In my introductory blog from last week, I talked about how when I was young Disney films felt like a magical place of escape. Clearly I’m not the only one who thought so; now Disney offers us a chance to wander through the magic itself.
“Dreams Come True – Art of the Classic Fairy Tales from the Walt Disney Studio” is appearing at the New Orleans Museum of Art from November 15, 2009 through March 15, 2010. The exhibition details the true artistry involved in the making of classic Disney films, highlighting the skill that made Walt Disney famous and brought enchantment to viewers across the globe.
“Never once do you think that the characters and places [in Disney movies] are just drawings and paintings,” said Disney animation chief creative officer John Lasseter of the exhibition. “What’s even more amazing to contemplate is that for every background or animation cell that is photographed and seen in the final film, there are dozens of pieces of art the audience never sees that are vital to the creation of the film: visual development artwork, story sketches, character designs, layouts, animation drawings, paintings, and more.”
“Dreams Come True” brings all of this together to provide an immersive experience in the fairy-tale art of Disney. Visitors to the museum will encounter original artwork, backgrounds, production cells, film clips, rare collectibles, and more from Disney’s 75-plus years of filmmaking.
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The tour begins with a short video on the tradition of storytelling and its importance in Disney movies. The exhibition then walks guests from room to room in chronological order through the studio’s fairy tale-based films, such as “Snow White,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and more, ending at the upcoming “Princess and the Frog.”
Much of the exhibit is given over to “Princess and the Frog,” unsurprising as it is Disney’s newest fairy-tale update and set in the same city as the exhibition appears, New Orleans. The display allows guests to compare stills from the movie with real photographs of the city, and gives them a sneak peak of the music appearing in the film.
Perhaps the biggest attraction to the exhibit for me, coming from a literature background, is the comparison the exhibit draws from each of the original fairy-tales to the finished Disney films. Summaries of the original stories are provided, followed by step-by-step details on the film production process. I think that sounds like a fascinating exploration on the evolution of story.
The only downside to “Dreams Come True” is that New Orleans is the only announced North American location for the exhibit. I think it’s great that Disney debuted the show in New Orleans, a town many families may ignore for vacation due to its associations with the decadence of Mardis Gras. But there’s so much more to the town than that one famous night of excess, and I’m glad Disney is showcasing that through “Princess and the Frog” and the “Dreams Come True” exhibit.
But what about those of us who can’t make it to New Orleans? Does this mean we’ll never get to see our “Dreams Come True”? My wish is that the exhibit will be successful and popular enough to persuade Disney to tour it in other cities across the country.
Related Articles:
A Dangerous Trend in Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales
Disney On Ice: Worlds of Fantasy
*(This image by NightmareAcademy is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
