we cheated by using computers".<ref name="Helfand">{{cite news | last = Helfand | first = Glen | title = ''Tron'' 20th Anniversary | work = San Francisco Gate | date = January 9, 2002 | url =https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Tron-s-20th-Anniversary-Director-discusses-3236009.php }}</ref> The film did, however, earn Oscar nominations in the categories of [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]] ([[Elois Jenssen]] and [[Rosanna Norton]]) and [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]] ([[Michael Minkler]], [[Bob Minkler]], [[Lee Minkler]], and [[James LaRue (sound engineer)|James LaRue]]).<ref name="Oscars1983">{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1983 |title=The 55th Academy Awards (1983) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 9, 2011 |work=oscars.org |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/55th-winners.html |archive-date=September 5, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Cultural effect ===
<!-- Per the discussion on the talk page, do not add passing references and parodies such as Family Guy and South Park. Also please refrain from adding Kingdom Hearts references, as that is unrelated to the film. -->

The success of ''Tron'' led to several of the film’s computer animators, including lead animator [[Chris Wedge]], to create a new animation studio known as [[Blue Sky Studios]] in 1987 after their previous studio shut down.

In 1997, [[Ken Perlin]] of the [[Mathematical Applications Group, Inc.]] won an [[Academy Award for Technical Achievement]] for his invention of [[Perlin noise]] for ''Tron''.<ref>Kerman, Phillip. ''Macromedia Flash 8 @work: Projects and Techniques to Get the Job Done.'' Sams Publishing. 2006.</ref>

The film, considered groundbreaking, has inspired several individuals in numerous ways. [[John Lasseter]], head of [[Pixar]] and [[Disney]]'s animation group, described how the film helped him see the potential of computer-generated imagery in the production of animated films, stating "without ''Tron'', there would be no ''[[Toy Story]]''."<ref name="Thompson">{{cite web|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/digital/visual-effects/are-tron-legacys-3d-fx-ahead-of-their-time |title=What Will Tron: Legacy's 3D VFX Look Like in 30 Years? |last=Thompson |first=Anne |date=December 9, 2010 |work=Tron Legacy VFX Special Effects in Tron Legacy |publisher=[[Popular Mechanics]] |access-date=December 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/digital/visual-effects/are-tron-legacys-3d-fx-ahead-of-their-time |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="awm-lasseter">{{cite web|last=Lyons |first=Mike |title=Toon Story: John Lasseter's Animated Life |url=http://www.awn.com/mag/issue3.8/3.8pages/3.8lyonslasseter.html |work=Animation World Magazine |access-date=October 13, 2010 |date=November 1998 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629/http://www.awn.com/mag/issue3.8/3.8pages/3.8lyonslasseter.html |archive-date=June 29, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The two members of the French [[house music]] group [[Daft Punk]], who scored the [[Tron: Legacy|sequel]] and also had a cameo appearance in it, have held a joint, lifelong fascination with the film.<ref name="ign-daft">{{cite web|last=IGN Staff |title=Listen to Daft Punk in TRON: Legacy |url=http://music.ign.com/articles/112/1127361p1.html |work=IGN |access-date=October 13, 2010 |date=October 12, 2010 |quote=Having grown up with admiration of Disney's original 1982 film Tron... |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://music.ign.com/articles/112/1127361p1.html |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Also, in [[Gorillaz]]' music video for the song "[[Feel Good Inc.|Feel Good Inc]].", Russel, the fictional drummer of the band, can be seen wearing an Encom hat.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/HyHNuVaZJ-k Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20100622163752/http://www.youtube.com//watch?v=HyHNuVaZJ-k Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Citation|last=Gorillaz|title=Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc. (Official Video)|date=June 28, 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyHNuVaZJ-k&index=4&list=PL6305F709EB481224|access-date=April 15, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

''Tron'' developed into a [[cult film]] and was ranked as 13th in a 2010 list of the top 20 cult films published by ''[[The Boston Globe]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/movies/gallery/top_cult_films?pg=9 |title=Top 20 cult films, according to our readers |author=Boston.com Staff |publisher=The Boston Globe |work=boston.com |access-date=December 27, 2010 |date=August 17, 2006 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730/http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/gallery/top_cult_films?pg=9 |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The film heavily inspired the music video for Danish [[Pop music|pop]]/[[dance music|dance]] group [[Infernal (Danish band)|Infernal]]'s 2006 hit single "[[From Paris to Berlin]]". The music video for Australian rock band [[Regurgitator]]'s 1997 song "[[Everyday Formula]]" was also heavily inspired by the film and recreates several scenes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ilikeyouroldstuff.com/news/unit-by-regurgitator-is-20-today |title=UNIT BY REGURGITATOR IS 20 TODAY |work=I Like Your Old Stuff |date=November 16, 2017 |accessdate=28 August 2022}}</ref>

In 2008, the [[American Film Institute]] nominated this film for its [[AFI's 10 Top 10|Top 10 Science Fiction Films list]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/10top10.pdf?docID=381&AddInterest=1781 |title=AFI's 10 Top 10 Nominees |format=PDF |access-date=August 19, 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716071937/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/10top10.pdf?docID=381&AddInterest=1781 |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref>

== Books ==
A novelization of ''Tron'' was released in 1982, written by American science fiction novelist [[Brian Daley]]. It included eight pages of color photographs from the movie.<ref>{{cite book|last=Daley|first=Brian|title=Tron|publisher=New English Library Ltd|date=October 1, 1982|isbn=978-0-450-05550-8}}</ref> In the same year, Disney Senior Staff Publicist Michael Bonifer authored a book entitled ''The Art of Tron'' which covered aspects of the pre-production and post-production aspects of ''Tron''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bonifer|first=Michael|title=The Art of Tron|publisher=Simon & Schuster|date=November 1982|isbn=978-0-671-45575-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tron-sector.com/bios/michaelbonifer.aspx |title=Tron Sector Biography of Mike Bonifer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609041007/http://www.tron-sector.com/bios/michaelbonifer.aspx |archive-date=June 9, 2008}}</ref> A nonfiction book about the making of the original film, ''The Making of Tron: How Tron Changed Visual Effects and Disney Forever'', was written by William Kallay and published in 2011.

== Television ==
''Tron'' made its television debut as part of the [[Disney Channel]]'s first day of programming, on April 18, 1983, at 7:00PM (ET).<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Exploring the 'Tron' Phenomenon |magazine=The Disney Channel Magazine |publisher=The Disney Channel |date=April–May 1983 }}</ref>

== Home media ==
''Tron'' was originally released [[Walt Disney Home Video (VHS)|on VHS]], [[Betamax]], [[Laserdisc|LaserDisc]], and [[Capacitance Electronic Disc|CED Videodisc]] on December 1, 1982.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Disney Sets Holiday Promos|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=November 13, 1982|volume=94|issue=35|page=38|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XiQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=disney+billboard+Mary+Poppins+November+1982&pg=PT37}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1982/CB-1982-10-30.pdf|title=SoundViews|magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]|date=October 30, 1982|volume=44|issue=23|page=18|quote=The vidcassette will carry a suggested retail list of $84.95}}</ref> As with most video releases from the 1980s, the film was cropped to the 4:3 [[pan and scan]] format. The film saw multiple re-releases throughout the 1990s, most notably an "Archive Collection" LaserDisc box set,<ref>{{cite web|title=Tron&nbsp;– Archived Edition LaserDisc Box Set |publisher=LaserDisc Database |url=http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/06557/6141-CS/Tron-(1982) |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/06557/6141-CS/Tron-(1982) |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> which featured the first release of the film in its original widescreen 2.20:1 format. By 1993, ''Tron'' had grossed {{US$|17 million|long=no}} in [[video rentals]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Kinder |first=Marsha |title=Playing with Power in Movies, Television, and Video Games: From Muppet Babies to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles |date=1993 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |isbn=978-0-520-07776-8 |page=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PbYwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA12}}</ref>

''Tron'' saw its first [[DVD]] release on December 12, 2000. This bare-bones release utilized the same non-anamorphic video transfer used in the Archive Collection LaserDisc set, and it did not include any of the LD's special features. On January 15, 2002, the film received a 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition release in the forms of a VHS and a special 2-Disc DVD set. This set featured a new [[THX]] mastered anamorphic video transfer and included all of the special features from the LD Archive Collection release, plus an all-new 90 minute "Making of Tron" documentary.

To tie in with the home video release of ''Tron: Legacy'', the movie was finally re-released by [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]] on Special Edition DVD and for the first time on [[Blu-ray Disc]] on April 5, 2011, with the subtitle "The Original Classic" to distinguish it from its sequel. ''Tron'' was also featured in a 5-Disc Blu-ray Combo with the [[3D film|3D]] copy of ''Tron: Legacy''. The film was re-released on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK on June 27, 2011.

== Theme Parks ==
In [[Disneyland Resort|Disneyland]], the [[PeopleMover (Disneyland)|PeopleMover]] attraction was updated in 1982 to include ''Tron'' film projections in the SuperSpeed Tunnel section of the ride, which was announced as the ''Game Grid of Tron'' by the on-board audio guide. After this addition, the attraction was advertised as the ''PeopleMover Thru the World of Tron''.

In 2016, [[Shanghai Disneyland]] opened [[Tron Lightcycle Power Run|''Tron'' Lightcycle Power Run]], a [[Enclosed roller coaster|semi-enclosed]], [[launched roller coaster]] based on the original film and its sequel. [[Walt Disney World]] opened a nearly identical version in 2023, called ''Tron'' Lightcycle / Run. Both are in the [[Tomorrowland (Disney Parks)|Tomorrowland]] themed areas at each park.

== Sequels ==
=== ''Tron: Legacy'' ===
{{Main|Tron: Legacy{{!}}Tron: Legacy}}
On January 12, 2005, Disney announced it had hired screenwriters Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal to write a sequel to ''Tron''.<ref name="Fleming">{{cite news|last=Fleming |first=Michael |title=Mouse uploads ''Tron'' redo |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=January 12, 2005 |url=https://variety.com/2005/film/features/mouse-uploads-tron-redo-1117916245/ |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117916245.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&query=tron |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, director [[Joseph Kosinski]] negotiated to develop and direct ''TRON'', described as "the next chapter" of the 1982 film and based on a preliminary teaser trailer shown at that year's [[San Diego Comic-Con]], with Lisberger co-producing.<ref name="Kit">{{cite news | last = Kit | first = Borys | title = New ''Tron'' races on | work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date = September 11, 2007 | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i16c1ed3bf76536b4c669651706799643 | access-date = July 9, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080615232441/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i16c1ed3bf76536b4c669651706799643 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = June 15, 2008}}</ref> Filming began in [[Vancouver]], British Columbia in April 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Feature films currently filming in BC |url=http://www.bcfilmcommission.com/about_us/film_list.htm?film_type=feature |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526/http://www.bcfilmcommission.com/about_us/film_list.htm?film_type=feature |archive-date=May 26, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> During the 2009 Comic-Con, the title of the sequel was revealed to be changed to ''[[Tron: Legacy]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Comic-Con-Disney-Panel-Tron-2-Revealed-Live-From-Hall-H-14054.html |title=Comic Con: Disney Panel, Tron 2 Revealed Live From Hall H! |publisher=Cinemablend.com |date= July 23, 2009|access-date=July 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Comic-Con-Disney-Panel-Tron-2-Revealed-Live-From-Hall-H-14054.html |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latinoreview.com/news/comic-con-2009-disney-panel-tron-alice-in-wonderland-7480 |title=Comic-Con 2009: Disney Panel TRON Legacy & Alice In Wonderland! |last=Roush |first=George |date=July 23, 2009 |work=Latino Review |access-date=July 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725202233/http://www.latinoreview.com/news/comic-con-2009-disney-panel-tron-alice-in-wonderland-7480 |archive-date=July 25, 2009 }}</ref> The second trailer (also with the ''Tron: Legacy'' logo) was released in 3D with ''[[Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)|Alice In Wonderland]]''. A third trailer premiered at Comic-Con 2010 on July 22. At Disney's D23 Expo on September 10–13, 2009, they also debuted teaser trailers for ''Tron: Legacy'' as well as having a light cycle and other props from the film there. The film was released on December 17, 2010, with [[Daft Punk]] composing the score.<ref name="Tron-Legacy-Release">{{cite web|last=Anderson |first=Kyle |title='Tron: Legacy' Soundtrack: Get Ready For The Game With Daft Punk |url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/12/17/tron-legacy-soundtrack-daft-punk/ |publisher=MTV |access-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/12/17/tron-legacy-soundtrack-daft-punk/ |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== ''Tron: Uprising'' (TV series) ===
{{Main|Tron: Uprising{{!}}Tron: Uprising}}
''Tron: Uprising'' is a 2012 animated series set between the events of the first two films. In the series, young program Beck becomes the leader of a revolution inside the computer world of the Grid, tasked with the mission of freeing his home and friends from the reign of Clu and his henchman, General Tesler. To prepare for the challenge, Beck is mentored by Tron – the greatest warrior The Grid has ever known – as he grows beyond his youthful nature into a courageous and powerful leader. Destined to become the system's new protector, Beck adopts Tron's persona to battle the forces of evil.

=== ''Tron: Ares'' ===
{{Main|Tron: Ares{{!}}Tron: Ares}}
In October 2010, a third film was announced to be in development, with Kosinski returning as director with a script co-written by Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis.<ref name="Tron 3_ScreenRant">{{Cite news |last=Cornet |first=Roth |date= October 29, 2010 |title=Steven Lisberger Talks 'Tron: 3' & the Global 'Tron' Phenomena |work= Screen Rant |url= https://screenrant.com/tron-legacy-steven-lisberger-rothc-85139/ |access-date=December 29, 2010}}</ref><ref name= "Tron 3.announced_SlashFilm">{{Cite news |last=Sciretta |first= Peter |date= April 6, 2010 |title= Screenwriters Return for Tron Legacy Sequel |work=Slash Film |publisher=Slash Film |url= https://www.slashfilm.com/screenwriters-return-for-tron-legacy-sequel/ |access-date=December 29, 2010}}</ref> The concept and ideas for a third film continued behind the scenes, from August 2016 to March 2017, when [[Jared Leto]] was announced to have signed on to co-star as a new character named Ares.<ref name="Tron 3.producer_ScreenRant">{{Cite web |last=Chipman |first=Bob |date=August 8, 2016 |title=TRON 3: Disney Producer Still Hopeful For Sequel |url=https://screenrant.com/tron-3-producer-disney-interview/ |access-date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=ScreenRant.com}}</ref><ref name="Tron 3_InsideTheMagic">{{Cite news |last=Celestino, Mike |date=March 1, 2017 |title=Disney's 'Tron 3' in "cryogenic freeze" says 'Tron: Legacy' director at fan screening | work =Inside the Magic |url= http://www.insidethemagic.net/2017/03/disneys-tron-3-in-cryogenic-freeze-says-tron-legacy-director-at-fan-screening/ |access-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref><ref name= "Tron 3.JaredLeto_HollywoodReporter">{{Cite web |last= Kit | first = Borys |date=March 3, 2017 |title='Tron' Reboot: Jared Leto Circling Lead Role at Disney (Exclusive) |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/tron-reboot-jared-leto-circling-lead-role-new-disney-film-982575 |access-date=March 3, 2017 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> In March 2022, Leto confirmed that the film was still in development.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hood |first=Cooper |date=March 22, 2022 |title= Jared Leto Offers Promising Tron 3 Movie Update |work= [[Screen Rant]] |publisher=Red Ventures |url=https://screenrant.com/tron-3-movie-update-jared-leto-comments/ |access-date= March 23, 2022}}</ref> By January 2023, [[Garth Davis]] had exited as director, with [[Joachim Rønning]] entering negotiations to replace him; while production was planned to begin in [[Vancouver]] by August 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2023/01/tron-ares-joachim-ronning-helm-jared-leto-disney-sci-fi-sequel-1235227464/ |title=Disney Moving On 'Tron: Ares'; Joachim Rønning In Talks To Helm Jared Leto In Sci-Fi Sequel: The Dish|first1=Mike Jr.|last1=Fleming|date=January 19, 2023}}</ref> Initially scheduled to begin on August 14, 2023, principal photography was delayed due to the [[2023 Hollywood labor disputes]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Desean |first=Taylon |date=2023-05-16 |title="Tron: Ares" Was Set to Begin Filming on July 2023 (Exclusive) |url=https://maxblizz.com/tron-ares-set-to-begin-filming-on-july-2023-exclusive/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Maxblizz |language=en-US}}</ref> In June 2023, [[Evan Peters]] was set to join the cast.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kit|first=Borys|date=2023-06-28 |title='Dahmer' Star Evan Peters Joins Jared Leto in Disney's 'Tron 3' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/evan-peters-tron-3-ares-cast-1235524816/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=2023-06-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> Following the conclusion of the strikes in early November 2023, filming was reportedly set to begin early 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |last2=Kroll |first2=Justin |date=November 8, 2023 |title='Deadpool 3', 'Gladiator 2', 'Beetlejuice 2', 'Juror No. 2' & 'Venom 3' Among Film Productions To Restart ASAP As Hollywood Gets Back To Work Post-Strike |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/actors-strike-deal-movies-restart-production-list-1235593653/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109125824/https://deadline.com/2023/11/actors-strike-deal-movies-restart-production-list-1235593653/ |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |access-date=November 20, 2023 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> In late November 2023 however, it was announced that production on the project would officially begin following the holiday season of the same year.<ref name="Tron3_Collider">{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/tron-3-ares-filming/|work=Collider|title='Tron: Ares' Starts Filming After the Holidays [Exclusive]|author=McPherson, Chris|date=November 20, 2023|accessdate=November 22, 2023}}</ref> The film is set to be released on October 10, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hermanns |first=Grant |date=2024-04-05 |title=Tron 3 Release Date Confirmed |url=https://screenrant.com/tron-3-release-date-confirmed/ |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite news |title=Why Disney Animators Refused to Work on Tron |last1=Donohoo |first1=Timothy |date=16 September 2022 |work=CBR |url=https://www.cbr.com/disney-animators-why-refused-work-tron/ |language=en}}
{{refend}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|1980s|Disney|Film|Video games}}
* [[Tron (hacker)]]
* [[Demoscene]]
* [[Isekai]]
* [[Golden age of arcade video games]]
* ''[[Automan]]'', a 1983 ABC television series inspired by the film
* ''[[Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad]]''
* ''[[Digimon Adventure (1999 TV series)|Digimon Adventure]]''
* ''[[Code Lyoko]]''
* ''[[Zixx]]''
* ''[[ReBoot]]''

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://movies.disney.com/tron}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{DisneyAtoZ}}
* {{Mojo title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
* {{TCMDb title}}
* {{AFI film}}

{{Tron}}
{{Steven Lisberger}}

[[Category:1982 films]]
[[Category:1982 children's films]]
[[Category:1982 in computing]]
[[Category:1980s action adventure films]]
[[Category:1980s science fiction action films]]
[[Category:1980s science fiction adventure films]]
[[Category:American films with live action and animation]]
[[Category:American chase films]]
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[[Category:American science fiction action films]]
[[Category:American science fiction adventure films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Wendy Carlos]]
[[Category:Films about artificial intelligence]]
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[[Category:Films about computing]]
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[[Category:Films about virtual reality]]
[[Category:Films adapted into comics]]
[[Category:Films adapted into television shows]]
[[Category:Films directed by Steven Lisberger]]
[[Category:Films produced by Ron W. Miller]]
[[Category:Films set in 1982]]
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[[Category:Religion in science fiction]]
[[Category:Rotoscoped films]]
[[Category:Tron films]]
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[[Category:1982 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:Films produced by Donald Kushner]]
[[Category:1980s English-language films]]
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[[Category:1982 science fiction films]]
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[[Category:English-language science fiction adventure films]]
[[Category:Saturn Award–winning films]]