I enjoyed this relatively informal look at the animation history of the Disney studio. Part behind the scenes glimpses, part informational, and part an introduction to the people who made the magic we've all come to expect from Disney. As I read, I was actually astonished to realize not only have I never seen many of these films but, well, hadn't even heard of some of them. I put that squarely on my own shoulders, however, and that little thing called real life. It was definitely interesting to read about Walt Disney's obsessive nature with his films, especially as it was made obvious how long many were talked about before they even began production. Production, of course, could take years. There was even what I'd call a gossipy vibe to the text at times, not to mention that the author made observations that, quite frankly, even for the films I've seen countless times, I'd never thought of or, more likely, I'd have rolled my eyes at such as the discussion of Gaston from "Beauty and the Beast". Nope, not telling. You'll just have to read the book for that one.
The book is divided into sections detailing the animations emerging during that time period. There's a bit about the history behind the creation of each film, from Disney's foray into creating Mickey Mouse to what may have sparked the various films' ideas in the first place. There are photos but since the version I read was an early unedited digital one, they were at the end of the book. They'll surely be inserted in proper time, to speak, in the final versions. Living in Central Florida at the time Disney World opened, it was interesting to realize that "Sword in the Stone" was probably the film distracting Walt Disney from his dreams for the complex at about the same time. "Lady and the Tramp" came about the time the original Disneyland opened, by the way. Disney was never one not to push boundaries and technology, so it was interesting to see how they used and developed technology to attain their goals. They certainly set the standard for years to come.
Bottom line, while hardly the ultimate look at Disney animation, this was a fun, interesting look at the evolution of the Disney studio's early days until, well, "Moana II" is given a mention, so until almost today. As a fan of Lin-Manual Miranda, I was delighted to see his efforts spotlighted, not to mention to hear about Robin Williams' problems with "Aladdin". Let's just say, Williams wasn't happy at how his contract was interpreted. In any case, while you won't know all there is to know about Disney when you finish this one, you'll have picked up lots of history, some behind-the-scenes tidbits, been reminded of the studio's role in WWII, and know the humans who created some of the most memorable animated characters ever. You'll even get the author's opinions on the films and songs (Oh, "Let It Go" indeed). Thanks #Pen&Sword for this early peek behind the curtains and some thoughts to ponder. I mean, I hadn't picked up on the Yen Sid villain's name until now. Also, thanks for that extensive bibliography and index. They were quite appreciated.
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