Review of Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009) by Garrett R — 30 Apr 2011

WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY is a historical documentary of the tumultuous, later profitable and ultimately fulfilling decade that Disney Animation underwent between 1984-1994. Essentially, this documentary displays the creative imagination and willpower of Disney Feature Animation. And it's also a love letter to everything Disney, because this documentary was crafted with such a loving sense of the fun, humor, heart, joy, and every other emotion on the spectrum of the human condition that you can think of that Disney has exuded and presented on screen through their films since 1938, with SNOW WHITE.

Beginning in 1984 with 200 CalArts students, with John Lasseter, Don Bluth, Tim Burton among them; with a few key decisions and a lot of hard work from committed CEO's, Chairmen Michael Eisner, the President Roy Disney, Creative Director Jeffrey Katzenberg (now head of Dreamworks Animation) and of course the enthusiastic and life-loving animators became the multi-million dollar production company powerhouse (centered in Burbank) that it is today.

It was such a joy watching WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY because it is a fascinating look into the inner workings of Disney Animation and Disney's company in general. As with life, not everything is expected or a fairy tale, but the employees of Disney are filled with such vigor and joy that it's not hard not to be caught up in the feelings they share.

WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY is very much a historical document of the 1984-1994 build-up to the refreshing Disney Renaissance of late '80s and '90s as it is a love letter to Disney's history and its ongoing legacy.

Now I tell you, see this movie. It will fascinate you and leave you spellbound in how far Disney has come since 1984 to where the peaks they reached in 1994 (and where they are today). Be enlightened and enjoy!