Toon Talk: Walt Disney Treasures
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In addition to his work as an animator, Ub developed the technology that made the Alice Comedies (which combined live action with animation) possible, as well as an early version of the multi-plane camera. Ub was also instrumental in the launch of the Silly Symphonies, the first of which was his seminal Skeleton Dance. Most compelling is the section (shortly after the meteoric rise to fame of the Mouse following Steamboat Willie) detailing the growing riff that formed between Walt and Ub, lifelong friends whose creative paths were taking them in different directions, resulting in Ub leaving the studio to helm his own.
There he created such characters as Flip the Frog, Willie Whopper and the ComiColor series. Free to fully stretch the limits of the medium, he released a string of bawdier, bouncier fare that never would have got past Walt. However, the more surrealistic and bizarre that his cartoons became, the less popular they were. Ub found himself with less and less distribution, and soon closed up shop and retired as an animator.
And that�s where his life made an interesting turn: back to Walt. He returned to the Disney Studio, but this time as head of the photographic effects lab, where he was able to tinker and invent new ways to make movie magic. From advancements in combining live action with animation (as seen in The Three Caballeros and Mary Poppins) to revolutionizing how animation was done with the Xerox process (first used on 101 Dalmatians), Ub was in his element, winning two special Academy Awards along the way. In addition to his work on Disney film projects, he also supervised the complicated special effects on Alfred Hitchcock�s horror classic The Birds and contributed to the creation of Disneyland, most notably with the invention of the 360-degree motion picture camera and projector.
The film at times takes great pains to emphasize Ub�s involvement in the creation of Mickey Mouse, but considering how most people over the years assume that it was just Walt and Walt alone, that is understandable. One of the strengths of the film is Iwerks� visually dynamic recreation of the early history of animation, and special mention should be made of the rich score by composers John Debney and Louis Febre. This one is a must-see for any student of not only animation, but also filmmaking in general.
Also included on the disc are complete examples of Ub�s work, both �before Oswald� (three Alice Comedies) and �after Oswald� (Mickey�s Steamboat Willie and Plane Crazy and the Skeleton Dance). Plus, the set comes with a nifty Oswald the Lucky Rabbit button as a keepsake.
Toon Talk Rating: A-
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AWARDS WATCH Ratatouille continues its awards run: it was named one of the American Film Institute�s AFI Awards recipients, won the Golden Satellite Award for Outstanding Motion Picture - Animated or Mixed Media, and tied with Persepolis for the Los Angeles Film Critics Association�s Animated Feature prize. And although the New York Film Critics Circle chose the later in their picks, the Broadcast Film Critics Association has nominated them both for their trophy, to be handed out January 7. Elsewhere in the BFCA nominations, Enchanted scored four nominations: Best Family Film, Amy Adams for Best Actress, Alan Menken for Best Score and Menken and Stephen Schwartz�s �That�s How You Know� for Best Song. AnnaSophia Robb also scored a nod as Best Young Actress for her winning performance in Bridge to Terabithia. Over at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association�s Golden Globes, Ratatouille faces off against Bee Movie and The Simpsons Movie, while Amy Adams and �That�s How You Know� are also in the running in their respective categories. The Globes will be handed out during a live NBC telecast on Sunday January 13. And finally, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World�s End is nominated for the Screen Actors Guild�s first award for Stunt Ensemble. The SAG awards ceremony will be held on Sunday January 27 at telecast on TNT. |
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-- Kirby C. Holt
Kirby is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ... In addition to his Toon Talk reviews, Kirby is the creator of Movie Dearest, a blog for movie fans.
Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.
The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted December 21, 2007