Recently, I had the opportunity to review a new book by Disney director Stephen Anderson. Anderson is perhaps best known for directing the 2007 cult classic Meet the Robinsons and the 2011 Winnie the Pooh, which was the last entirely hand-drawn feature from the studio. Before those films, he was with the studio for quite some time, working on movies like Tarzan, The Emperor’s New Groove, and Brother Bear.
Now, he takes us on a journey back to when the company’s future was uncertain due to the death of its founder, Walt Disney.
The book Disney In-Between: The Lost Years 1966-1986 gives a deep dive into what is commonly known as Disney’s “Dark Age.”
The first few years of the company after Walt’s death were somewhat stable, mainly finishing up projects that Walt was already involved with. But after that, things started to feel like they had lost their magic touch.
The book covers feature films, both animated and live-action, as well as the company’s current television and theme park divisions.
Walt Disney World opened in 1971 (five years after Walt’s death), but his concept for the Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow had to be scaled back immensely. Cable television also rose, and the studio did what it could to compete and evolve with the times.
The animation division at this time also went through multiple changes and, at times, intense disagreements.
Infamously, one of these instances created a competitor when Don Bluth and several Disney animators went off to make their movies and ended up winning at the box office for a time. Things eventually turned around for the company leading up to the now-famous “Disney Renaissance,” but there were many growing pains along the way.
The book itself not only gives readers a lot of history about what went on behind the scenes at the company during these times but also what makes it shine. It contains various quotes and interviews from the people who were there. There are also plenty of pictures and visual aids to accompany the text. Adding these more intimate details elevates it from a standard historical text to what can only be described as a written documentary.
Many Disney fanatics may already be familiar with some subjects discussed in this book, but it is worth reading, no matter how knowledgeable you may believe you are. I learned a few things after reading it.
In conclusion, this is perhaps one of the best works dedicated to the dark age of the company.
This book provides a clear window into the era that has fascinated many. I highly recommend it to anyone curious enough to learn about this particular era of Disney.
It is perhaps more significant that this book is released now rather than later, given that many believe the company is currently in another creative dark age. Learning from the past can always help preserve the future.
The book is published by Old Mill Press and retails for $45.00 USD and is 504 pages long.
If you are looking for the perfect gift for that Disney fan in your family this upcoming Christmas Season, then perhaps this will bring a smile to their face.
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