Dream On Silly Dreamer
by Dan Lund
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DVD details
Actor: Andreas Deja, Barry Cook, Brian Ferguson, Dorse Lanpher, Mauro MaressaDirector: Dan Lund
DVD: Region Code 0
Format: Animated, Collector's Edition, Color, Director's Cut, NTSC, Special Edition, Surround Sound
Running Time: 180 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-02-14
Studio: WestLund Productions, Inc.
DVD Reviews of Dream On Silly Dreamer
DVD Review: Once Upon A Dream...
Summary: 4 Stars
If you were at all affected by the Walt Disney companys decision to close down its 2D feature animation department, then Dream On Silly Dreamer is the film for you. If you could care less about 2D animation, the history of Disney animation or studio politics, then this is NOT the film for you.
This very short documentary (the film itself sans bonus features runs just under 40 mins) attempts to capture the feelings and emotions of Disney's odd move to close down it's 2D feature animation unit, thus ending a historic part of the studio. Let's face it, it IS the studio. The entire empire that Disney has become was because of 2D animation. It all started with the historic release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a daring and bold ARTISTIC endeavor that made Walt Disney a global phenomenon. It ends with failed BUSINESS endeavors, an uneven mix of art and commerce that resulted in Atlantis, Treasure Planet and Home On The Range - utterly forgettable films from a company that we expect more from. But blaming the medium seems a funny scapegoat. 'Dream On...' the documentary, in it own rambling way, passionately attempts to explain just what happend on the way to the end. Utilizing extensive interviews with Disney artists, both past and present (most notably Andreas Deja), the film talks about the final days leading up to the layoffs of thousands of artists. While the interviews are extremely personal and emotional they seem to only scratch the surface. There is still anger and resentment, as would be expected. It seems the artists are too close to the situation, the wounds still too fresh, to put a more philosophical spin on what happened and how they reacted. That is both a strength and a weakness of the film. While the emotion feels fresh and raw, some of the more juicy details are left out. In its immediacy, we lose some of the perspective. The film forgets that, most of us at leat, were not there to watch this unfold. For employees of Disney affected by these events I am sure it means so much more. But for a general audince it can be, at times, like looking thourgh photos of people we don't know, parties we weren't invited to. With the exception of Deja and a few oldtimers from the days of Walt, eloquence is not the strong point of the interviews. Watch the Super Sized bonus features for more in depth talk about the process and what went wrong. There are some interesting descriptions of story meetings that seem to verify what Disney fans have always suspected was the moutning problems of the Disney features. While I wish there was more - more details about what went wrong on specific pictures, who was to blame for what details, etc - it is a captivating slice of the reality of Disney animation nonetheless. Seeing these artists speaking so genuinely about the company is extremely interesting. The fact that this film exists, that Disney let it be is in intself a miracle. The execs, in general, don't come off all that well. But name calling and finger pointing are kept to a surprising minimum. Katzenberg even comes off rather well.
In the end, this film is about innocence lost. These kinds of things happen at companies everyday around the world. But because it is Disney, because so many of us have bought into the pixie dust and magic, including these artists, the decision, the failure, the closure seem that much more tragic and personal. Witnessing that in this DVD makes up for its sloppiness. While I think there was a potential to make this an even more amazing and important film as well as a historical document, it is worth viewing all the same. With a little more focus and direction this could have been an incredible time capsule of a very specific, very dark time in Disney's history. As it stands, it's genuine and heartfelt but under polished. Still, as avid fans of Disney animation know, we will always take what we can get.
As a side note - Very little of Pixar is mentioned. The pending merger is not even addressed at all. While it remains to be seen what Lassetter and Co. will do with Disney animation, the future as of this filming was not optimistic. Only time will tell. Perhaps Pixar will re-open 2D animation at Disney and bring back some of these great talents. Wouldn't a happy sequel to this film be just as amazing?
Description of Dream On Silly Dreamer
On March 25, 2002, more than 200 Disney artists working at the studio?s legendary Feature Animation department in Burbank, California, were told that their services were no longer needed by the company. It took only one uncomfortable gathering with then president of Feature Animation Thomas Schumacher, now dubbed "The Tom Meeting," to kill 75 years of a beloved animated tradition. A similar series of events soon played out at Disney?s other animation studios in Paris, Tokyo and Orlando, Florida. Doors were closed for good and in total nearly 1,300 skilled artists and craftsmen were fired. The company best known for its handcrafted animated features no longer wanted artists to draw for them."DREAM ON SILLY DREAMER" is the new animated documentary from director Dan Lund and producer Tony West that tells this tale. Featuring interviews recorded soon after the now infamous "Tom Meeting," viewers will learn the reasons offered by the company and feel the emotional responses from those affected. A handful of artists tell their side of the story and share their recollections of the "good old days" at Disney.
Told as a modern-day fairy tale, "DREAMER" pays homage to the classic Winnie the Pooh shorts. An artist?s sketch book becomes the viewer?s window into this documentary realm with original, animated vignettes helping to tell a side of the story that the world never has heard. This film will touch anyone who has ever dreamed, believed in fairy tales or wished upon a star.
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