Waking Sleeping Beauty, 2010

Waking Sleeping Beauty is a documentary that takes a look into the changing of the guards and evolution of the Disney Animation studios during the Disney Renaissance period. Those of you unfamiliar with the phrase should know this refers to the period between 1984 and 1994 when it Disney's animation studios rebounded from rock bottom. The time frame began with the release of The Little Mermaid and ended with the release of The Lion King in 94.

I thought from the trailers I would be up for an interesting look at the animators and creative influences that put the mouse back on top. What you actually get to see is the dark ego filled business war between Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenburg. This was a time when Roy Disney was failing at running the company and brought in Eisner and Frank Wells to bring the sinking ship back to safe waters. Jeffrey was hired by Wells and Eisner to assist in renovating the house the mouse built, mainly the animation department.

This is all very interesting, seeing two men compete to get the acknowledgement of rebuilding Disney's animation branch and the title of being the new Walt Disney. Problem is however the best parts are when we get to see the animators. Young John Lassister, Tim Burton, song writer Alan Menken, and the tragic story of Howard Ashman. These stories shine, these stories captivate. These are really the creative minds that helped the mouse rebound from a year when they were beat at the box office by The Care Bears movie, take that Black Cauldron.

The times you get to peak into these windows you get a glimpse of what make believe world you'd imagine it would be like working for Walt Disney Studios. Of course queue Eisner to bring you crashing back to Earth.

Perhaps one of the more interesting segments is about Beauty and the Beast. Originally meant to be a darker animated film sans musical numbers, the group made the correct choice of scrapping the project and moving it back to Beuna Vista to start over. It is here that Ashman and the animators crafted the only animated film to ever be nominated for Best Picture, at least I believe it was. Oops if I am wrong. This is also one of the saddest moments in the film as Ashman passes away after being diagnosed as HIV positive before he is able to ever see his finished master piece.

Other than making it apparent that my deep seeded dislike of Michael Eisner is not at all misplaced, the documentary pulls back the curtain on fantasy. Just like anywhere else the house that Walt built is a business empire first.

2.5/4