Meet the Disney Team Preserving the Magic of ‘Alice in Wonderland’
The Walt Disney Animation Studios classic, ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ just celebrated its 75th anniversary. To commemorate this very merry occasion, the film was restored and rereleased in May, giving this vibrant and colorful film new life.
Behind the project was The Walt Disney Studios’ Restoration and Library Management department, within Studio Technology & Operations. This small but mighty team is dedicated to restoring many of Disney’s classic titles from film, and is led by Kevin, Director, Restoration and Library Management.
Preserving History
“Restoring ‘Alice in Wonderland’ was a passion project for me,” Kevin says, “It is one of the essential animated classics created by The Walt Disney Animation Studios.”
The team took care to preserve the film’s original design and integrity by consulting with professionals deeply familiar with the first production. They understood the gravity behind restoring a film embedded in The Walt Disney Company’s history and their important role in preserving its legacy.
“One of the most-experienced and long-serving artists at The Walt Disney Animation Studios collaborated with us and reviewed every shot in the film, using their experience to ensure that every color is exactly correct,” Kevin explains. “He worked with the original Production Designer for the film and was an advocate for preserving her work.”
Before starting any project, the team also tracks down the highest quality and most original existing print for the title they are working to restore. They then review the print to ensure they are familiar with how the film looked when it was first released.
Additionally, for animated titles like ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ they spend time reviewing original concept art and animation at Disney's Animation Research Library. Multiple film elements are inspected and reviewed to determine the best sources for their restoration. They even read through production notes — some going back many decades — to learn the history of each film and identify any potential problems.
“Most people would be surprised by the amount of research we perform before beginning any work,” Kevin says.
The Restoration Process
Restoring ‘Alice in Wonderland’ required dozens of people across multiple specialties. Melissa, an Associate Project Manager on Kevin’s team, was one of the many people involved in the day-to-day work of the film’s restoration.
“I assisted my manager Karen with the restoration process and attended color reviews with our colorist and our very own Disney animation restoration guru, Michael Giaimo,” Melissa explains. “I also oversaw getting the localization film assets scanned and prepped for restoration.”
It’s a collaborative team effort involving many partners. According to Melissa, this is all part of the fun.
“I enjoy bringing the complexity of all the details and needed assets into a level of organization,” she says, “Animated titles are the best opportunities to learn something new!”
She also recognizes the value her team provides to each project with their acute attention to detail.
“We want fans to be happy with the final restored version, and that means being as careful and thoughtful as possible,” she notes.
Premiering the Film
After months of hard work, the newly restored film premiered at the El Capitan Theatre during the Turner Classic Movies Festival, a screening that was secured by Kevin’s connections across the film industry. It was an exciting moment for the team, where they could celebrate the success of the project and watch their favorite scenes on the big screen.
“My favorite scene in the film is the ‘All in the Golden Afternoon’ sequence,” Melissa says, “I have distinct memories of watching the Disney Sing-Along VHS that included this song when I was younger.”
Kevin adds, “The animation artwork in that scene is so delicate and beautiful that it always takes my breath away.”
Starting a Career in Film Restoration
Melissa always wanted to work in the entertainment industry but didn’t know about her current career path right away. “It wasn’t until I watched restoration special features on some of my favorite films that I became entranced by film restoration,” she explains.
Her early roles in broadcast and cable as well as TV editorial brought her closer to the team that oversees restoration. “I took advantage of the opportunity and began asking folks how I could be involved.”
Kevin also didn’t start in film restoration right away, but he attributes his success to his varied career path. “Every role I have held has taught me some skill or decision-making criteria that I use to this day,” he confirms, “My first position at Disney as a Trailering Coordinator introduced me to procedures and people in post-production, operations and business affairs with whom I am still in contact today.”
For those aspiring to work in film restoration one day, Kevin recommends starting at any studio or post-production facility that you can get into.
“Your first job may not be the one that you really want, but it will give you the opportunity to meet people involved in some part of the work queue,” he explains. “Once you establish yourself as trustworthy most people are happy to provide guidance or connect you with someone closer to your goal.”
Melissa experienced the impact of networking first-hand.
“Ask questions and see how you can be involved, whether it’s at a studio, volunteering or networking,” she recommends, “I endeared myself to some of the Disney restoration folks a number of years ago and got to sit in on a few reviews whenever I had downtime. I gained knowledge but also got to know the people doing the work, both of which were valuable in me ending up here in my current role!”
Seventy-five years after audiences first followed Alice down the rabbit hole, Disney employees like Kevin and Melissa are still working behind the scenes to preserve the artistry, creativity and imagination behind timeless Disney stories. Ready to start your own Disney story? Visit DisneyCareers.com to explore open roles and apply.
