The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney

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The original boy’s animated universe: a cracking theme tune, top powers and an ever expanding world that still merits further investigation. Reviews “I frequently find myself perusing The Animated Man with a regularity that keeps it almost constantly residing near my desk. What struck me the most as I read the later chapters was how little this is a biography in the usual or expected sense. Of course, what did NOT move in reverse was Disney's fortune, and the scale of his ambitions and the scope of his power.

Also I found it a little unsettling when big films like sleeping beauty etc were glossed over and suddenly sleeping beauty's castle is being built in disneyland, but why ?As promised, following last week’s non- animated and animated iconic female leads we have the male leads.

So as someone who is clearly an afficonado of that world, as well as a good critic of films and art in general, this is someone who won't mince words and won't cut corners. Barrier does an excellent job of showing how and why the Disney studio became prominent and explaining the role of Disney himself in the Disney empire.Time seems to have smoothed over many of Walt's blunders, leaving behind a legacy and an enduring brand. In the 40s, with the European market lost to World War II, the studio shifted to producing educational films for the armed forces. As a mildly interesting side note, and an example of some weird synchronicity, I wanted to point out that I started this book on the anniversary of Walt's birth (December 5) and finished it on the anniversary of his death (December 15th). Barrier nevertheless follows Disney in his ventures into live action film, nature documentary, and of course theme parks.

On one hand, we wouldn't have Disneyland or classics like Bambi, but on the other hand, it drove his company to the brink of bankruptcy on more than one occasion. It's certainly typical in its structure, from rural upbringings on a farm and then Kansas City in the early part of the 20th century on to Hollywood and his start-up of drawing (with good ol' Ub Iwerks!This is the story of a man who grew up in a small Missouri town and worked non-stop from childhood until his final days to become one of the most well-know figures in all of history. Whilst undeniably entertaining, MAFS crystallises a point about dating and life made by Oliver Burkeman in his book Four Thousand Weeks. While this book isn't the fast read I normally enjoy (then again, I normally read light mysteries), I found it very interesting. Having read the book leading up to my trip (finishing it sitting by the pool at my resort in Disney), I really felt like I had a better understanding of what went into making a place like Disney.

There are plenty of details regarding the company's finances, such as which productions were financial successes or burdens, and some fascinating glimpses into motivations surrounding Disney's ever-evolving professional pursuits, including live action film, TV, and Disneyland. Even if you don’t agree with some of Barrier’s more eccentric opinions (among those would be his distaste for Pinocchio, which comes from a valid place but still seems totally nuts to me) you’ll find the best, most entertaining and streamlined survey of a truly great artist’s career. Beginning in 1969, two and a half years after Disney's death, Barrier recorded long interviews with more than 150 people who worked alongside Disney, some as early as 1922. What it does mean though is that someone who started out without much and made something of himself, genuinely so, whatever you think of him, and then became a, well, Conservative, up-tight, things-should-be-pure-and-innocent-and-oh-look-at-the-silly-doggy-and-mechanical-train-and-birdie is a compelling character for a story that spans decades and involves shaping the popular culture and even consciousness of parts of the public. I was surprised to learn that Disney was not very successful financially, and reinvested most of the company's profits to pay for new projects or facilities.In effetti da bambina mi ci è voluto un po' per capire che Disney fosse una persona in carne e ossa.