Animated Life

In Defense of Mavericks

33

Wild Ride

Would you prefer a spirited steed or a nag?

If you know anything about the Walt Disney Studios, you know that the Old Maestro exercised total control over his animated kingdom. From the studio's humble beginnings in the 1930s to his passing in 1966, nothing,—and I do mean nothing—ever escaped the careful gaze of Walt Disney.

Maybe Walt Disney wasn't the first control freak in history, but he was certainly worthy of that dubious title. Every story idea, art style, and casting choice in a Disney motion picture had to go through Walt. When you worked for Walt Disney, you either became Walt Disney, or you went somewhere else. Your story ideas had to be acceptable to Walt. Your art styling had to match ...