Innovative, groundbreaking, and relentless.
These three words could easily describe the career of Leslie Iwerks, a focused and forward-thinking filmmaker with a generational connection to Disney. Flash back 70 years and you could almost certainly use those same words to describe the early days of construction at Disneyland, highlighted in Leslie’s upcoming documentary film Disneyland Handcrafted, debuting January 22 on Disney+ and Disney YouTube.
Eager to find out more about Leslie, her rich family background at Disney (including an assortment of technological innovations), and more details about what you can expect to see during Disneyland Handcrafted? Read on to learn more about this visual storyteller and her detailed journey leading toward the upcoming debut of her brand-new film that longtime Disney fans will be sure to enjoy.
- What is Disneyland Handcrafted, and When Does it Debut?
- Who is Leslie Iwerks, and What Are Her Ties to Disney?
- What Projects Has Leslie Worked on in Her Career?
- How Did Leslie Uncover All This New Footage of Disneyland?
- What Else Can I Expect to See During Disneyland Handcrafted?
- How Can I Watch Disneyland Handcrafted?
What is Disneyland Handcrafted, and When Does it Debut?
When the documentary film debuts on Disney+ and Disney YouTube on January 22, you’ll have a first-hand look at the trials and tribulations behind the rapid construction of the park leading up to its opening day in July 1955. Told through rare archival footage and insightful soundbites, the documentary will allow fans to journey behind the scenes of early Disneyland and uncover the vision, obstacles, and breakthroughs of this ambitious project.
Ready for an early sneak peek before the debut later this month? Check out the film’s official poster above, and learn more about the upcoming film on the Disney Parks Blog!
Who is Leslie Iwerks, and What Are Her Ties to Disney?
An Oscar and Emmy nominated filmmaker, Leslie Iwerks comes from a family steeped in Disney legacy. The granddaughter of Ub Iwerks (Walt Disney’s original animator and designer/co-creator of Mickey Mouse) and the daughter of Don Iwerks (a Disney camera technician and inventor), Leslie is the producer and director of the new documentary film.
Two film pioneers, Disney Legends, and Oscar winners, Ub and Don Iwerks made their mark at Disney: Ub worked at Disney in the early days of the company as an animator and special effects wizard, whereas Don worked at Disney in the ‘50s, ultimately overseeing the Studio Machine Shop and the Camera Service Department.
In fact, Leslie’s grandfather and father were particularly instrumental in a large portion of the creativity that has helped take The Walt Disney Company to revolutionary heights over the years. From the landmark creation of Mickey Mouse to the invention of the multiplane camera and the development of 360-degree camera that led to the first Circle-Vision 360° film format, Leslie grew up surrounded by these stunning technological feats that helped pave the way for her to become an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker herself.
What Projects Has Leslie Worked on in Her Career?
Leslie grew up surrounded by Disney history, frequently having the freedom to explore the Disney studio lot and filling her mind with an imaginative spirit that has continued to fuel her dedication to innovative storytelling.
Finding a particular interest in stories that meet at the intersection of business, creativity, and visionary thinking, Leslie launched her early career with an especially personal touch in 1999, sharing her grandfather’s story with Walt and more in The Hand Behind the Mouse: The Ub Iwerks Story. With a desire to tell her grandfather’s story to an audience and championed by the support of Roy E. Disney at the time, Leslie was able to share her family legacy with the world through her own filmmaking.
Following the passion and expertise set by her grandfather and father, Leslie continues to leave a legacy of pure technological innovation and key attention to detail with a Disney-filled filmography including The Pixar Story and The Imagineering Story. The latter even inspired a companion book, offering readers an in-depth look at the creativity and craftsmanship behind Disney Parks. Her family story lives in her filmmaking to this day, inspired by her past with an innovative search for new ways to connect with passionate audiences around the world.
How Did Leslie Uncover All This New Footage of Disneyland?
During the creation of the film, Leslie searched through over 100 hours of raw material showcasing Disneyland in its earliest days, discovering authentic outtakes that had previously been sitting in the vaults at the Walt Disney Film Archives for years.
Combing through binders of 16mm film reels that were unused from the making of the Disneyland television series, Leslie and her dedicated team were able to produce high-resolution scans of every reel without a timecode, helping to restore beautiful, once-forgotten shots of the early days of Disneyland onto a hard drive through a revolutionary process that had never been tackled before.
Taking on such a massive challenge of searching through all this footage and discovering new pieces of recorded Disneyland history was certainly a tricky task for Leslie and her team, yet the structure and layout of the film feels personal, showcasing some of the most amazing craftsmanship she or anyone else has ever seen.
During Disneyland Handcrafted, this distinctive, archival footage will provide an unpolished, fly-on-the-wall perspective for viewers to hear and see what was actually happening during construction of The Happiest Place on Earth.
Whether you’ve dreamed of what Adventureland looked like in the third month of construction or how Tomorrowland started to take form with the pressure of opening day looming in the distance, you’ll be surrounded by sights, sounds, and first-hand accounts of real artists, craftsmen, and Walt Disney Imagineers on-site in Anaheim in 1955.
What Else Can I Expect to See During Disneyland Handcrafted?
A distinctly Disney feature documentary that details the legacy, passion, and nostalgia in the year leading up to the creation of Disneyland, Disneyland Handcrafted will detail the ultimate story of risk and capture the excitement of Disneyland as it was being built more than 70 years ago.
With a chance to peek behind the orange groves and experience the making of the park like never before, this documentary will take you back in time to visit the Disneyland of yesteryear and provide a look at the dedication, expertise, and focus that was required to turn a dream into reality.
Hand-forged with an assortment of dedicated, invested individuals constantly working around the clock, Leslie mentions that the film encapsulates the raw DNA of Disneyland, featuring the five original lands and the overall sense of overpowering happiness that went on to become the foundational blueprint for future Disney Parks around the world.
How Can I Watch Disneyland Handcrafted?
Looking back at its opening over 70 years ago, it’s truly unbelievable to see what Walt was able to pull off with his team. When you tune-in to watch Disneyland Handcrafted on Disney+ or Disney YouTube this month, you’ll be able to take an up-close look at the intense risks and the immense pressure that Walt was under in 1955 that eventually laid the groundwork for a massive global industry that is currently in the biggest era of growth since it opened.
Honoring the history and revolutionary spirit of Walt Disney has fueled innovation across generations, opening the door for evolution and growth just as Walt dreamed. Leslie Iwerks has taken that message to heart with this film, depicting the thoughtfulness and care that was put into the development of Disneyland and reminding so many of us why we continue to trace our love for Disney Parks back to the original vision of Disneyland.
Prepare to explore the roots of Disney Parks with a documentary experience unlike any other in Disneyland Handcrafted, debuting January 22 on Disney+ and Disney YouTube.
