A review by inhonoredglory
Once Upon a Time--Walt Disney: The Sources of Inspiration for the Disney Studios by Prestel Publishing, Prestel

5.0

I've had an interesting time with this book. (Personal rabbit trail coming up. Sorry LOL.) I borrowed it from the library before COVID, thought it was an OK book, but not too interesting. Then it stayed in my house for months while the libraries were closed and I got more interested in my Disney bio. And finally, when I started my art history project in school around September, I realized how valuable and incredible this book is as a resource and inspiration. When the libraries opened and I had to at long last return the book, I rushed to order it (from a UK shop, to avoid Amazon), it came just barely in time for me to finish my project. This book really delves deep into the historical artists, classic master illustrators and painters, who formed the backbone of Walt Disney's vision for the look and art of his films. He toured Europe and took back with him over 300 books for his studio to study and emulate. Walt aimed high in this medium; he aimed for art, and he prepared for it by studying the best of the visual craft, combining and indeed establishing the mythology of Americana with the tradition and mastery of the Old World.

This year, I've become fascinated with the absolute innovation and passion for the art of animation in Walt's early years, and this book just adds another layer of information and scholarly research that I couldn't get anywhere else. I've fallen in love with new artists and come to appreciate the incredible European and Asian influences in the early Disney films (especially that delicious German expressionism!). This book will be a warm and wonderful resource on my shelf, and an awesome reminder of how awesome it has been to study how relevant the Old Masters are to the early innovations in animation under Walt Disney.