Books › The Art of Walt Disney
The Art of Walt Disney
First published 1973 · 504 pages
A reverent, archival journey through the imagination and innovation that transformed animation into a celebrated art form.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a meticulously curated archive of American pop culture history. The pace is steady and informative, guiding the reader through a classic success story fueled by hard work and boundless imagination. Its tone is deeply appreciative, celebrating not just one man's genius, but the collaborative framework that brought universally beloved characters to life. The prose balances biographical narrative with artistic critique, enriched by the promise of previously unseen drawings and firsthand interviews. It creates a nostalgic, inspiring mood that lingers on the magic of early animation. This is a perfect read for those who want to look behind the curtain of iconic films and theme parks to understand the sheer ingenuity that built them.
- Mood
- nostalgic
- inspiring
- reverent
- Tone
- appreciative
- informative
- celebratory
- earnest
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- the power of imagination · American success stories · artistic innovation · the evolution of animation · creative collaboration
- The writing
- Thorough and historically grounded, blending biographical narrative with artistic critique and archival documentation.
- The arc
- Moves from humble, hardworking beginnings to a sweeping appreciation of a globally recognized artistic legacy.
- Who it's for
- Readers fascinated by the history of animation, the mechanics of creative genius, and the archival origins of beloved childhood characters.
About the book
Walt Disney's rise to fame is a classic American success story. A poor boy from the Mid-west, he made his way to the top with a combination of hard work, practical know-how, enterprise, and ingenuity. What makes this success story different from all the rest is the fact that his unique imagination touched off a shock of recognition in the minds of millions of people all over the world. The characters Disney brought to the screen--Micky and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, Goofy, the Seven Dwarfs, Jiminy Cricket, Dumbo, and the others have a universal appeal. Movies as diverse in idiom as Fantasia and Mary Poppins illustrated the range of his inventions, and he has also left us, beyond his film successes, two extraordinary entertainment complexes. Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
At the beginning of his career, Disney took a humble branch of the motion picture industry--the animated cartoon--and, within a dozen years, transformed it into a new art form capable of sustaining complex and subtle ideas. The first cartoon with synchronized sound, the first in full color, and the first animated feature were all produced by Walt Disney. His genius and sure intuition created a framework that supported the talents of many gifted individuals, many of whom are discussed in these pages. Above all however, this is a record of one man's imagination.
This account of Disney's career benefits from free access to the Walt Disney archives. The author conducted dozens of interviews with past and present Disney employees and selected a great number of previously unpublished drawings, paintings, and photographs for inclusion in this book. The basic techniques of animation are explained, and various examples of story sketches, layouts, animation drawings, and background paintings--all the elements that go into the making of an animated film--are illustrated. Many film stills and documentary photographs enrich the story, and we learn how film-making skills were adapted to aid in the design of the parks, bringing to life unexpected combinations of nostalgia and electronics.
Description from Open Library.
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