On January 24, 2005, Xlibris released Walt’s People – Talking Disney with the Artists who Knew Him – Volume 1, the first volume of a series of books that aims to re-animate the field of Disney research. The full press release can be reviewed here:

“Re-animate Disney research: unlock the vaults!”

ANNOUNCING THE WALT’S PEOPLE BOOK SERIES

On January 24, 2005, Xlibris has released Walt’s People – Talking Disney with the Artists who Knew Him – Volume 1, the first volume of a series of books that aims to re-animate the field of Disney research.

The Walt’s People book series, edited by Didier Ghez, is a collection of the best interviews ever conducted with Disney artists.

Contributors to the series include noted Disney historians Robin Allan, Paul F. Anderson, Michael Barrier, J.B. Kaufman, Jim Korkis, Mike Lyons, John Province, Thorkil Rasmussen, Arn Saba and Klaus Strzyz.

Those key Disney experts, by accepting to contribute to the project will give readers access to the source material they used for their works, published for the first time in its entirety. We are also uncovering every day new or quasi-unknown material: a forgotten interview with Woolie Reitherman, lost tapes of talks with Paul Murry, rare conversations with Al Hubbard, Floyd Gottfredson and many others that will be released in the upcoming volumes of the series.

Each book will have as broad a focus as possible, discussing Disney animation, Disney theme parks and Disney comic-books history with interviews of the best artists in each of those fields, be they from the early ’20s or from the early 21st century. The Walt’s People interviews, however, all have something in common: they are never or rarely seen before pieces that try to explore their subject matter as thoroughly as can be achieved. We aim to present mostly never-seen-before material, but will also include very old interviews that appeared in long forgotten venues and in-depth pieces that have only been released on the web, so that they achieve a more stable form.

And now, just a glimpse at what’s ahead to wet your mouth…

Walt’s People – Volume 1 features in-depth interviews with artists Rudy Ising, Dave Hand, Bill Tytla, Ken Anderson, Jack Hannah, John Hench, Marc Davis, Milt Kahl, Harper Goff and Joyce Carlson and discusses among many other subjects the Disney Studio before Mickey Mouse, the challenges in directing Snow White, the making of Destino with Dali, the process that led to the production of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the frustrations and joys of Marc Davis and Milt Kahl and the creation of It’s a Small World. It contains hundreds of new stories about the Studio and its artists and should delight even the most serious historians and enthusiasts.

Walt’s People is a notable new source of historical treasures and should contribute to give new energy to the world of Disney research!

How to buy Walt’s People – Volume 1: Since January 24, 2005, the book is available for sale on Xlibris.com:
(http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=27491)

In a few months the book will also be available on Amazon.com, Borders.com, BarnesandNoble.com and more than 200 other online stores. We encourage you to pick it up at Xlibris.com as you will get a 15% on the normal retail price and the share of the price paid to the authors will be higher which should allow them to release sooner a second volume in the series.

This book is neither authorized, sponsored nor endorsed by the Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries. It is an unofficial and unauthorized book. The mention of names and places associated with the Walt Disney Company and its businesses are not intended to infringe on any existing copyrights or trademarks of the Walt Disney Company but are used in context for educational purposes. The opinions and statements expressed in these interviews are solely the opinions and perspectives of the authors and the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and policy of the Walt Disney Company and its businesses.