Waking Sleeping Beauty

Today, one of my favorite movies of the year, Waking Sleeping Beauty, is out on DVD.  It was a big disappointment when the film was left off the Academy's documentary shortlist, but that omission is by no means a reflection of the film's quality.  Fascinating and emotional, you won't see a more purely enjoyable documentary this year.

Waking Sleeping Beauty follows Disney's animation studio in the rough times following the release of The Black Cauldron, a largely-forgotten flick that doesn't quite gel with the rest of Disney's oeuvre.  The film chronicles the rejuvenation of what some deemed a lost cause: these talented men and women went on to make minor hits like Oliver and Company and The Great Mouse Detective before soaring to the heights of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King.  It seems a bit self-congratulatory, but in this case, the pats on the back are well-deserved.

The film's most purely joyful moment comes when Howard Ashman, the late lyricist whose words are etched into many a film lover's memory with the same definition as basic personal information (name, address, phone number, "Be Our Guest" lyrics), performs a rough version of "Under the Sea" for the studio's animators.  It's a glimpse at a genius at work, and the excitement in the room is tangible, even all these years later simply watching it on a screen.

It's especially appropriate that the DVD is out today, considering Tangled's huge success at the box office this past weekend.  Tangled represents a return to the fairy tale perfection chronicled in Waking Sleeping Beauty: a simple love story, memorable songs, and lovable characters.  Taking a peak behind the curtain, you'll find that some of the creators are just as lovable.