Walt's People Volume 11

You would think that by volume 11 of Walt's People, a series of books composed of interviews with people who worked with and for Walt Disney, that editor Didier Ghez would be down to interviewing the grandson of the janitor who emptied the wastebasket of Milt Kahl's inbetweener. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Editor Ghez continues to come up with interviews of historical importance filled with fascinating anecdotes and production details.

The contents of volume 11 are:

Foreword: John Canemaker
Didier Ghez: Ruthie Tompson
Christopher Finch & Linda Rosenkrantz: Walt Pfeiffer
John Culhane: Shirley Temple
John Culhane: I. Klein
Peter Hansen: Basil Reynolds
Christopher Finch & Linda Rosenkrantz: Eric Larson
John Culhane: John Hubley
Robin Allan: Jules Engel
Darrell Van Citters: Ed Love
Darrell Van Citters: Mike Lah
JB Kaufman: Frank Thomas
Dave Smith: Carl Nater
John Culhane: John Hench
John Canemaker: Ward Kimball
Dave Smith: Ward Kimball
Didier Ghez: Frank Armitage
Robin Allan: Ray Aragon
Didier Ghez: Ray Aragon
Gord Wilson: Jacques Rupp
David Tietyen: George Bruns
John Canemaker: Dale Oliver
John Canemaker: Iwao Takamoto
John Canemaker: Richard Williams
Charles Solomon: Brad Bird
Alberto Becattini: Don R. Christensen
Jim Korkis: Tom Nabbe
Dave Smith: Roger Broggie
Didier Ghez: David Snyder
Didier Ghez: Carl Bongirno
John Culhane: Daniel MacManus
John Culhane: Ted Kierscey
John Canemaker: Glen Keane
Didier Ghez: Joe Hale
Jérémie Noyer: Mark Henn
Christian Ziebarth: Andreas Deja and Mark Henn
Didier Ghez: Ed Catmull

This is yet another book I've got to add to my overburdened shelf. Copies can be ordered from Xlibris for those living in the U.S. and from Amazon for those living in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Ward Kimball Biography Coming in 2012

Caricature of Ward Kimball by Walt Kelly

Didier Ghez's Disney History site has details of Amid Amidi's biography of Ward Kimball to come out in the latter half of 2012.

"The Kimball family has generously granted me access to all of Ward's personal files, photos and diaries, and I've combined this with new research and interviews to present a thorough celebration of his life that acknowledges his impact on the art form."

This is a book I very much look forward to reading.

Walt's People Volume 9

If you live in the United States, the ninth volume of interviews of people who worked with and for Walt Disney is now available from Xlibris. The book will be available through Amazon in a matter of weeks. This volume, edited by Didier Ghez, contains interviews with Berny Wolf, Art Babbitt, Bill Melendez, Ken O'Connor, Thor Putnam, Art Scott, Ken Anderson, Les Clark, Joe Grant, Walt Peregoy, Frank McSavage, Jack Bradbury, Burny Mattinson, correspondence with Ollie Johnston, and more.

Volume 10 is already in the works. These books overflow with history, technique, and opinion and each works as a stand alone volume if you're intimidated by the thought of trying to catch up.

Walt's People Volume 8 Released

Didier Ghez informs me that the 8th volume of Walt's People, a book series featuring interviews with people who worked with and were associated with Walt Disney, has now been published. Here's a list of the contents:

Foreword: Paula Sigman-Lowery

Dave Smith: Ruth Disney Beecher

Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston: Les Clark

Richard Hubler: Harry Tytle

Milt Gray: James Bodrero

Robin Allan: Theo Halladay about Sylvia Holland

Robin Allan: Retta Scott

Jim Korkis: Retta Davidson

Floyd Norman : Retta Davidson

Steve Hulett: Mark Kirkland about Moe Gollub

Richard Hubler: Ben Sharpsteen

David Tietyen: Lou Debney

David Tietyen: Jim Macdonald

David Tietyen: Charles Wolcott

Richard Hubler: Bill Cottrell

Richard Hubler: Herb Ryman

Richard Hubler: Donn Tatum

Richard Hubler: Card Walker

Richard Hubler: Bob Sherman

Richard Hubler: Dolores Voght

Richard Hubler: Tommie Wilck

Richard Hubler: Welton Becket

John G. West: Bill Anderson

Richard Hubler: Robert Stevenson

Christopher Finch and Linda Rosenkrantz: Don Griffith

Jim Korkis: Floyd Gottfredson

Tony Fischier: Floyd Gottfredson

Jim Korkis: Al Taliaferro

Jim Korkis: Jack Hannah

Jim Fanning: Carl Barks

Paul F. Anderson: Blaine Gibson

Scott Wolf: Harriet Burns

Charles Solomon: Roy E. Disney

Göran Broling: Correspondence with Frank Thomas

Didier Ghez: Bud Hester

Didier Ghez: Ken Southworth

Didier Ghez: Dale Baer

If you are in the United States, you can order this book from Xlibris. The book will be available though Amazon eventually for those who are outside the U.S.

Oops

If you have ever bought anything from Amazon online, you know that they send you emails to alert you to items they believe you will want based on your past purchases. Occasionally, though, the recommendations leave me scratching my head, such as this one:

(Click to enlarge.)

Walt's People Volume 7

October 14 marks the release of the seventh volume of Walt's People, a collection of interviews with people who worked with and for Walt Disney, edited by Didier Ghez. The cover, as always, is by Peter Emslie. Here's the table of contents for the latest volume:

Foreword by Hans Perk
David Lesjak: William Rast
Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston: Wilfred Jackson
Richard Hubler: Wilfred Jackson
Wilfred Jackson: The New Spirit
Grim Natwick: The Goldfish Caper
Grim Natwick: Bill Tytla
Grim Natwick: The Three-Fingered Hand
Grim Natwick: Analysis
Grim Natwick: Soundtracks
Grim Natwick: Hobbies
Brian Sibley: Adriana Caselotti
Milt Gray: Clarence Nash
Milt Gray and Michael Barrier: Billy Bletcher
Milt Gray: Jim Macdonald
Richard Hubler: Jim Macdonald
David Tietyen: Paul Smith and Hazel George
Christian Renaut: Carl Fallberg
Dave Smith: George Goepper
Rick Shale: Harry Tytle
Richard Hubler: Milt Kahl
Darrell Van Citters: Milt Kahl
Darrell Van Citters: Ollie Johnston
Richard Hubler: Ward Kimball
Richard Hubler: Frank Thomas and Ken Anderson
Christopher Finch and Linda Rosenkrantz: Grace Turner
Jérémie Noyer: X. Atencio
Scott Weitz: X. Atencio
Didier Ghez: Bob Kurtz
Richard Hubler: John Hench
Jim Korkis: Marc Davis
Charles Solomon: Marc Davis and Andreas Deja
Alberto Becattini: Tom McKimson
Alberto Becattini: John Carey
Didier Ghez: John Ewing
Pete Docter: Art Stevens

Those living in the U.S. can order from xlibris.com. There is no direct link for this volume up yet, though I assume that it will appear in the next day or two. Those outside the U.S. will have to wait until the book is available through Amazon, the online book seller, which usually follows in about six weeks.

I've read every volume in this series and have enjoyed them all. Some interviews provide new historical knowledge, some amusing anecdotes and others technical information as to the procedures at the studio. If you have any interest in Disney or animation history or technique, these volumes are worth reading.

Behind the Scenes of Walt's People

Didier Ghez, editor of the Walt's People series of books interviewing those who worked with and for Disney, goes into detail on the creation of each volume. It's a long and involved process, dedicated to bringing a wide variety of source material and a high degree of accuracy to the reader. Anyone interested in Disney or animation history should have these volumes on a nearby bookshelf.

Walt's People Volume 6

Editor Didier Ghez has announced that Walt's People Volume 6 is now available from Xlibris.com and will be available to those outside the U.S. from Amazon.com in 6 to 8 weeks. The contents include:

Foreword by Michael Sporn

Michael Barrier: Carl Stalling

I. Klein: The Disney Studio in the '30s

I. Klein: Some Close-Up Shots of Walt Disney during the "Golden Years"

I. Klein: Golden Age Animator Vladimir (Bill) Tytla

I. Klein: Walt Disney Took Another Giant Step!

Steve Hulett: Wilfred Jackson

Steve Hulett: Eric Larson

Steve Hulett: Ward Kimball

Steve Hulett: Ken Anderson

Steve Hulett: Ken O'Connor

Steve Hulett: Claude Coates

Robin Allan: Claude Coats

Christopher Finch: Frank Thomas

Christopher Finch: Ollie Johnston

Christopher Finch: Milt Kahl

JB Kaufman: Maurice Rapf

Richard Hubler: Lillian Disney

Richard Hubler: Roy O. Disney

Richard Hubler: Edna Disney

Richard Hubler: Sharon Disney

Richard Hubler: Diane Disney Miller

Richard Hubler: Ron Miller

Richard Hubler: Dick Irvine

Richard Hubler: Marvin Davis

Richard Hubler: Joe Fowler

Richard Hubler: Roger Broggie

Dave Smith: Fred Joerger

Jim Korkis: Ken Anderson

Richard Hubler: Frank Reilly

Frank Reilly: The Walt Disney Comic Strips

Jim Davis and Alberto Becattini: Ken Hultgren

Wes Sullivan: Bud Hester

Wes Sullivan: Iwao Takamoto

Gabe Essoe: Larry Clemmons

Christian Renaut: Joe Hale

Didier Ghez: Steve Hulett

Various Links

The Ottawa International Animation Festival has posted the list of films that have been accepted. There is also a list of retrospectives and other screenings.

Michael Sporn has posted the first part of John Hubley's storyboard for Cockaboody.

Keith Lango has written a three part essay entitled "The Fool's Errand," talking about strategies for making independent computer animated shorts. Part 1, Part2, Part 3.

Kevin Langley has put up some slow motion videos of Bobe Cannon's animation from the Chuck Jones cartoon The Dover Boys. Keith Lango adds his thoughts about Cannon's animation here.

Hans Perk has resumed putting up drafts for Disney shorts. Here's Moving Day, Polar Trappers, and The Dognapper.

Didier Ghez has also posted some Disney drafts from the collection of Mark Kausler. Here are Pioneer Days, Midnight in a Toy Shop, Winter, and Playful Pan.

Mark Kausler's own blog has an evaluation of the various studios that made Krazy Kat cartoons over the years.

Michael Barrier revisits The Iron Giant. It's not possible to link to specific entries on Barrier's blog, but it was posted on July 25.

And a reminder that Volume 1 of the Popeye DVD set is now available. All the Popeye cartoons from 1933 to 1938 restored from original negatives. Furthermore, the Woody Woodpecker set, including cartoons by Tex Avery, Shamus Culhane, Dick Lundy and Bill Nolan, is also available.

Walt's People Volume 5 Published

The Disney and animation history fans among you will be pleased to know that Walt's People Volume 5 has been published and is currently available at xlibris.com. Unfortunately, xlibris will only ship to the U.S. so the rest of us have to wait until the book is listed at Amazon. I'll let you know when that happens.

Here's a list of the contents:
Foreword: Mark Mayerson
Michael Barrier: Hugh Harman
Dave Smith: Nadine Missakian
Richard Shale: Ward Kimball
Dave Smith and Richard Shale: Erwin Verity
Richard Hubler: James Algar
Richard Hubler: Winston Hibler
Richard Hubler: Bill Anderson
Richard Hubler: Bill Walsh
Christopher Finch and Linda Rosenkrantz: Bill Walsh
Richard Hubler: George Bruns
John Burlingame: Buddy Baker
Jérémie Noyer: Buddy Baker
Mike Barrier: Fess Parker
Christian Renaut: Walt Stanchfield
Richard Hubler: Marc Davis
Dave Oneil: Alice Davis
Richard Hubler: T. Hee
Harry McCracken: Maurice Noble
Christopher Finch and Linda Rosenkrantz: Al Dempster
Bob Miller: Walt Peregoy
Floyd Norman: Windwagon Smith
Floyd Norman: The Making of The Jungle Book
Jim Korkis: Bill Evans
Alberto Becattini: Jack Bradbury
Alberto Becattini: Lynn Karp
Didier Ghez: Dave Michener
John Musker: In Memory of Vance Gerry
Charles Solomon : Vance Gerry
Christian Renaut: Vance Gerry
Clay Kaytis: Ron Clements and John Musker
Pete Emslie: Cover Art