Annotated bibliography of Disney reference books
Bailey, Adrian: Walt Disney's
World of Fantasy published by Paper Tiger; 1982.
The text is not the most interesting one can find, however some of the photographs will
make you like it.
Culhane, Shamus: Talking
Animals and Other People published by Da Capro Press; April 1998.
The long awaited reprint of the autobiography of a famous animator from the golden age.
De Moya, Alvaro: O Mundo de Disney published by Geracao
Editorial;1996.
Fairly good history of Disney from a Brasilian point of view. The only new information,
though, is contained in a short chapter about Disney in Brasil. Written in Brasilian.
Eisner, Michael; Swartz, Tony: Work in
Progess published by Random House; 1998.
If it weren't for the fact that Michael is shamelessly forgetting dates and events, this
might be an interesting book.
Feild, Robert D.: The Art of Walt Disney
published by Collins; 1944.
The first serious book about the Studio, it contains splendid illustrations. The text is a
bit dry, though.
Finch, Chistopher: Walt Disney's America
published by Abbeville Press; 1978.
This book contains amazing documents but is strangely unfocused. An excellent work,
though.
Finch, Christopher: The Art of
Walt Disney published by Harry N. Abrams; 1973, updated in 1995.
The images are wonderful, the text is extremely precise and easy to read. What else could
one ask for ? The best part of the story is that it was updated twenty years after the
first edition. A condensed version was published in 1975.
Flower, Joe: Prince of the
Magic Kingdom published by Willey; 1991.
Less positive than The Disney Touch, it tackles the Eisner era while summarizing Walt
Disney, An American Original and Storming the Magic Kingdom.
Grover, Ron: The Disney
Touch published by Business One Irwin; 1991.
How Eisner and Wells revamped Disney and made it what it is today. Updated in 1997. I
consider this book as being part of a triptych of Disney reference books about the history
of the company: first the official biography by Bob Thomas (1901-1966), second Storming
the Magic Kingdom by John Taylor (1967-1984) and third this one (1985-today).
Holliss, Richard; Sibley Brian: The Disney
Studio Story published by Crown; 1988.
Two parts. One is the complete history of the studio, the other is a complete filmography
with commentaries. This is a must have. If only for the illustrations. But the anecdotes
are also fascinating. Very in-depth book.
Jackson, Kathy Merlock: Walt Disney, a
Bio-Bibliography published by Greenwood Press; 1993.
By trying to do too much in too few pages, Kathy does not really succeed in creating an
in-depth reference book. The bibliography is interesting, though.
Justice, Bill: Justice for Disney published by Tomart Publications; 1992.
The autobiography of the man who drew Chip and Dale, animated most of Disneyland
attractions and is the nicest person you will ever meet at a Disneyana convention
("Give me a napkin ! I'll draw for you since you seem to enjoy it as much as I do
!").
Kinney, Jack: Walt Disney
and other assorted characters published by Harmony Books; 1988.
A look at the studio by one of the men who "created the magic", enjoyed it at
times, hated it sometimes and worked a lot on the Goofy shorts.
Lambert, Pierre: Les Artistes de Disney published by Librairie Séguier; 1987.
Very nicely illustrated catalog of a travelling Animation Art exhibition. The art is often
"never seen before".Written in French.
Merritt, Russell and Kaufman J.B.: Walt in
Wonderland published by Edizioni Biblioteca dell' Imagine; 1992.
This English-Italian book is, to date, the only in depth book about "Walt before
Mickey". The documents it contains are often unique or never-published-before.
Mosley, Leonard: The Real Walt
Disney published by Crafton; 1985.
"Walt was not so nice but he did some interesting things" could be the summary
of this critical and rather negative book. This book was published in 1985 as Disney's
World.
Shows, Charles: Walt, Backstage Adventures with Walt
Disney published by Windsong Books International; 1980.
A good insider's testimony by one of Walt's directors in the '60s. Interesting and at
times funny.
Sinyard, Neil: The Best of
Disney published by Twin Portland House; 1988.
One more book about Disney. Not the worst, not the best.
Smith, Dave: Disney A to Z,
the Official Encyclopedia published by Hyperion; 1996.
A must have. Very good encyclopedia by the Grand Master of the Disney archives. Dave
really outdid himself and promises to update this book with all of the missing names and
concepts soon.
Smith, Dave: Disney A to Z:
The Updated Official Encyclopedia published by Hyperion; 1998.
This "must have" reference book by the utmost authority on Disney's history,
first published in 1996 is updated with more names, more films and more information that
ever.
Solomon, Charles: The Disney
that Never Was published by Hyperion; 1995.
To know more about the bed building scene in Snow White, the Hansel an Gretel musical or
what Fantasia could have contained. The art reproduced is almost always
"never-seen-before", unfortunately one would have hoped for the book to be
bigger, richer. The part about Destino, the Dali project is especially disappointing as it
does not feature any illustrations.
Taylor, John: Storming the
Magic Kingdom published by KNOPF; 1987.
From "after Walt"(1966) to the Eisner era (1984) or "the financial saga
that might have killed our favorite Company". One of the best books about Disney
history with Walt official biography by Bob Thomas and The Disney Touch by Ron Grover.
Thomas, Bob: Building a
Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire published by
Hyperion; 1998.
The long awaited biography of Walt's brother - the one without whom most of the Disney
universe would not exist, the father of the current Animation Studio chairman.
Thomas, Bob: Disney's Art
of Animation published by Hyperion; 1991, updated in 1997.
It contains a very interesting section about the making of Beauty and the Beast.The 1997
updated version contains 60 pages that are completely different from the original version
and that focus on the making of Hercules.
Thomas, Bob: The Art of Animation published by
Golden Press; 1958.
The first book about Walt Disney's animation. A classic and a great foray into the making
of Sleeping Beauty.
Thomas, Bob: Walt Disney,
An American Original published by Simon and Shuster; 1976, revised 1994.
The "official biography" or "The Absolute Minimum there is to know about
the man who, together with The Mouse, started it all". The must have. If you only buy
one book about Walt history, you should buy this one. If you have to buy three, buy this
one plus Storming the Magic Kingdom and The Disney Touch.
Thomas, Frank; Johnston Ollie: Disney
Animation: The Illusion of Life published by Abbeville; 1981.
The Bible. Does not request any further comment. This is THE best book about Disney
animation. Period. Found on every animator's desk (even non-Disney ones) and in every
serious library about Disney.
Tippins, Sherill: Michael
Eisner, Fun for Everyone published by Garrett Educational Corporation; 1992.
A short biography for kids of the chairman of the Walt Disney Company. Rather weak.
Tytle, Harry: One of Walt's Boys published by ASAP Publishing; 1997.
An excellent insider's testimony by one of Walt's top directors. The book contains some
fascinating pictures, the organisation chart of The Disney Studios and a facsimile of a
memo by Harry Tytle to Walt. A good work, especially interesting for Disney historians.
Watts, Steven: The Magic
Kingdom, Walt Disney and the American Way of Life published by Houghton-Miflin; 1998.
According to Persistence of Vision: "The
book offers an extraordinarily interesting and uncommonly insightful look as to what made
Walt Disney what he was. (...) It’s great to finally have the academic study of Walt
Disney that he has deserved for so long, and yet not have to suffer through any of the
intellectual psycho-babble that seems to be so predominant in these studies. Furthermore,
the scholarly approach and research involved is phenomenal. (...) Highly
recommended." To my taste, this is probably the greatest, most thorough book
ever written about Walt and the studio. A "must-have".
Books to come
100th birthday of Walt Disney book; 2001.
75th birthday of the Walt Disney Company book by Tim O'Day; 1998.
Information reported by Persistence of Vision. No other information available yet.
Allan, Robin: Walt Disney
and Europe published by Indiana University Press; 1999.
Robin is one of the most respected European Disney historians. His name has appeared in
countless Disney books and his thesis is a masterpiece, full of new interviews and
documents. His book is a reprint of the thesis and should therefore be a must-have for
fellow Disney historians.
Canemaker, John: Paper Dreams -
The Art and Artists of Disney Storyboards; October 1999.
If this book is as fascinating than Before the Animation Begins, I can hardly wait to see
it.
Green, Howard; Green, Amy: Remembering Walt - Favorite Memories of Walt Disney
published by Hyperion; July 1999.
According to Persistence of Vision: "Green,
the extremely likable Vice President of Studio Communications (or "Hype" as he
is fond of claiming), has put together what has to be the greatest collection of memories
on one person ever compiled. This book will be, in my humble opinion, second only to Bob
Thomas’ Walt Disney: An American Original."
Smith, Dave; Clark, Steven: Disney - The First 100 Years published by Hyperion; August 1999.
Kenworthy, John; Iwerks, Leslie (Ub Iwerks' granddaughter): The Hand Behind the
Mouse; 1999.
The story of Ub Iwerks. According to Persistence of
Vision: "Authoritatively documented, thouroughly researched, and full of
interesting anecdotes - it is a book that is long overdue."
All the books already
published
All the books to come
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Last updated June 29, 1999.