Disney's Documentary 'Waking Sleeping Beauty' Takes Audiences Behind Animation Curtain

A story in the Los Angeles Times offers a glimpse into the the new Disney documentary, 'Waking Sleeping Beauty' which offers audiences a peek behind the Disney studio's animation curtain.

'Waking Sleeping Beauty', directed by Don Hahn and produced by Peter Schneider, delves into the history of animation at the famed Disney Studios, in particular the studios' turning point during the 1980's when a reinvention of sorts was essential to thrive in a competing industry. The studio, with a succession of new blood ushered in, including Michael Eisner, Frank Wells, and Jeffrey Katzenberg, transformed itself into what it has become today, a "creative and financial heart of the sprawling entertainment conglomerate", says the Los Angeles Times.

The documentary is an engrossing look at film animators behind the scenes. It opens with the 1994 premiere of the 'Lion King' which grossed over $780 million worldwide and spawned the highly-successful Broadway musical of the same name. 'Waking Sleeping Beauty' consists of archival footage and off-camera interviews with animators and executives who work at the Disney studios. The documentary offers an insiders' perspective and narrative, for example, according to the studio, at one point, "the 1991 Disney classic 'Beauty and The Best' was going to be made without musical numbers."

'Waking Sleeping Beauty' recently premiered for 800 family, friends and Disney employees at the El Capitan Thatre in Hollywood. Producer Peter Shneider told the audience "Most of you are in this movie.". His words echoed by the film's director, Don Hahn, "It's your movie." 'Waking Sleeping Beauty' will be released in theatres on March 26.

To read the rest of the story in the Los Angeles Times, click here.

 

 

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