SummaryWaking Sleeping Beauty is no fairytale. It is a story of clashing egos, out of control budgets, escalating tensions... and one of the most extraordinary creative periods in animation history. Director Don Hahn and producer Peter Schneider, key players at Walt Disney Studios Feature Animation department during the mid-1980s, offer a behind-the-mag... Read More
Directed By:Don Hahn
Written By:Patrick Pacheco
Waking Sleeping Beauty
Metascore
Generally Favorable
70
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.4
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
70
72% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
28% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
91
A surprisingly intimate behind-the-scenes documentary.
80
It's got a terrific inside Hollywood sensibility plus an unblinking candor that lets the chips fall where they should. Which, given who made it, is something of a pleasant surprise.
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.4
85% Positive
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
15% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Jan 7, 2024
10
This is an excellent documentary that tells a great story. A must watch for fans of old school animation.
Sep 9, 2024
9
A surprisingly open, meticulous walk through the dark days of Disney's legendary animation house. Nearly two decades after Walt's death, the studio's culture was crumbling, with leadership deeply entrenched in the past and a full roster of young challengers begging for the chance to evolve. Through a stunningly complete collection of time-stamped home video footage and detailed interviews with every major player (especially impressive considering many have already passed on), we learn the private story of the studio's most perilous hours and celebrate its romantic return to glory. The archival footage alone is astounding stuff, flowing beautifully as a testament to both the unique, energetic personality of the shop and dire circumstances faced by its denizens. That it captured such an important chapter in the company's - and the industry's - long, decorated history is almost too much to believe. Admirably honest, doggedly comprehensive and charmingly human, it's a real eye-opener for anyone with even a passing interest in the stories behind many of animation's watershed moments.
75
A fascinating, albeit self-congratulatory, account of how Disney's fabled animation department was reenergized and reimagined between 1984 and 1994.
70
Surprisingly hard-hitting and revealing. The topic is a bit specialized to draw a wide audience, but those who see the movie will definitely enjoy the intrigue depicted.
63
Doesn't have as much behind-the-scenes juice as you'd hope.
60
A sly retrospective exercise in corporate self-congratulation masquerading as an insider’s tell-all.
50
Don Hahn’s documentary is an animator’s attempt to invigorate what is otherwise a dry story.
Dec 11, 2010
8
A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at Disney as the films that defined my childhood were created, which brought the studio back to life despite a clear power struggle at the top.
Production Company:
- Red Shoes
- Stone Circle Pictures
Release Date:Mar 26, 2010
Duration:1 h 26 m
Rating:PG
Tagline:From 1984 to 1994 a perfect storm of people and circumstances changed the face of animation forever.
Awards
Annie Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Hamptons International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
St. Louis Film Critics Association, US
• 1 Nomination




























