List of recommended commentaries on Disney as religious thought, history, and art

Monk Recommended! List of recommended commentaries to learn about Disney as religious thought, history, and art

Now, out of the blue, some of you may be wondering why I am introducing a book about Disney on a monk's blog when you see this article.

It is true that Disney has an image of being entertaining and having nothing to do with Buddhism.

But Disney is more than just an entertaining entity. It is also a dominant ideological, historical, and artistic force.

I have such an interest in Disney. I have always loved Disney movies, but now that I am here, I am even more overwhelmed by their artistry and the power of their stories. The more I learn about Disney, the more I see its depth.

In this article, we will introduce some recommended commentaries that will help you learn more about such a profound Disney.

Let's get started. Please refer to each of the links for more detailed information about the book.

Masako NotojiThe Holy Land of Disneyland."

This book is a work that examines "What is Disney?" focusing on Disneyland, which opened in Anaheim, California, USA, in 1955.

And as the title of this book suggests, this work is unique in that it looks at Disney from the aspects of "sacred places," "faith," and "culture. As a Buddhist monk, this is a very interesting theme for me.

What interests me less is not so much what Disneyland looks like as a play and leisure space, but the particular, almost religious feelings that many Americans have for the place, and the phenomenon of such a strongly ethnic cultural heritage spreading around the world at the same time."

This book will delve deeply into the cultural anthropological and sociological aspects of this very thing. Let's be clear.This book is extremely interesting...!"

Katsuya AraiThe Sociology of Disneyland: The De-Disneyization of TDR.

This book is not the same as a "Here's a great Disneyland" type of book. It will look at the phenomenon of Disneyland from a sociological perspective.

Why did Tokyo Disneyland take a unique route different from that of the original? And why have operating profits continued to grow despite taking a different route, from a variety of perspectives. This is interesting!

Why are we so fascinated with Disneyland?"

What is Japan's unique acceptance of Disney? What is the difference between Japan and other countries? And what Japanese mentality can be seen from it?

This is a very stimulating book that makes you think about these things.

Also, at the end of this book, you will find a number of recommended reference books for learning about Disney. This book has made it easier for me to set a course of study. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Disney.

Christopher Finch.The Art of Disney."

This film, "The Art of Disney," is a recommended way to learn about the history of Disney's films.

First and foremost, it is simply rich in illustrations, photographs, and documents! It is a book that is fun just to look at.

And when I read this book, I said, "What? That's what I thought!" I was surprised at many things. It makes you realize how the Disney films you have seen so far are tremendous "works of art".

We hardly even know Walt Disney himself to begin with. I was the same way. I had no idea that he was born in 1901, nor did I have any interest in him.

However, Disney's works still reflect his life and philosophy in abundance. This book will change the way you look at Disney's works.

Mickey's debut film, Steamboat Willie, was released in 1928. It is very interesting to read about Walt Disney's struggles and behind-the-scenes stories leading up to this point in detail in this book. I was also surprised to read that "I had no idea it was born from such a situation!" I was also surprised.

It also shows how groundbreaking this work is and how much advanced skill and labor went into it. After reading the commentary in this book, this work is seen as a milestone in the art world. It is such a tremendous work of art.

By Katsuya Arai, published in 2016The Sociology of Disneyland: The De-Disneyization of TDR.But this book is,

The book is mainly a visually rich presentation of the process of animation production. First published in 1970, it has sold 500,000 copies in the past 30 years and has been revised to include new content, making it a classic in this field.

Seikyusha, Katsuya Arai, "Disneyland no Shakaigaku de-Disney-ka suru TDR," p. 200.

and recommended.

This book is a great book that I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn more about Disney.

Neil Gabler.The Madness of Creation: Walt Disney.

This book is a recommended biography of Walt Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse.

What makes this book unique is its neutrality. The book is neither overly glorifying nor critical of Walt. It is written in a neutral manner.

This position of neutrality may seem obvious, but when you are a giant like Walt, it is not so easy. On the Disney side, Walt was often deified and presented as a deity, and on the other side, there were many instances where Walt was cast down as a satanic figure from a political or ideological stance.

By Katsuya Arai, published in 2016The Sociology of Disneyland: The De-Disneyization of TDR.But this book is recommended because of its neutrality.

Richard SnowDisneyland: How the World's Greatest Entertainment Was Created.

This book, "Disneyland: How the World's Greatest Entertainment Was Created," is a recommended reference for learning about the history of Disneyland in Anaheim, California, USA, which opened in 1955.

Everyone knows Disneyland as the land of dreams, but when it comes to its origins, it is surprisingly unknown! I was one of them.

It has been 28 years since Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983. (As someone born in 1990, I wasn't even sure what year Tokyo Disneyland opened.)

Disneyland has suddenly appeared amidst the orange groves and wilderness of California. This book explains how this unprecedented giant theme park came into being and why we are so drawn to Disneyland.

The book is not simply a glorification of Disney, nor is it an exposé or slander to the contrary. As the book's obi proclaims, "Epic nonfiction that you need to read now," it is a documentary-style look at the birth of Disneyland and its development after its opening.

The book describes not only Walt Disney's superhuman imagination and work ethic, but also the struggles of the many people who made his reckless challenge a reality. To be honest, the construction of Disneyland as told in this book, including Walt's, is out of the ordinary. The amount of work is unbelievable. It is unbelievably overworked from a modern perspective, but it is clear that Disneyland would not have been possible without this intense workload. Moreover, the theme park was built with a slapstick and reckless plan that makes you laugh.

Oh no, it's interesting! I urge you to read this terrific bottom line of Disney.

Yuji YamaguchiThe New Spatial Science of Disneyland: How to Create a Kingdom of Dreams and Magic.

Unlike other Disneyland books, this book is dedicated to architectural and spatial devices.

Disneyland is not simply an array of attractions on the grounds, but each one of them is designed to entertain guests.

Famously, the outside world cannot be seen from inside the park, and tall buildings such as Cinderella Castle are made to a smaller scale as they go up, making the buildings appear larger as a result.

Yes, this is true when you go to the Land. When you are in the parks, you forget the outside world and experience a true dream world. And I myself always wondered about this when I went to Disneyland, but I found that although Cinderella Castle and Big Thunder Mountain looked far away, when I walked around, it was surprisingly easy to get there. At the time, I thought that the time I spent walking there was just a blink of an eye because I was having so much fun, but it turned out that this mechanism was also a spatial science set up by Disney.

In this book, we will look at such mechanisms in considerable detail. The word "spatial science" may sound technical and difficult, but this book contains many illustrations and diagrams, and the explanations are very easy to understand. Please be assured that you can easily read this book even if you do not have any specialized knowledge.

Tetsuo ArimaThe Disneyland Story: LA-Florida-Tokyo-Paris.

This book is a recommended guide that provides an overview of the history of Disneyland from its opening in Anaheim, California in 1955 to Florida, Tokyo, Paris, and Hong Kong.

What makes this book unique is that it does not simply look at the history of each Disneyland, but rather includes an abundance of human drama in it. There were various human dramas in the process of the huge project called Disneyland.

Nothing brings out the human drama like a theme park project."

This is the essence of what makes this book so interesting. The history of Disneyland itself is incredibly interesting, but it is this that makes this book an exciting work all by itself. I also read it in one sitting.

Noguchi, TsuneLight and Shadow of the Kingdom of Dreams: The Men Who Created Tokyo Disneyland

This book is truly inspiring. It is extremely interesting! It is as realistic as if you are watching a movie. I would love to see a live-action version of this book. Recently, Disney movies seem to be struggling at the box office, but I think that if this behind-the-scenes drama about the bid to bring Tokyo Disneyland to Japan is perfectly recreated, quite a few people will be interested in it. It is that interesting. I think it would be even more perfect if it were made in the style of "Naoki Hanzawa. This nonfiction story is so tumultuous and thrilling that it could be told in that worldview without any discomfort at all.

I think this book will stick not only with those interested in Disney, but also with business people who are trying to start something. The passion and energy, the tenacity and resourcefulness, and the behind-the-scenes stories of how they turned things around in one fell swoop, make this book an unforgettable read. I read through the book in one sitting. It is a very good work. There is no doubt about it.

Tetsuo ArimaDisney and Its Rivals: A History of Cartoon Media in America."

This book is a study of Walt Disney's creation Mickey Mouse and his relationship to the American animation industry.

Disneyland may have begun with the birth of Mickey Mouse, but Mickey himself did not come from nothing. Walt himself had created many characters before Mickey was born.

Moreover, these characters were not created by Walt out of thin air, but rather inspired (or, to put it bluntly, imitated) by the film and animation industry of the time.

Yes, it is true. Mickey Mouse is also the result of the interaction of the world. He is not a one-of-a-kind entity that suddenly appeared one day in the brain of the genius Walt. This book takes a closer look at the inner workings of the animation industry and the preceding characters that led to the creation of Mickey Mouse.

This book is just a lot of fun. I recommend this book because it is different from the usual Disney commentary books and full of charm. It is interesting to know the background of the times! I highly recommend this book.

Hiroyuki OhnoDisney and Chaplin."

This book is recommended to learn about the mentor-student relationship between Chaplin, the king of comedy, and Walt Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse.

Previously on this blog about Walt Disney by Neil GablerThe Madness of Creation: Walt Disney.and by Christopher Finch.The Art of Disney."I have introduced various books on the relationship between Walt and Chaplin, such as the following, but those books also described the relationship between Walt and Chaplin. However, they did not delve that deeply into the relationship between Walt and Chaplin. This book, on the other hand, provides an overview of Chaplin's and Walt's lives, as well as a detailed look at their creative philosophies and their connection to each other. This is exciting.

Bob ThomasWalt Disney: A Life of Creation and Adventure.

This book is the official Disney Company biography of Walt Disney and is the bible book on Disney.

While this book is indeed a big book to some extent, I would highly recommend this biography to anyone who loves Disney and wants to learn more about Disney. Walt's life and his philosophy are clearly explained.

In this day and age of historical research, whether it be Jesus Christ or Buddha,as a historical entity.More and more often, images of Christ and Buddha are being said. The argument is that "mythological and religious traditions are not accurate, but historical facts are (or should be) this way."

However, even if the historical facts are true, those who have believed in them have a history of accepting and cherishing mythological and religious traditions. This is an undeniable fact. This is a very important point of view when considering what religion is.

This reading reaffirmed for me that if we want to learn about the secrets of Disney's popularity and the Disney mythology, we must not forget the book that is still cherished as the bible.

As a biography itself, Neil Gabler's is more comprehensive and interesting, but it is also much thicker and a bit more difficult to read. On the other hand, Bob Thomas's biography is written in a rather simple manner and describes Walt's positive aspects and accomplishments in an easy-to-understand manner, so it may be easier to read as an introduction to Walt. I personally don't think there is any problem with reading either one. (Although it would be best to read both and compare the differences if possible.)

I highly recommend this book to Disney fans. It will definitely make you fall in love with Disney even more.

Bob ThomasThe Disney Legend."

What makes this book unique is that it focuses on Roy Disney, the brother of Walt Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse.

By Neil Gabler, also mentioned above.The Madness of Creation: Walt Disney.There are many books written about the genius Walt Disney, but a book focusing on his brother Roy is quite rare.

Walt was front and center, while Roy was behind the scenes. "Walt was front and Roy was behind the scenes, but Roy was as much a genius as Walt. The two of them played for the company's fortunes on several occasions, but it was Roy who saved the day each time."

That's right! No matter how much creative genius Walt had, if he could not provide the funds and environment to realize it, he would be doomed! Walt's biography also emphasized this point. Walt, the genius, had no practical vision of what he was doing. He sees only the ultimate quality of his work. Walt always came up with what could only be described as reckless plans. The budgets are unprecedented and the staffing requirements are also unprecedented. Another great man, Roy Disney, was the man behind the scenes who actually brought the project to completion, which would have been impossible under normal circumstances.

The book offers a very interesting perspective on the existence of genius.

A genius cannot go out into the world alone. It is also important to have practitioners who support you.

It was truly an inspiring book.

Andersen's Masterpieces: The Match Girl/The Little Mermaid

Speaking of Andersen's fairy tales, everyone has been familiar with them through picture books and cartoons when they were children. I am one of them. The fairy tale-like yet somehow sad stories leave an unforgettable impression once you read them.

And this book contains "The Little Mermaid".

This is the work on which Disney's "The Little Mermaid" was based. It was very interesting to read the book and feel the difference between Disney and Andersen's original story. The Andersen fairy tale is still called Andersen, and the ending is quite sad.

There is probably no writer more skillful than this Andersen in depicting indescribable sadness. The significance of reading this as a child may be immeasurable. Reading them again as an adult, I realized that they are all filled with a truly delicate sensitivity.

AndersenThe Snow Queen

The Snow Queen," the title story of this collection of fairy tales, was the basis for the Disney film "Anna and the Snow Queen.

This is also very interesting in terms of Disney's message, as the original story and the movie are quite different.

Lewis Carroll.Alice in Wonderland.

In the afterword at the end of this Kadokawa Bunko edition, you can also learn more about the circumstances that led to the creation of this work. Knowing this background, "Alice in Wonderland" will be seen in a different light.

I read the original story and then saw Disney's "Alice in Wonderland". On second thought, it had been 20 years since I had seen this film.

But surprisingly, I remember it well. I was very nostalgic when I saw it.

And what I felt was that it was more faithful to the original than I had imagined.

Disney's Alice is a blend of Alice in Wonderland and its sequel Alice in Mirrorland.

The Deedham brothers, also popular in Disney movies, are actually characters from the sequel "Alice in Mirrorland.

Other scenes, such as the scene where the flowers sing, are taken from this sequel.

But as a basic line, it is faithful to the original "Alice in Wonderland".

Nevertheless, I felt the same way after watching the film, and I can only be amazed at how brilliantly Disney has composed the film.

To be honest, when I read the original story in text, it was so far-fetched that it almost made me dizzy, but that's Disney for you. But Disney has done a wonderful job of expressing it with charming songs and dances.

To be honest, I was more shocked when I saw it now than when I was a kid. It's extremely interesting!

Disney is a wonder. I can't get the song, dance, and flashy production out of my head. The trumpeter coming out and the escape scene at the end are just too good to be true. I will never forget the song "Hurray for a Good Day" and the Cheshire Cat's phrase, "Greatness is not the same. The fusion of music and animation is Disney's most popular technique, and this film is no exception. Oh, I want to see it again.

Grimm's fairy taleSnow White.

The Brothers Grimm, famous for "Grimm's Fairy Tales," were German scholars active in the mid-19th century, and Andersen, the fairy tale writer famous for "The Girl with the Matchstick" and "The Little Mermaid," was almost a contemporary.

Andersen's Fairy Tales and Grimm's Fairy Tales.

Andersen's fairy tales were full of extremely sensitive stories that even adults would be moved by, while the Grimm fairy tales seem somewhat bland. This may be due to the difference in the creative process and the character of the content: Andersen created his stories by fully utilizing his sensitivity and imagination, while the Brothers Grimm, as scholars, collected fairy tales that were actually told by people and created a collection of fairy tales.

This "Snow White" is also clearly darker and blacker than the "Snow White" we imagine.

Carlo CollodiThe Adventures of Pinocchio.

About this work by Tetsuo ArimaDisney and Its Rivals: A History of Cartoon Media in America."The following commentary was given in the following section, which inspired me to read the original work.

Pinocchio" was based on the fairy tale of the same name by the Italian author Collodi, which Walt happened to find in a bookstore he visited in the late 1930s. Walt thought he could make an interesting film based on it and immediately ordered his staff to begin work on the adaptation. The original story was quite long, and was also quite cruel and violent.

In the original story, the boys who have done wrong are not merely turned into donkeys, but are also skinned and made into drum skins. Also, the cricket that lectures the main character is beaten to death with a mallet for making fun of him. Walt turned this into a cautionary tale that parents can safely show their children.

Film Art, Inc. and Tetsuo Arima, Disney and Its Rivals: A History of Cartoon Media in America, p.206-207

I was shocked to read this commentary. He said the crickets were beaten to death with a mallet!

Snow White.But as I said, the original is still violent and cruel.

And Walt Disney, who altered such a cruel story into a film that parents and children can safely watch together.

We take for granted the finished "Pinocchio" that Walt produced, but there is a very long way from the original story to the movie...! If we follow this change, the characteristics of the Disney film will become clearer. With this in mind, I took a keen interest in the original story of "Pinocchio.

And the result was as expected. The reading of the movie and the original story was very different.

J. M. BaliPeter Pan."

When I finally read the original, I was surprised by the character and story of Peter Pan as told there.

First of all, Peter Pan's character is just out of control! Even in the Disney movie, he is too much of a free spirit, and there are still some things that are out of place, but he is still lovable. However, the original Peter Pan is now even frightening.

That said, he comes first as a seducer. This is the same in Disney, but in the original, there is even an eerie atmosphere. He is like a devil with the face of an angel inviting us to an eternal utopia where we don't have to grow up. Of course, it is the same that he came to Wendy's room to get his shadow back, but it is still darker because it is not as visually comedic as the Disney version.

And this is the best thing for me, Peter Pan is too self-centered. He is not at all interested in others. When he does pay attention to others, it is only as a tool for his own enjoyment. That is why he forgets about them when he is done playing with them. He forgets their names and even their existence after a day. He quickly forgets about Wendy and the others he has taken away from him. Self-centeredness is a characteristic of children, but Peter Pan, as a symbol, is an extremely powerful concentration of it. Therefore, there is no consideration for others. Peter Pan does not care about the Wendies, who are not used to flying, and treats them for his own pleasure. It is only natural that he treats Wendy and the others for his own pleasure. He does not care what others think.

For better or worse, we Japanese, a culture that reads the atmosphere, find it difficult to accept Peter Pan's tyrannical self-centeredness.

And in terms of the story, this one was also more violent than I had imagined. In Disney movies, there is violence, but no blood is spilled and no injuries are inflicted. Of course, killing is not allowed.

In the original story, however, the pirates slaughter the Indians and Peter Pan also kills Captain Hook and other pirates. And that too innocently....

Children are cruel. There is a myth of the innocent child, but I think we can all agree that children are cruel in reality. This original story also depicts such cruelty.

Mrs. Beaumont.Beauty and the Beast

My reading of this Mrs. Beaumont's version of "Beauty and the Beast" was influenced by the Disney movie, to say the least. I love this movie and it is my favorite of all the Disney films. I would like to read the original story of "Beauty and the Beast"! I thought that if I could understand the differences between the original and the movie, I would be able to understand the greatness of Disney even more, so I decided to pick up the original.

And that's a great answer!

By reading the original, I could see how Disney had made changes to the film. Disney was amazing, after all! Above all, the musical story by the great tag team of lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken is one-of-a-kind.

We hope you will find the following links to be helpful in introducing the general flow of the original production of "Beauty and the Beast".

Conclusion

I believe that Japan is one of the countries in the world where Disney is unparalleled.

However, its popularity cannot be dismissed merely in terms of entertainment. If you know the history and depth of Disney, you will definitely enjoy Disney more. Even Yukio Mishima fell in love with Disney. I would like to emphasize the magnificence of Disneyland. There was something about Disneyland that fascinated even Mishima.

We hope this article will be of help to you.

The above is a list of recommended commentaries to learn about Disney as religious thought, history, and art.

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