Walt Film and Pixar Story Complete the Set

In the previous post, I mentioned that the new documentary, Waking Sleeping Beauty is coming to theaters tomorrow, March 26th, for a limited run release. The film's focal point of discussion is the ten year period between 1984 to 1994--the ten years in which the Disney Animation Studio experienced a renaissance and a return to its creative prowess.

With this in mind, there are two other films out there that make for perfect bookends to Walking Sleeping Beauty and together, the three almost complete the story of Disney animation up to present day.

The first is the 2001 documentary, Walt: The Man Behind the Myth. Narrated by Dick Van Dyke and featuring interviews with nearly 50 people who knew the man, it is the story of Walt Disney.

The documentary exhibits a tremendous sense of warmth and intimacy. From his 1901 birth in Chicago to his tragic death from lung cancer in 1966, Walt's life story...unfolds as a rich tapestry of photos, stories, and home movies. One can't help being moved by the impact this man has had on the world.  DVD Verdict

Read a review of the film at UltimateDisney.com, and a bonus interview with Walt's daughter Diane Disney Miller at Animated Views.

The second "bookend" is the 2007 film, The Pixar Story. Produced by Leslie Iwerks, the granddaughter of Ub Iwerks, it reveals the alluring tale of how John Lasseter, Steve Jobs and Ed Catmull came together to form what would become the eminently successful Pixar Studios. From the early days of computer animation to the string of blockbuster hits that began with 1995's Toy Story, Iwerks' film is heartwarming, inspiring, and even a bit euphoric. It makes me personally want to run out and buy the latest animation software every time I see it.

Here's the trailer:

And read a 2007 review of the film in Variety.

Both Walt: The Man Behind the Myth and The Pixar Story are on disc although the latter is not readily available as a stand-alone DVD. It was released as an "extra" on the 2008 3-Disc Special Edition of Wall-E and also the 2-Disc Blu-ray. In addition, it can be downloaded from i-Tunes.