By: Mackenzie Lambert
Anyone my age has a favorite Disney movie. Usually, it’s from the early 1990s and it is either The Lion King or Aladdin. Personally, I thought Robin Williams as the Genie was the height of ideal characterization in an animated Disney film. Little did I realize how much trouble it was to get that movie off the ground, as it was for most of the Disney productions at that time.
Some of the company’s best films like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King, were considered to be big gambles at the time they were in production. It’s hard to imagine that these films would be anything but successful. Yet, such was the case with many movies made by many companies. The uncertainty surrounding Disney animation was the main theme of the documentary shown at the Market Arcade theater on Monday titled Waking Sleeping Beauty.
The Black Cauldron is cited in the documentary as the straw that nearly broke the camel’s back. Gradually, productions like The Great Mouse Detective and Oliver & Company started to revitalize the company. But it wasn’t until The Little Mermaid that Disney came back as a force.
Then, as the films got better and started earning accolades. The Little Mermaid won an Oscar for Best Song. Beauty and the Beast was nominated for Best Picture. Aladdin was the first Disney film to win an MTV Movie Award in the Best Comedic Performance category with Robin Williams’ Genie. Today, Disney is a cultural juggernaut due to its association with Pixar Studios and recent purchase of Marvel Comics.
Another element that endangered the studio was the clashing of egos between Michael Eisner, Roy Disney, and Jeffrey Katzenberg. Conflicts of interest between higher-ups is similar to the conflicts seen between band mates. If someone feels that they’re not getting proper credit or recognition, things may take a turn for the worst.
It’s a shame this film wasn’t in a double bill with Sunday’s feature at The Screening Room, Funny Business (reviewed earlier this week). Both sides show how tough two very artistically-driven occupations can be. Being a cartoonist for The New Yorker or being an animator for Disney are aspirations for many, but it’s a dream that comes true for only a determined few.
More animation is scheduled for BIFF on Sunday, October 10th at Squeaky Wheel. The Punto y Rayo Experimental Animation Festival will be shown at 3pm.
—-
Mackenzie Lambert is a Buffalo-based columnist. He has been
featured in such publications as Penny Blood and Pantechnicon. He is
also a movie columnist for The Men’s Room Today (www.themensroomtoday.com).