Waking Sleeping Beauty

Waking Sleeping Beauty is a 2009 documentary film directed by Don Hahn which explores the tumultuous period of time during the late 1980s and early 1990s when Disney animation underwent a renaissance. Featuring interviews with a multitude of animators, executives, and other key players, Waking Sleeping Beauty is an engrossing look at one of the most important and transformative periods in the history of Walt Disney Studios.

The film opens with the departure of Disney's legendary animator and director Don Bluth in the early 1980s, which left the studio reeling and forced them to confront the fact that they needed to reinvigorate their animation department. Michael Eisner, an executive from Paramount Pictures, was brought in as CEO, along with Frank Wells as president, and they began a series of ambitious plans to turn the ailing Disney studio around.

The heart of the film follows the studio's resurgence in the late 80s and early 90s, a period that saw the creation of blockbuster hits like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. The film explores the creative process that went into each of these productions, and how they were embraced by audiences around the world.

Along the way, we hear from a wide variety of interviewees who offer their perspectives on the Disney animation renaissance. Roy E. Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney who was instrumental in bringing both Michael Eisner and John Lasseter to the studio, is a major figure in the film, giving candid interviews about the challenges the studio faced during this time.

We also hear from a number of other animators, writers, and directors who were integral to the success of the Disney animation renaissance. These include Jeffrey Katzenberg, who was responsible for much of the studio's marketing and distribution, as well as key animators Tony Baxter, Glen Keane, and Andreas Deja, who were involved in creating some of the studio's most beloved characters.

In addition, the film highlights the intense competition that existed between Disney and other animation studios during this period, particularly with Don Bluth's upstart studio, which was seen as a credible threat to Disney's dominance. We also see how the studio was forced to reckon with its reputation for producing films that were seen as saccharine or old-fashioned, and how it used its newfound success to pivot towards a more modern, ironic style of storytelling.

Throughout the film, we see the ups and downs of the Disney animation renaissance, including the internal conflicts that arose within the studio and the sense of creative burnout that animators felt towards the end of this period. However, despite these setbacks, the film underscores the enormous impact that these films had on popular culture and how they continue to resonate with audiences today.

Overall, Waking Sleeping Beauty is a fascinating and insightful look at one of the most important periods in the history of Disney animation. It offers an inside look at the creative process that goes into producing animated films on this scale and illuminates the tremendous talent and energy that went into making some of the most beloved films of all time.