Synopsis
When Walt Disney's desire to become an artist led to experimentations in theatrical animation, he changed the face of family entertainment forever. This pictorial biography is a fascinating visual tour through the life of the man whose name is synonymous with magic--from the start of his risky animation business to the incarnation of Mickey Mouse to the debut of the first feature-length animation film and on into other creative breakthroughs in family entertainment. Photos.
Reviews
Grade 4-6?A wealth of black-and-white photographs from The Walt Disney Archives and excerpts from interviews, films, and articles make this pictorial biography a treat. Disney's life is explored, from his childhood, first ventures in animation, and creation of his studio through the establishment of theme parks. Written in scrapbook style, this is not an in-depth study, but it is an appealing tribute to a creative individual.?Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
A Disney illustrator for 25 years, Schroeder has compiled a scrapbook of 178 photos, many never before published, from the company archives. Focusing on Walt Disney's (1901-1966) private life, as well as his career as animator, film producer and television personality, the chronologically arranged shots are accompanied by extended captions and quotations from interviews and films. The introduction by Disney's daughter, Diane Disney Miller, sets the predominant tone of affectionate reverence. The book sometimes sounds like a corporate pamphlet lauding its founder, but Disney's own words create a clearer sense of his scrappy good humor and perseverence. Other tidbits here range from engaging trivia (e.g., Disney kept two fawns on the studio lot for Bambi animators to study) to the dispensable (a photo of Disney riding a lawnmower). The spreads can be cluttered, and the over-use of ink colors for text and illustrations?as many as six hues on a single page?does not complement the black-and-white photos. At its best, however, the book offers insight into Disney's creative vision and explains the genesis of his films and characters. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
A uniquely readable, if extremely simplified, biography of a fascinating man, subtitled ``His Life in Pictures,'' and consisting mostly of collages of black-and-white photographs with extensive captions, quotes from interviews with Disney, and occasional narrative to keep it flowing along. In the serviceable layout, colored sketches of Disney cartoon characters float in the background; the typeface is also colored, to help readers distinguish between narrative, captions, and quotes. The decade-by- decade breakdown of his career focuses mainly on the cartoon features, accompanied by tantalizing snippets of information about many of his other activities and projects. Interested readers will want to refer to the bibliography to locate more in-depth information. (Biography. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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