On April 14, a special screening of “Waking Sleeping Beauty” was held in the Events Space on the fourth floor of Building C.
The film was a documentary about the people who ran Disney animation from 1984 to 2002. During this time, Walt Disney had lost interest in animation and began to focus on live action movies. After Disney’s death, his nephew Roy Disney kept the department going out of tradition and due to the feeling that the company owed its success to the animators.
Despite their initial success and importance to the company, the animation department experienced a lot of drama. Multiple office moves, attempts to shut the department down and animators re-enacting scenes from “Apocalypse Now” in the hallways caused unneeded tension, as well as decreased productivity. Then, in 1989, the animators made “The Little Mermaid,” bringing Walt Disney Studios critical and financial success. Their next film, “Rescuers Down Under,” became the first partially CG cartoon. In 1991, “Beauty and the Beast” was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, demonstrating a comeback for the animation department.
Overall, “Waking Sleeping Beauty” was a fabulous documentary. The producer of the film, Peter Schneider, was in attendance and answered questions from students after the screening. The biggest surprise of the evening was the appearance of Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel from “The Little Mermaid.” A close friend to Schneider, she agreed to accompany him to the event. At the request of one student, she sang a verse from “Part of Your World.” What an amazing experience!
More information on the documentary, as well as screening times and locations, is available at www.wakingsleepingbeautymovie.com. I recommend that students attend more SCAD events. You never know who may show up! I’m hoping for Genie from Aladdin next time. I could use those three wishes …