The Making of Walt's People
Page 2 of 2
Volume 2 features interviews with artists Friz Freleng, Grim Natwick, Frank Tashlin, Ward Kimball, Floyd Gottfredson, Herb Ryman, Frank Thomas, Dale Oliver, Eric Larson, Woolie Reitherman, Richard Rich, and Glen Keane. These interviews discuss among many other subjects “the Bambi that never was�?, the challenge of animating The Jungle Book with the smallest animation crew in years, the frustrations and joys of Eric Larson and Woolie Reitherman, and the creation of The Black Cauldron.
Volume 3 features interviews with artists James Algar, Lee Blair, Jack Bradbury, Andreas Deja, Joe Grant, Ben Sharpsteen, Bill Justice, Volus Jones, Ward Kimball, Burny Mattinson, Floyd Norman, Bill Peet, and Tony Strobl. These interviews discuss, among many other subjects, the infamous 1941 strike, the creation of the Donald Duck shorts, the birth of Chip ‘n Dale, the making of The True Life Adventures, and life at the Studio “after Walt.�?
I aim to include as many interviews as possible from artists who worked directly with Walt and therefore had first-hand knowledge about the history of Disney. I believe this should provide a fundamental source of information for future researchers.
For the sake of clarity: the Walt's People project's goal is not to earn money. Every time the cost of publishing one volume is recouped, the money will be reinvested in the publication of the next. Any surplus funds will be shared among the authors.
I aim to publish one volume of Walt's People every nine months to one year.
I hope that you will learn a lot through this series, even if you are already a dedicated Disney historian or enthusiast, and that it will stimulate you to pursue new, original Disney research. In fact, I am glad to say that at least 2 books projects that had been sleeping in research cabinets for years will probably see the light of day in part thanks to Walt’s People and the network of Disney historians it helps to foster. On of those books will tackle the history of Disney comics, the other one is a collection of great interviews with Disney artists that are not included as part of Walt’s People.
To say that I am exited by these new developments would be an understatement. Other happy events include the fact that Monsters Inc. director, Pete Docter, will soon become a contributor to the series; that Volume 4 will feature an uncut version of Dick Humer’s oral history by Joe Adamson about Huemer’s career at Disney; and that I have secured the rights to publish, for the first time ever, all the interviews that the late Richard Hubler conducted in the late ‘60s for a proposed biography of Walt.
By the way, I am always looking for new contributors to the series, if you are aware of little-know interviews or would like to contribute to this series with a piece of your own, contact me at [email protected]. In other words: "Re-animate Disney research: unlock the vaults!"
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-- Posted May 26, 2006
-- Text by Didier Ghez