October 16, 2023 marks the official 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company. While many enterprises now make up the conglomerate — from theme parks to sports broadcasting — animation has been at its core since the beginning.
The legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios continues strongly today. 2023 also sees the theatrical debut of "Wish" — the studio's first original fairytale — from the co-director of "Frozen" and starring Ariana DeBose as Asha, the story's protagonist. "Wish" is accompanied in theaters by a new short film, "Once Upon a Studio," starring Mickey Mouse and featuring characters from every feature-length film in the Disney Animation canon.
Even for a studio with such a rich, beloved filmography as Disney's, the past 100 years have been an ebb and flow of highs and lows, hits and bombs, artistic phenomena and creative scarcity. With each generation, Disney Animation must redefine itself for its audience while retaining the signatures that make it iconic.
The legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios continues strongly today. 2023 also sees the theatrical debut of "Wish" — the studio's first original fairytale — from the co-director of "Frozen" and starring Ariana DeBose as Asha, the story's protagonist. "Wish" is accompanied in theaters by a new short film, "Once Upon a Studio," starring Mickey Mouse and featuring characters from every feature-length film in the Disney Animation canon.
Even for a studio with such a rich, beloved filmography as Disney's, the past 100 years have been an ebb and flow of highs and lows, hits and bombs, artistic phenomena and creative scarcity. With each generation, Disney Animation must redefine itself for its audience while retaining the signatures that make it iconic.
- 10/7/2023
- by Blake Taylor
- Slash Film
After watching the Disney+ docuseries “The Imagineering Story” in 2019, Warner Bros. executives approached Leslie Iwerks about documenting their studio’s history.
“They said, ‘We’d like you to tell honest stories about us,” recalls the Oscar-nominated director, granddaughter of Mickey Mouse designer Ub Iwerks.
Three years later, Iwerks has two docs out about Warner Bros.: The first, “100 Years of Warner Bros.,” which pays homage to the output of the studio over the past century, debuted on Max in May, the same month that the series premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The director’s sophomore documentary for Warner Bros. Discovery, “Superpowered: The DC Story,” arrives July 20 on Max. The three-part series, which Iwerks co-directed with Mark A. Catalena, is a deep dive into the history and legacy of DC Comics, home to superheroes including Batman and Superman. The series also details the rivalry between DC and Marvel.
Narrated by Rosario Dawson,...
“They said, ‘We’d like you to tell honest stories about us,” recalls the Oscar-nominated director, granddaughter of Mickey Mouse designer Ub Iwerks.
Three years later, Iwerks has two docs out about Warner Bros.: The first, “100 Years of Warner Bros.,” which pays homage to the output of the studio over the past century, debuted on Max in May, the same month that the series premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The director’s sophomore documentary for Warner Bros. Discovery, “Superpowered: The DC Story,” arrives July 20 on Max. The three-part series, which Iwerks co-directed with Mark A. Catalena, is a deep dive into the history and legacy of DC Comics, home to superheroes including Batman and Superman. The series also details the rivalry between DC and Marvel.
Narrated by Rosario Dawson,...
- 7/20/2023
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Superpowered: The DC Story, a three-part Max Original DC documentary series co-directed by Academy Award® and Emmy®-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks and Peabody Award®-winning and Emmy®-nominated filmmaker Mark Catalena, debuts Thursday, July 20 on Max.
Narrated by Rosario Dawson, Superpowered: The DC Story takes an unprecedented look at the enduring and influential legacy of DC, allowing fans to rediscover the universe of characters, as well as the iconic comic book company’s origins, its evolution and its nearly nine-decade cultural impact across every artistic medium. Featuring a wealth of interviews with the industry’s most prolific creators and the actors who bring their iconic characters from the page to the screen, Superpowered: The DC Story reminds us that at the heart of DC are the comics – the four-color fantasies that forever spark the imagination and instill hope.
Episodes:
Episode 1: The Hero’S Journey
For over 85 years, DC has...
Narrated by Rosario Dawson, Superpowered: The DC Story takes an unprecedented look at the enduring and influential legacy of DC, allowing fans to rediscover the universe of characters, as well as the iconic comic book company’s origins, its evolution and its nearly nine-decade cultural impact across every artistic medium. Featuring a wealth of interviews with the industry’s most prolific creators and the actors who bring their iconic characters from the page to the screen, Superpowered: The DC Story reminds us that at the heart of DC are the comics – the four-color fantasies that forever spark the imagination and instill hope.
Episodes:
Episode 1: The Hero’S Journey
For over 85 years, DC has...
- 6/27/2023
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
“You know, it’s funny, I went to the other side of the tracks, didn’t I?” admits Leslie Iwerks as she begins talking about the four-part docuseries “100 Years of Warner Bros.: The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of” that she directed for Max. Why the other side? Because the Oscar and Emmy nominee grew up as the daughter of longtime Disney executive Don Iwerks and granddaughter of Ub Iwerks, the Disney animation legend who worked side-by-side with Walt Disney and co-created Mickey Mouse. Yet here Leslie was tasked with putting together the ultimate history of a studio (Warner Bros.) that has long been a chief competitor of Disney. How did that happen? Her 2019 documentary “The Imagineering Story” that told the tale of Disney Imagineering came to the attention of the Warner Bros. folks. “They really liked it and asked if I could do something similar for them (to celebrate their 100th),” Iwerks says.
- 6/15/2023
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
How do you compress 100 years of boundary-pushing filmmaking, behind-the-scenes drama and technological advancements into four hour-long installments?
This was the challenge laid out before Leslie Iwerks and her new documentary “100 Years of Warner Bros: The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of.” Iwerks, an unparalleled documentary filmmaker who is responsible for Disney’s wonderful “The Imagineering Story,” tasked Morgan Freeman with narrating the tale of a small studio that would soon conquer Hollywood and its ever-evolving filmmaking slate, which allowed for people to escape into another world or hold a mirror up to our own.
TheWrap spoke to Iwerks about how she whittled a massive, century-long story of Hollywood mythmaking into highly digestible episodes, focusing on the storytelling rather than the corporate upheaval and what her favorite Warner Bros. movie is (hint: it’s not a doc). Iwerks was in Cannes at the time, where the film was debuting out of competition.
This was the challenge laid out before Leslie Iwerks and her new documentary “100 Years of Warner Bros: The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of.” Iwerks, an unparalleled documentary filmmaker who is responsible for Disney’s wonderful “The Imagineering Story,” tasked Morgan Freeman with narrating the tale of a small studio that would soon conquer Hollywood and its ever-evolving filmmaking slate, which allowed for people to escape into another world or hold a mirror up to our own.
TheWrap spoke to Iwerks about how she whittled a massive, century-long story of Hollywood mythmaking into highly digestible episodes, focusing on the storytelling rather than the corporate upheaval and what her favorite Warner Bros. movie is (hint: it’s not a doc). Iwerks was in Cannes at the time, where the film was debuting out of competition.
- 5/30/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
John le Carre’s George Smiley would have spotted the tail immediately. He would have noticed the man with an earpiece far to his left move in lockstep with the chap to his right.
The early rather odd conversation with the bloke in the white shirt, exposing chest hair, who identified himself as “head of security” would have put him on his guard and seen it for what it was: a warning.
Let me back up a bit.
Snowy-haired Michel, the head doorman at Eden-Roc, greeted me when I arrived for the Air Mail-Warner Bros. Party hosted by Graydon Carter, founder and co-editor of newsletter Air Mail, and David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery.
David Zaslav chatting to a guest at the Air Mail-Warner Bros Party.Photo Bamigboye/Deadline
Guests are finishing dinner, we’re here for the after-party.
The place sure looks swell. There’s a...
The early rather odd conversation with the bloke in the white shirt, exposing chest hair, who identified himself as “head of security” would have put him on his guard and seen it for what it was: a warning.
Let me back up a bit.
Snowy-haired Michel, the head doorman at Eden-Roc, greeted me when I arrived for the Air Mail-Warner Bros. Party hosted by Graydon Carter, founder and co-editor of newsletter Air Mail, and David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery.
David Zaslav chatting to a guest at the Air Mail-Warner Bros Party.Photo Bamigboye/Deadline
Guests are finishing dinner, we’re here for the after-party.
The place sure looks swell. There’s a...
- 5/24/2023
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
Max has revealed the rollout plans for its four original documentary specials narrated by Morgan Freeman in honor of Warner Bros.’ 100th anniversary.
The first two specials will make their debut at Cannes on May 24 as 2023 Official Cannes Classics Selections, followed by a May 25 debut on Max. The remaining two specials will be available to stream on Max on June 1.
The “100 Years of Warner Bros.” docuseries pays homage to the output of Warner Bros. over the past century. Featuring interviews with directors, actors, executives, journalists and historians, the specials highlight everything from the studios’ early beginnings to its presence in the modern day.
Among those interviewed: Quinta Brunson, LeVar Burton, Tim Burton, George Clooney, Ellen DeGeneres, Clint Eastwood, Toby Emmerich, Morgan Freeman, Gal Gadot, Andy Garcia, Jesse Palmer, Todd Phillips, Daniel Radcliffe, Keanu Reeves, Charles Roven, Martin Scorsese, Jacqueline Stewart, Oliver Stone, Emma Thomas, Cass Warner, Oprah Winfrey and Constance Wu,...
The first two specials will make their debut at Cannes on May 24 as 2023 Official Cannes Classics Selections, followed by a May 25 debut on Max. The remaining two specials will be available to stream on Max on June 1.
The “100 Years of Warner Bros.” docuseries pays homage to the output of Warner Bros. over the past century. Featuring interviews with directors, actors, executives, journalists and historians, the specials highlight everything from the studios’ early beginnings to its presence in the modern day.
Among those interviewed: Quinta Brunson, LeVar Burton, Tim Burton, George Clooney, Ellen DeGeneres, Clint Eastwood, Toby Emmerich, Morgan Freeman, Gal Gadot, Andy Garcia, Jesse Palmer, Todd Phillips, Daniel Radcliffe, Keanu Reeves, Charles Roven, Martin Scorsese, Jacqueline Stewart, Oliver Stone, Emma Thomas, Cass Warner, Oprah Winfrey and Constance Wu,...
- 5/18/2023
- by McKinley Franklin
- Variety Film + TV
(Welcome to 100 Years of Disney Magic, a series examining the history, achievements, and legacy of The Walt Disney Company over the last century. Part 2, "The Dream Comes True: The Birth Of Disney Brothers Studio," investigated the animator arriving in Hollywood and founding the Disney Brothers Studio with his brother Roy. In Part 3, we explore the rise and fall of Walt's first breakout hit, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.)
When we think "Walt Disney," one iconic cartoon character comes to mind -- the shrill-voiced optimist, Mickey Mouse. Much like Kermit the Frog is to Jim Henson, the squeaky lil' anthropomorphized rodent is a reflection of his creator. Mickey Mouse is humble, yet bold. He works hard. He loves his friends and family. He's distinctly American. Heck, Mickey was even voicedby Walt Disney initially. It's no wonder that mouse ears became a trademark icon for the Disney brand as a whole, appearing on T-shirts,...
When we think "Walt Disney," one iconic cartoon character comes to mind -- the shrill-voiced optimist, Mickey Mouse. Much like Kermit the Frog is to Jim Henson, the squeaky lil' anthropomorphized rodent is a reflection of his creator. Mickey Mouse is humble, yet bold. He works hard. He loves his friends and family. He's distinctly American. Heck, Mickey was even voicedby Walt Disney initially. It's no wonder that mouse ears became a trademark icon for the Disney brand as a whole, appearing on T-shirts,...
- 2/16/2023
- by Sarah Milner
- Slash Film
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