Words From Walt
Page 3 of 20
December 6
Fantasy, if it's really convincing, can't become dated, for the simple reason that it represents a flight into a dimension that lies beyond the reaches of time. |
The word 'fantasy' is as nearly synonymous with Disney as the word 'magic.' Walt Disney took fantasy worlds and turned them into reality - both on-screen and through the creation of his theme parks.
The reason why Walt Disney's fantasy worlds are so convincing is that you are submersed in them. You are a captive audience in a darkened theater. You aren't supposed to see the outside world when in Disneyland. The fantasy works because you, as the consumer, have agreed to suspend your disbelief. You have agreed to buy into the fantasy that has been presented to you.
Walt was smart in using classic fairy tales as the basis for many of his pictures. They already had a timeless quality that he was able to tap into. But make no mistake; Walt made each fable his own. Ask anyone to name the seven dwarfs and they are sure to come up with Doc, Dopey, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Grumpy and Happy. Yet these personalities are pure Disney invention. They did not exist in the original source. Walt took the timeless stories, plussed them and created a fantasy more powerful, more everlasting.
This timelessness allowed Walt to leverage his pictures in a way that few other movie studios could even approach. Every 7 to 10 years, these classics were re-released to the theaters for a whole new generation to enjoy. Walt then used the same stories as the basis for attractions in Fantasyland at Disneyland. He had a built-in audience because everyone remembered - and loved - the creations he and his team brought to life.
Next year, Steven Spielberg will re-release E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial to theaters in honor of the film's 20th anniversary. Spielberg, along with George Lucas, have been hailed as the heirs to Walt Disney's fantastic legacy and their films have captured the imagination of audiences much like Walt Disney's films did. But there is something about E.T. that doesn't quite feel timeless. There is a dated quality to the film. It seems stuck in the 1980s. One must examine why Disney films like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Swiss Family Robinson and Mary Poppins remain timeless classics. They have retained their fantasy value.
Walt Disney understood what made for a successful story. He understood that people would be willing to spend their hard-earned money to be entertained. He knew that audiences would appreciate the quality that he instilled in his every endeavor. He strived to make fantasy a reality. He provided a bit of escapism from the "real world" and made his patrons feel better for the journey. Walt gave people the hope of the happily-ever-after life.
The above quote so succinctly summarizes what many people look for in their desire to be entertained. Yet, so few in the entertainment industry have firmly grasped the basic truth in this statement. Maybe it is too hard to believe in fantasy. But Walt knew that you couldn't get it right unless you do.
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-- Matthew Walker
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