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Somewhere Out There: My Animated Life
After more than five decades in Hollywood, Don Bluth, the man behind some of the most iconic animated films ever made, tells his story.
Don Bluth never felt like a Donald. So people have always called him Don. A matinee of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs awakened something within him. Despite growing up in rural Texas and Utah, he practiced and worked hard to become a Hollywood animator. And after working alongside his idol Walt Disney, and on films including Sleeping Beauty, The Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood, Winne the Pooh, The Rescuers, and Pete’s Dragon, he realized that the company had changed into something he didn’t necessarily believe in. So made the industry-shocking decision to start his own animation studio.
It was from that studio—Don’s studio—that came such award-winning, generation-defining films as The Secret of N.I.M.H, An American Tail, The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Anastasia, and the video game Dragon’s Lair.
Now, after more than half a century in the movie business, Don is ready to tell the story of his life. How his passions for artistry, integrity, and his Mormon faith shaped him into the beloved icon whose creativity, entrepreneurship, and deeply-held beliefs entertained, enthralled, and inspired millions across the globe.
Exclusive original art makes this book perfect for fans, cineasts, and anyone looking “somewhere out there” for inspiration and motivation.
Don Bluth never felt like a Donald. So people have always called him Don. A matinee of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs awakened something within him. Despite growing up in rural Texas and Utah, he practiced and worked hard to become a Hollywood animator. And after working alongside his idol Walt Disney, and on films including Sleeping Beauty, The Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood, Winne the Pooh, The Rescuers, and Pete’s Dragon, he realized that the company had changed into something he didn’t necessarily believe in. So made the industry-shocking decision to start his own animation studio.
It was from that studio—Don’s studio—that came such award-winning, generation-defining films as The Secret of N.I.M.H, An American Tail, The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Anastasia, and the video game Dragon’s Lair.
Now, after more than half a century in the movie business, Don is ready to tell the story of his life. How his passions for artistry, integrity, and his Mormon faith shaped him into the beloved icon whose creativity, entrepreneurship, and deeply-held beliefs entertained, enthralled, and inspired millions across the globe.
Exclusive original art makes this book perfect for fans, cineasts, and anyone looking “somewhere out there” for inspiration and motivation.
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 19, 2022
47 people are currently reading
2548 people want to read
About the author
Don Bluth
30 books29 followersDonald Virgil "Don" Bluth is an American animator, film director, producer, writer, production designer, video game designer, and animation instructor who is known for directing animated films.
He is also known for competing with former employer Walt Disney Productions during the years leading up to the films that would make up the Disney Renaissance.
Bluth has authored a series of books for students of animation: 2004's The Art of Storyboard, and 2005's The Art of Animation Drawing. Additional books are planned.
He is also known for competing with former employer Walt Disney Productions during the years leading up to the films that would make up the Disney Renaissance.
Bluth has authored a series of books for students of animation: 2004's The Art of Storyboard, and 2005's The Art of Animation Drawing. Additional books are planned.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
July 20, 2022
Exceptionally incredible, whimsical, and as entertaining as you'd hope it would be.
Clearly a man led by his Christian faith, Bluth describes how he's used his relationship with the man upstairs to inspire him, to absorb the proverbial punches of life, and to focus on positive aspects. That the great animator has evidently been witness to myriad events that seemed nothing less than providential definitely serves up some good food for thought.
Like many autobiographies, it's laid out by section/chapter to represent key events/projects; what's unique about this book is that Bluth imbues it with a colorful quality that gives it the hue of a fantastical, dreamy story (e.g. the inclusion of a "man in the mirror"). Bluth discussing his inner-most thoughts with his reflection is a neat device for revealing to the reader what was going through his mind during the ups and downs, especially when he parted ways with Disney. To cap it all off, it'd not really be a Don Bluth book if there weren't great drawings on certain pages.
His behind-the-scenes recollections are every bit of the interesting experience that you'd hope for. No "spilling of the tea"--just some anecdotes and key memories, but splendid ones all the same.
I've already seen some that were taken aback on social media by Bluth's faith taking practically center-stage in this book, but he never stops to prosthelytize, instead just letting his own life moments speak for themselves. It's what you should expect if you go into a book wherein an artist is revealing what drove them through what's undoubtedly one of the most storied careers in animated film history.
I must mention that I'm bummed about the absolute loss of the "too scary for kids" T-Rex moments from THE LAND BEFORE TIME, and would also be interested in hearing the flip-side of many of the cataclysmic events he recounts (for the sake of getting the whole portion of a great story)
Bluth's movies are much of what I grew up on, and thumbing through this was a delight in every way.
Many thanks to NetGalley, BenBella Books, and Smart Pop for the advance read.
Clearly a man led by his Christian faith, Bluth describes how he's used his relationship with the man upstairs to inspire him, to absorb the proverbial punches of life, and to focus on positive aspects. That the great animator has evidently been witness to myriad events that seemed nothing less than providential definitely serves up some good food for thought.
Like many autobiographies, it's laid out by section/chapter to represent key events/projects; what's unique about this book is that Bluth imbues it with a colorful quality that gives it the hue of a fantastical, dreamy story (e.g. the inclusion of a "man in the mirror"). Bluth discussing his inner-most thoughts with his reflection is a neat device for revealing to the reader what was going through his mind during the ups and downs, especially when he parted ways with Disney. To cap it all off, it'd not really be a Don Bluth book if there weren't great drawings on certain pages.
His behind-the-scenes recollections are every bit of the interesting experience that you'd hope for. No "spilling of the tea"--just some anecdotes and key memories, but splendid ones all the same.
I've already seen some that were taken aback on social media by Bluth's faith taking practically center-stage in this book, but he never stops to prosthelytize, instead just letting his own life moments speak for themselves. It's what you should expect if you go into a book wherein an artist is revealing what drove them through what's undoubtedly one of the most storied careers in animated film history.
I must mention that I'm bummed about the absolute loss of the "too scary for kids" T-Rex moments from THE LAND BEFORE TIME, and would also be interested in hearing the flip-side of many of the cataclysmic events he recounts (for the sake of getting the whole portion of a great story)
Bluth's movies are much of what I grew up on, and thumbing through this was a delight in every way.
Many thanks to NetGalley, BenBella Books, and Smart Pop for the advance read.
June 8, 2022
My thanks to both NetGalley and Smart Pop BenBella Books for an advanced copy of this biography and animation history book.
A young man with no formal training, a country boy with a love of drawing and a dream approaches the largest animation studio at the time looking for a job. His sketches are examined, comments are mumbled and soon he has a job working in his hero's studio, one that he excels in and moves up quickly in. Until he makes an important decision. Add some songs and a cute mouse and this sounds like a Disney movie. And in many ways for Don Bluth, famed animator and creator of many a person's childhood memories, it was a Disney story. Until it wasn't. Mr. Bluth in his autobiography Somewhere Out There: My Animated Life reminisces about his life, his faith, animation, working for the Mouse, and working for himself and much more.
Don, it was always Don never Donald, was born in Texas and moved to Utah to live the life of a farmer, one that he found he was quite unsuited for, though it did instill a love of animals, and hard work. Watching Snow White for the first time instilled in him a love of drawing and animation, plus a dream of working in Walt Disney Studios, with Walt himself. After moving with his family to California, Don soon had a job at Disney and after some starts and stops was moving his way up in company that was changing in many ways after the death of their founder. Soon Don set off on his own, starting his own company and making films like An American Tail, Land Before Time and others.
The book is very comprehensive about the life of Mr. Bluth, his faith, successes and failures. Mr. Bluth is very honest about mistakes, and paths not taken, but if very proud of his work. Which he should be. The writing is interesting discussing and sharing behind the scenes information about working for Disney, which seems very swim with the sharks and not even close to the happiest place on Earth. However Mr. Bluth seems to have no grudges, and at his age still is excited about plans for more entertainment and other projects. There is a lot of humor, but a bit of sadness too, as the commerce side of entertainment seems to crush the creative side, and one thinks of all the things that might have been animated or brought to screens.
A very interesting telling biography about a very creative man, who went through quite a bit and came out happy and still creating. Don Bluth is responsible for a lot of things that made my childhood great Robin Hood, The Rescuers and a lot of lost quarters on Dragon's Lair. Recommended for animation fans of course and readers of Chuck Amuck by Chuck Jones, and Wild Minds by Reid Mitenbuler. Also for creative people who deal with a inner voice that makes creating anything even harder than it should be. Mr. Bluth refers a lot to the man in the mirror that second guessed everything he did. His ability to use that inner voice to soar is inspirational to us all.
A young man with no formal training, a country boy with a love of drawing and a dream approaches the largest animation studio at the time looking for a job. His sketches are examined, comments are mumbled and soon he has a job working in his hero's studio, one that he excels in and moves up quickly in. Until he makes an important decision. Add some songs and a cute mouse and this sounds like a Disney movie. And in many ways for Don Bluth, famed animator and creator of many a person's childhood memories, it was a Disney story. Until it wasn't. Mr. Bluth in his autobiography Somewhere Out There: My Animated Life reminisces about his life, his faith, animation, working for the Mouse, and working for himself and much more.
Don, it was always Don never Donald, was born in Texas and moved to Utah to live the life of a farmer, one that he found he was quite unsuited for, though it did instill a love of animals, and hard work. Watching Snow White for the first time instilled in him a love of drawing and animation, plus a dream of working in Walt Disney Studios, with Walt himself. After moving with his family to California, Don soon had a job at Disney and after some starts and stops was moving his way up in company that was changing in many ways after the death of their founder. Soon Don set off on his own, starting his own company and making films like An American Tail, Land Before Time and others.
The book is very comprehensive about the life of Mr. Bluth, his faith, successes and failures. Mr. Bluth is very honest about mistakes, and paths not taken, but if very proud of his work. Which he should be. The writing is interesting discussing and sharing behind the scenes information about working for Disney, which seems very swim with the sharks and not even close to the happiest place on Earth. However Mr. Bluth seems to have no grudges, and at his age still is excited about plans for more entertainment and other projects. There is a lot of humor, but a bit of sadness too, as the commerce side of entertainment seems to crush the creative side, and one thinks of all the things that might have been animated or brought to screens.
A very interesting telling biography about a very creative man, who went through quite a bit and came out happy and still creating. Don Bluth is responsible for a lot of things that made my childhood great Robin Hood, The Rescuers and a lot of lost quarters on Dragon's Lair. Recommended for animation fans of course and readers of Chuck Amuck by Chuck Jones, and Wild Minds by Reid Mitenbuler. Also for creative people who deal with a inner voice that makes creating anything even harder than it should be. Mr. Bluth refers a lot to the man in the mirror that second guessed everything he did. His ability to use that inner voice to soar is inspirational to us all.
July 31, 2022
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This is your typical autobiography in that it provides a lot of great moments/insight into the person and their life but also inevitably glosses over more difficult periods and conflicts. Don Bluth is a deeply religious man (Mormon-LDS) and it is no surprise that this church Sunday school teacher and retired animator/director will infuse much of this book with his faith. At times, I felt like I was listening to an autobiography of Mister Rogers: a genial and kind man who made working in the children's entertainment medium his life's work. But there are some great insights into animation (especial thoughts on hand drawn vs. automated/computer) as well as the industry and the Walt Disney Studios. I listened to the audio version and fully appreciate that it was narrated by Don Bluth himself; as such, I highly recommend the audio version.The book is told chronologically - from humble origins on farms and small towns in Texas and Utah to the big move to Southern California during the era of the aerospace industry growth. Animation was always his passion and a personal dream to work for Walt Disney came true when the family found themselves in Los Angeles.
Many will likely want to read about his time at Walt Disney Studios. Walt doesn't figure much into the story; Bluth was there right before Disney succumbed to lung cancer. It is a time that isn't documented all that much so it was interesting to see an inside perspective of that transitive period in Disney history. Bluth was there when the studios was in freefall, with shortcuts overtaking quality, computers replacing hand drawn/inked work, and no one was quite sure where to take the animation. In succinct terms, it was the time of The Black Cauldron, Frank Miller, and the loss of so many of the original "9 old men" animators.
As with most autobiographies, the author is never sure why certain individuals work against him or dislike him. With Bluth, who was hard championing a return to more expensive yet higher quality methods for the studios, it is easy to read between the lines that he both alienated himself as well as was too high-handed/authoritative. It is easy to see that there was no future for him at Disney and that he had burned too many bridges.
The golden period of his animation soon happened afterwards, when other studios leapt at the chance to fill the void that the Disney Studios fall had created. Bluth was the perfect person to lead the charge of non-Disney animated feature films and found success first with Steven Spielberg and then more on his own, with the last big hit being Anastasia with 20th Century Fox Animation. But as we know, the movie industry in the 1970s/1980s/1990s was highly volatile and Bluth experienced many ups and downs. The down period and failed films are glossed over here sadly.
The reminiscences of doing non-traditional animation were especial interesting - from working in the early computer game industry with a very controversial figure to make Dragon's Lair to the disappointment of follow up Space Age and countless failed later attempts to revive the franchise by fans. Those who have ever been involved in a fandom know the ups and downs experienced by Bluth in this regard. I also found the time spent in Ireland trying to create an animation studio through Irish funding interesting.
The tone throughout the autobiography is easy-going and reflective. The underlying theme is Bluth's frustration with having to enter the animation industry when it was about cost saving rather than the quality that inspired Bluth in the first place. Bluth's greatest antagonist throughout the book is money/funding, though he rarely calls it out by name.
There are a lot of spiritual observations and at times it can feel preachy. It's not obnoxiously so and this is clearly an autobiography and not an attempt to convert. Bluth believes his talent was God-given, that he was looked over by a guardian angel, and that he can remember times from before he was born. These are all aspects of the man that I do feel need to be there to gain an understanding of his thought processes and to explore the person behind the animation.
In all, I am very glad I had a chance to listen to the audio version. As noted earlier, at times I thought I was listening to Mister Rogers rather than a famous animator/director; perhaps not surprising since Bluth is currently a Sunday school teacher at his church. Bluth never married but donated much of his work to the Savannah College of Art and Design. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
July 24, 2022
The book starts as a fairy tale and then the autobiography unfolds. An odd approach for such a book, but this may also indicate the mind set of Don Bluth. He comes across a gentle bloke and the book is certainly set at that speed.
Bluth lays out his story in a well written approach that has as much fantasy sprinkled throughout as experiences. Lots of talking to his reflection int he mirror and viewed magical experiences. The approach is an excellent one. Especially in that Bluth is writing of his animating fantasies. the tenor is perfect. As one that has read of writers and creators of fiction and fantasies, I have to wonder if others have such layout. haven't read one, myself. If this is an original approach, bravo to Bluth.
Something else I like of the book layout are the chapter breaks. There is a terrific balance of chapter content. Not sure how Bluth did that. Either an outstanding editor (A rarity these days) or Bluth should be writing much, much more.
The clear approach to the writing is also outstanding. There's no guesswork, yet not as stupid-simple as many celebrity biographies are written these days. There's a clear-eye view by Bluth to how to get his tale across and it works very well.
There are illustrations, but my access was through NetGalley.som and the illustrations are very small. Knowing well as an illustrator myself, don't know how the printed version will have the illustrations appear. I think the book would have benefited from more than I saw in the digital version.
Noting, as I have as I have been taking advantage of NetGalley.com, that I don't write these as other reviewers do: 5 stars and all praise. I'm writing these as I each volume comes across to me. This is one of the few I found very well done. That and i believe Bluth needs to write more. He mentions 'Dragon's Lair' as animated. Why not write a fictionalized version? He's really already done it. Just edit it to an entire novel.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 10 out of ten points.
Bluth lays out his story in a well written approach that has as much fantasy sprinkled throughout as experiences. Lots of talking to his reflection int he mirror and viewed magical experiences. The approach is an excellent one. Especially in that Bluth is writing of his animating fantasies. the tenor is perfect. As one that has read of writers and creators of fiction and fantasies, I have to wonder if others have such layout. haven't read one, myself. If this is an original approach, bravo to Bluth.
Something else I like of the book layout are the chapter breaks. There is a terrific balance of chapter content. Not sure how Bluth did that. Either an outstanding editor (A rarity these days) or Bluth should be writing much, much more.
The clear approach to the writing is also outstanding. There's no guesswork, yet not as stupid-simple as many celebrity biographies are written these days. There's a clear-eye view by Bluth to how to get his tale across and it works very well.
There are illustrations, but my access was through NetGalley.som and the illustrations are very small. Knowing well as an illustrator myself, don't know how the printed version will have the illustrations appear. I think the book would have benefited from more than I saw in the digital version.
Noting, as I have as I have been taking advantage of NetGalley.com, that I don't write these as other reviewers do: 5 stars and all praise. I'm writing these as I each volume comes across to me. This is one of the few I found very well done. That and i believe Bluth needs to write more. He mentions 'Dragon's Lair' as animated. Why not write a fictionalized version? He's really already done it. Just edit it to an entire novel.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 10 out of ten points.
July 24, 2022
Very thoughtful autobiography by a man whose name you might not know, but whose work you’ve undoubtedly seen plenty of times.
I was very impressed with Mr. Bluth’s tale and his insight; living long doesn’t always guarantee that one looks with such reflection at their own lives, Bluth has.
I like how he goes into his own issues with self-doubt; I think reading this would help a lot of creative people suffering from the same (I’ve already planned on getting a copy for my own house, for my creative teens).
Original art makes this a must for fans and those looking for an inspiring voice in animation.
* I must note that Bluth’s strong faith has obviously shaped who he is as a person and that this does feature prominently in his book. However, I didn’t find this to be preachy or over the top, but I think it’s something to consider based on your feelings for the LDS church and/or organized religion.
Let me also say how this autobiography really, really brought me back to my own childhood in the 80’s as I remember seeing so many of Mr. Bluth’s wonderful films in the movie theater and on video.
eARC kindly provided by SmartPop / BenBella Books and NetGalley. Opinions shared are my own.
I was very impressed with Mr. Bluth’s tale and his insight; living long doesn’t always guarantee that one looks with such reflection at their own lives, Bluth has.
I like how he goes into his own issues with self-doubt; I think reading this would help a lot of creative people suffering from the same (I’ve already planned on getting a copy for my own house, for my creative teens).
Original art makes this a must for fans and those looking for an inspiring voice in animation.
* I must note that Bluth’s strong faith has obviously shaped who he is as a person and that this does feature prominently in his book. However, I didn’t find this to be preachy or over the top, but I think it’s something to consider based on your feelings for the LDS church and/or organized religion.
Let me also say how this autobiography really, really brought me back to my own childhood in the 80’s as I remember seeing so many of Mr. Bluth’s wonderful films in the movie theater and on video.
eARC kindly provided by SmartPop / BenBella Books and NetGalley. Opinions shared are my own.
July 27, 2022
Fascinating, wholesome, and accidentally preachy. Iconic creator and animator Don Bluth is a passionate and kind soul. Clearly, his relationship with the Mormon (LDS) church is one of the most important things in his life. This is why he spends way too much a great deal of time telling us about it. It is very sweet but started to come off as him needing to constantly testify to the reader. I do feel that this was mostly unintentional but be forewarned it comes up a lot.
Full Disclosure: I am a recovering Mormon, and I was surprised to find out about Mr. Bluth's religion. It is entirely possible that this is the reason it chaffed every time he mentioned the church, which, as already established, is many, many times.
It was fascinating to learn about not only his journey working with and for Disney but his own amazing creations. I enjoyed the behind the scene access to many animated movies that I grew up with. Overall this was an enjoyable, tender story of a genuinely sweet and natural genius of a storyteller. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thank you to Don Bluth, BenBella Books, Smart Pop, and NetGalley for the chance to review this book.
Full Disclosure: I am a recovering Mormon, and I was surprised to find out about Mr. Bluth's religion. It is entirely possible that this is the reason it chaffed every time he mentioned the church, which, as already established, is many, many times.
It was fascinating to learn about not only his journey working with and for Disney but his own amazing creations. I enjoyed the behind the scene access to many animated movies that I grew up with. Overall this was an enjoyable, tender story of a genuinely sweet and natural genius of a storyteller. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thank you to Don Bluth, BenBella Books, Smart Pop, and NetGalley for the chance to review this book.
March 11, 2025
3.75: A glimpse at a full life and career that never really dives too deep into any one topic or experience.
July 24, 2022
Don Bluth lifts the lid on his life and his works of art that includes his time at Disney, the computer game Dragon’s Lair and the masterpieces that is the Secret of Nimth.
This is an interesting story on how a man who works for Disney and against all odds was able to strike out on his own to start his own animation studio and fight against the grain. Bluth gives us a story that gives us so much more information on the man behind the classics and how a dream can spark a career in the love of what he does.
Bluth has given us Thumbelina, Anastasia, Land Before Time, An American Tale and of course my own personal favourite Secret of Nimth. You watch his films and you can see the passion that he has for his projects and this comes through in the narrative of his story. He is a testament that if you dream it and never take no as an answer you can live your dream and conquer against all odds.
Interestingly enough, he had no formal training and this gives his story even more pathos. He is a truly remarkable man who has left behind a great legacy. He also gives a story that it will not be easy but if you fight and work hard, you can accomplish anything your heart desires.
Inspirational, awe inspiring and a truly great book especially if you are a fan. A man who hides his light under a bushel and it is great to see this light shine even brighter than before. A true master in his field.
This is an interesting story on how a man who works for Disney and against all odds was able to strike out on his own to start his own animation studio and fight against the grain. Bluth gives us a story that gives us so much more information on the man behind the classics and how a dream can spark a career in the love of what he does.
Bluth has given us Thumbelina, Anastasia, Land Before Time, An American Tale and of course my own personal favourite Secret of Nimth. You watch his films and you can see the passion that he has for his projects and this comes through in the narrative of his story. He is a testament that if you dream it and never take no as an answer you can live your dream and conquer against all odds.
Interestingly enough, he had no formal training and this gives his story even more pathos. He is a truly remarkable man who has left behind a great legacy. He also gives a story that it will not be easy but if you fight and work hard, you can accomplish anything your heart desires.
Inspirational, awe inspiring and a truly great book especially if you are a fan. A man who hides his light under a bushel and it is great to see this light shine even brighter than before. A true master in his field.
July 14, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Smart Pop BenBella Books for letting me read this book. I am grateful but my thoughts are my own.
I am sure everyone at least ever watched Disney's classic animation Sleeping Beauty, The Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood, Winne the Pooh, The Rescuers, and Pete’s Dragon. Never? Let try this The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Anastasia, and the video game Dragon’s Lair. Now I am sure it sound the ring. An animator artist is one kind of proffesion that recognizes more by result but rare by individual name. And this biography makes me so happy because at least I will knew one of the greatest of them.
Don shared his art journey since young age as a farm boy to become one of the famous Disney illustrator and build his own company. His narration is smart, humble and funny. It shared genuine about his experience, his life lesson, his personal motivation and his dedication. I personally love how he remembered all of quotes from his teachers/mentors and give credits to them. His biography is easy to read even for reader who not familiar with this type of nonfiction book.
I will happily recommend this book for friends who love art and information insight the animation movies.
I am sure everyone at least ever watched Disney's classic animation Sleeping Beauty, The Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood, Winne the Pooh, The Rescuers, and Pete’s Dragon. Never? Let try this The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Anastasia, and the video game Dragon’s Lair. Now I am sure it sound the ring. An animator artist is one kind of proffesion that recognizes more by result but rare by individual name. And this biography makes me so happy because at least I will knew one of the greatest of them.
Don shared his art journey since young age as a farm boy to become one of the famous Disney illustrator and build his own company. His narration is smart, humble and funny. It shared genuine about his experience, his life lesson, his personal motivation and his dedication. I personally love how he remembered all of quotes from his teachers/mentors and give credits to them. His biography is easy to read even for reader who not familiar with this type of nonfiction book.
I will happily recommend this book for friends who love art and information insight the animation movies.
April 23, 2025
Hang on there, kids, I’m an animation nerd and this is an animation book. Lots of film history and unrepentant stanning. Review is long as hell.
I’m several weeks late on reviewing this book, but in my defense, it made my little artist brain emotional and it’s already stressed out trying to survive fascism, so I gave myself a lot of grace. While this book is a memoir by Don Bluth, one of the most well-known directors in the animation industry - maybe even the film industry at large - it’s still rather niche because it’s mostly animation nuts/artists who are going to know to pick this book up. But I honestly wish everyone would, or at least anyone who considers themselves a creative in any way, shape, or form, because this was such a joy for me as a creative person.
I came into this somewhat emotional already, because it’s a first for me reading a book by someone I know in person. I’ve studied animation all my life and was lucky enough to take Don’s yearlong masterclass a few years ago. I was invited back for the masterclass in 2023 and have kept in touch since then. Admittedly, Don is nearing 90 years old and has a lot of students, so I don’t know how well he remembers me from time to time, but he’s also very spry for his age - he was up and down across the room all day every day in class without tiring! And his memory is still incredibly sharp; I heard a lot of these stories directly from him during class, and the details matched up perfectly when I sat down to finally read this. After watching him work, listening to him talk, and reading his journey, my admiration and respect for him has only increased; the man is a born storyteller and it shows.
He disparages his only solo writing credit on Thumbelina, but as far as prose goes, he could go the route of literary fiction if he wanted to. Even discounting skill level, his remembering of conversations from eighty-plus years ago alone is impressive. Most artists have humble beginnings, but Don’s origins are especially humble - he grew up in between Texas and Utah in a mostly-poor Mormon family and spent much of his childhood covered in mud while working the farm his family ran, learning early on how much he loved drawing and how little time his day-to-day life allowed for it (we’ve all been there, right?). For a good chunk of his adolescence, he and his family were sharing bathwater after dealing in cow manure all day; to go from that to being one of the most recognizable names in kids’ movies is a journey in and of itself, but what really flavors it is the myriad details Don sprinkles in. There are so many little coming of age stories from before he got to Disney, things like the first girl he ever had a crush on, the teacher who he liked least and the one who inspired him most, his family’s opinions of his “unmanly” hobby, the movies he saw in the 1940’s, the personality of his pet horse. You’d think these things would be distracting from the “when do we get to Disney??” of it all, but all of these little things contributed to making the man who molded our childhoods, and he deftly makes us see why they all mattered. The things that shaped his childhood shaped ours decades later.
The first half of the book deals with his youth and how he went from Utah farm kid to Disney artist, but like I said, the in-betweens (haha, animation reference) are equally interesting. By the time he was in his thirties, Don had done a two-year mission trip to South America, been engaged and been broken up with, climbed the ranks at the studio to become a director before even his seniors, and broken apart from Disney. This was the Hollywood equivalent of the Catholic Church schism; Don was disillusioned with the direction of Disney’s films after the death of Walt and decided to leave mid-production on The Fox and the Hound, taking many of Disney’s young but established artists with him (voluntarily). Don’s a sweet guy and artists are not known for being confrontational, but he doesn’t mince words on the carnivorous nature of the film industry. Standing his ground on the integrity of his work and being bold enough to take on Disney’s ironclad grip in the 80’s and 90’s was not just financially suicidal, but systematically dangerous. A verbal threat from Roy Disney Jr. – word for word, “We will crush you” – is nothing to sneeze at.
In fact, much of his career was more fraught than I’d realized. Financing your own films has always been a trial and I knew he’d gone through a rough patch in the early 90’s with some bombs, and that Anastasia was his last success. The long and short of it is that film is expensive as hell, and almost all of Don’s movies hinged on a wing and a prayer that some money would come through. Despite the monetary handwringing, however, there was still a lot of joy. Don tells us all the stories and gossip, everything from he and Gary Goldman mortgaging their houses to pay for The Sercret of NIMH to Dom DeLuise telling Burt Reynolds to get over himself and stop doing his weird “dog voice” for Charlie in All Dogs Go To Heaven. Angela Lansbury packs her own brown bag lunch for the studio and Michael Jackson spent years calling Don in the middle of the night with plot ideas. There’s fun trivia tidbits for every 90’s film aficionado here, even some great intel for us Anastasia lovers (i.e. Meg Ryan and John Cusack were so good, they let them record together instead of the usual separation. The chemistry was real, y’all.)
The best gems of the book come from Don’s sharp and often poignant observation of the film industry, and of the turbulence of a creative mind. One I loved was from the development of The Secret of NIMH, where “some investors fretted about the ferocity of Justin and Jenner’s battle. ‘It’s not Disney,’ they complained. ‘Well, Walt’s Queen wanted to murder Snow White,’ I’d remind them. ‘That’s Disney.’” Don’s always been known to go for the jugular with his films, keeping his villains terrifying and his heroes’ losses devastating beyond the death scene to the point of wrecking children everywhere – because that’s how you up the stakes.
It’s an honest take to insist that presenting monsters in all their horror makes the vanquishing of them all the more meaningful. Despite the significance of the softening a film’s teeth for easier access to the almighty dollar, this is the real juice behind a good story, not the potential of its profits. For any and all of the faults of some of his more middling films, that’s a truth that Don has stuck by.
It’s a pretty close to perfect memoir, with Don’s reflections creating a thoughtful narrative throughout his life, but I feel I should forewarn any readers that Don’s Mormon faith does inform a lot of his thinking, and for those who find that kind of thinking tedious, this may come off preachy from time to time. Personally, I found thoughts in that vein that made sense to me, even though I’m not Mormon. Sometimes it was painfully apparent that Don’s ambition was set to burn bridges or even make his personal life harder than it needed to be. But Don’s pretty self-aware and that comes across in his admissions that this was too important to him to pull back. And I get it - creativity is so intrinsic that it feels like betraying yourself if you don’t follow through at whatever cost. For better or worse, Don follows his gut.
Near the end of the book, Don recounts his first visit back to the Walt Disney Animation Studios after more than forty years, where he saw old friends still doing traditional animation work alongside the newbies putting the finishing touches on Wreck-It Ralph 2. He stopped by and visited a replica of Walt’s old office (his description of his first time meeting Walt – accidentally knocking into him while playing volleyball on the back lot – is straight up cinematic). News starts to spread that he’s in the building, and before long Don is surrounded by young animators telling him which movies of his inspired them to work in animation.
I’m only slightly embarrassed to admit I teared up here, not just to see how far his legacy has stretched, but also to see how alike we are. I’ve been to the WDA studios too, and seeing the moviemaking process at work and its history painted on the walls was equally moving for me. Our rather obsessive love of this filmmaking medium is maybe a little maudlin, but it comes from the heart and has never been better exemplified in a book. Don put it best on the last page: ”The question I’ve been asked all my career is, ‘Why did you leave Disney?’ I always answered that I came to a crossroads in my life. That my creativity felt stifled, and I wanted to champion animation that had inspired me growing up. I felt that animation couldn’t be found in the Disney Studio anymore – that Walt’s spirit had left Disney. Yet in the hallways during our visit, I’d felt a spirit. Not Walt’s, but a kindred spirit in the legendary animators who were still working for Disney and the young animators clicking their mouses. Who knows where that spirit will take animation in the years to come? I hope I’m alive to see it.”
I hope he is, too. Wherever it ends up, he helped drive it there. He deserves it.
I’m several weeks late on reviewing this book, but in my defense, it made my little artist brain emotional and it’s already stressed out trying to survive fascism, so I gave myself a lot of grace. While this book is a memoir by Don Bluth, one of the most well-known directors in the animation industry - maybe even the film industry at large - it’s still rather niche because it’s mostly animation nuts/artists who are going to know to pick this book up. But I honestly wish everyone would, or at least anyone who considers themselves a creative in any way, shape, or form, because this was such a joy for me as a creative person.
I came into this somewhat emotional already, because it’s a first for me reading a book by someone I know in person. I’ve studied animation all my life and was lucky enough to take Don’s yearlong masterclass a few years ago. I was invited back for the masterclass in 2023 and have kept in touch since then. Admittedly, Don is nearing 90 years old and has a lot of students, so I don’t know how well he remembers me from time to time, but he’s also very spry for his age - he was up and down across the room all day every day in class without tiring! And his memory is still incredibly sharp; I heard a lot of these stories directly from him during class, and the details matched up perfectly when I sat down to finally read this. After watching him work, listening to him talk, and reading his journey, my admiration and respect for him has only increased; the man is a born storyteller and it shows.
He disparages his only solo writing credit on Thumbelina, but as far as prose goes, he could go the route of literary fiction if he wanted to. Even discounting skill level, his remembering of conversations from eighty-plus years ago alone is impressive. Most artists have humble beginnings, but Don’s origins are especially humble - he grew up in between Texas and Utah in a mostly-poor Mormon family and spent much of his childhood covered in mud while working the farm his family ran, learning early on how much he loved drawing and how little time his day-to-day life allowed for it (we’ve all been there, right?). For a good chunk of his adolescence, he and his family were sharing bathwater after dealing in cow manure all day; to go from that to being one of the most recognizable names in kids’ movies is a journey in and of itself, but what really flavors it is the myriad details Don sprinkles in. There are so many little coming of age stories from before he got to Disney, things like the first girl he ever had a crush on, the teacher who he liked least and the one who inspired him most, his family’s opinions of his “unmanly” hobby, the movies he saw in the 1940’s, the personality of his pet horse. You’d think these things would be distracting from the “when do we get to Disney??” of it all, but all of these little things contributed to making the man who molded our childhoods, and he deftly makes us see why they all mattered. The things that shaped his childhood shaped ours decades later.
The first half of the book deals with his youth and how he went from Utah farm kid to Disney artist, but like I said, the in-betweens (haha, animation reference) are equally interesting. By the time he was in his thirties, Don had done a two-year mission trip to South America, been engaged and been broken up with, climbed the ranks at the studio to become a director before even his seniors, and broken apart from Disney. This was the Hollywood equivalent of the Catholic Church schism; Don was disillusioned with the direction of Disney’s films after the death of Walt and decided to leave mid-production on The Fox and the Hound, taking many of Disney’s young but established artists with him (voluntarily). Don’s a sweet guy and artists are not known for being confrontational, but he doesn’t mince words on the carnivorous nature of the film industry. Standing his ground on the integrity of his work and being bold enough to take on Disney’s ironclad grip in the 80’s and 90’s was not just financially suicidal, but systematically dangerous. A verbal threat from Roy Disney Jr. – word for word, “We will crush you” – is nothing to sneeze at.
In fact, much of his career was more fraught than I’d realized. Financing your own films has always been a trial and I knew he’d gone through a rough patch in the early 90’s with some bombs, and that Anastasia was his last success. The long and short of it is that film is expensive as hell, and almost all of Don’s movies hinged on a wing and a prayer that some money would come through. Despite the monetary handwringing, however, there was still a lot of joy. Don tells us all the stories and gossip, everything from he and Gary Goldman mortgaging their houses to pay for The Sercret of NIMH to Dom DeLuise telling Burt Reynolds to get over himself and stop doing his weird “dog voice” for Charlie in All Dogs Go To Heaven. Angela Lansbury packs her own brown bag lunch for the studio and Michael Jackson spent years calling Don in the middle of the night with plot ideas. There’s fun trivia tidbits for every 90’s film aficionado here, even some great intel for us Anastasia lovers (i.e. Meg Ryan and John Cusack were so good, they let them record together instead of the usual separation. The chemistry was real, y’all.)
The best gems of the book come from Don’s sharp and often poignant observation of the film industry, and of the turbulence of a creative mind. One I loved was from the development of The Secret of NIMH, where “some investors fretted about the ferocity of Justin and Jenner’s battle. ‘It’s not Disney,’ they complained. ‘Well, Walt’s Queen wanted to murder Snow White,’ I’d remind them. ‘That’s Disney.’” Don’s always been known to go for the jugular with his films, keeping his villains terrifying and his heroes’ losses devastating beyond the death scene to the point of wrecking children everywhere – because that’s how you up the stakes.
It’s an honest take to insist that presenting monsters in all their horror makes the vanquishing of them all the more meaningful. Despite the significance of the softening a film’s teeth for easier access to the almighty dollar, this is the real juice behind a good story, not the potential of its profits. For any and all of the faults of some of his more middling films, that’s a truth that Don has stuck by.
It’s a pretty close to perfect memoir, with Don’s reflections creating a thoughtful narrative throughout his life, but I feel I should forewarn any readers that Don’s Mormon faith does inform a lot of his thinking, and for those who find that kind of thinking tedious, this may come off preachy from time to time. Personally, I found thoughts in that vein that made sense to me, even though I’m not Mormon. Sometimes it was painfully apparent that Don’s ambition was set to burn bridges or even make his personal life harder than it needed to be. But Don’s pretty self-aware and that comes across in his admissions that this was too important to him to pull back. And I get it - creativity is so intrinsic that it feels like betraying yourself if you don’t follow through at whatever cost. For better or worse, Don follows his gut.
Near the end of the book, Don recounts his first visit back to the Walt Disney Animation Studios after more than forty years, where he saw old friends still doing traditional animation work alongside the newbies putting the finishing touches on Wreck-It Ralph 2. He stopped by and visited a replica of Walt’s old office (his description of his first time meeting Walt – accidentally knocking into him while playing volleyball on the back lot – is straight up cinematic). News starts to spread that he’s in the building, and before long Don is surrounded by young animators telling him which movies of his inspired them to work in animation.
I’m only slightly embarrassed to admit I teared up here, not just to see how far his legacy has stretched, but also to see how alike we are. I’ve been to the WDA studios too, and seeing the moviemaking process at work and its history painted on the walls was equally moving for me. Our rather obsessive love of this filmmaking medium is maybe a little maudlin, but it comes from the heart and has never been better exemplified in a book. Don put it best on the last page: ”The question I’ve been asked all my career is, ‘Why did you leave Disney?’ I always answered that I came to a crossroads in my life. That my creativity felt stifled, and I wanted to champion animation that had inspired me growing up. I felt that animation couldn’t be found in the Disney Studio anymore – that Walt’s spirit had left Disney. Yet in the hallways during our visit, I’d felt a spirit. Not Walt’s, but a kindred spirit in the legendary animators who were still working for Disney and the young animators clicking their mouses. Who knows where that spirit will take animation in the years to come? I hope I’m alive to see it.”
I hope he is, too. Wherever it ends up, he helped drive it there. He deserves it.
July 23, 2025
I've read several books by animators, artists, Imagineers, and the like. And as enjoyable as they are, they do lack something. Risk. They already work within established companies. Then you have the stories of the people who started those companies, something new, usually from nothing. Stories of Walt Disney, Phil Vischer, the folks behind ILM, Jim Henson and Don Bluth, are those of dreamers who went out on their own. They not only had the guts to chase the dream, but had to be so creative in problem solving. The risks were not only huge, but personal. Sometimes they never reached the goal they started after, and that's OK too. The journey was so amazing and it was theirs. Bluth is very honest and candid about his journey. And even when he is met with adverse folks along the way, he is respectful and kind in the retelling. This was a very enjoyable and inspiring book. I highly recommend it to artists and fans alike.
[3 Stars = Very Good]]
[3 Stars = Very Good]]
August 8, 2023
If you love animation, and more specifically, grew up with Don Bluth’s films this is a solid 4.5stars.
I picked up this book because I spent my entire childhood with Fievel and Littlefoot. I have always been fascinated by animated films, especially the ones that immediately predate Disney’s renaissance. At the forefront of those was Don Bluth’s masterpieces. Reading about his history with Disney, his solo career and how his iconic movies affected the trajectory of animation made this a book I couldn’t pass up.
If you’re anything like me, this is we’ll worth the read. It’s probably going to be one of the few books that I’ll buy psychically, it is important enough to have earned a space in my shelves.
I picked up this book because I spent my entire childhood with Fievel and Littlefoot. I have always been fascinated by animated films, especially the ones that immediately predate Disney’s renaissance. At the forefront of those was Don Bluth’s masterpieces. Reading about his history with Disney, his solo career and how his iconic movies affected the trajectory of animation made this a book I couldn’t pass up.
If you’re anything like me, this is we’ll worth the read. It’s probably going to be one of the few books that I’ll buy psychically, it is important enough to have earned a space in my shelves.
September 8, 2022
A fascinating read; I've always longed to know more about Bluth's exciting and turbulent career. He writes in a friendly, engaging tone as though you were chatting with him in his own living room, and frequently made me laugh. His positivity and determination to keep hand-drawn animation alive are truly inspiring - for fans of the medium, this is a real treasure trove.
Perhaps a little heavy on the religious stuff for my tastes, but overall an excellent read. I'll definitely be returning to this one many more times!
Perhaps a little heavy on the religious stuff for my tastes, but overall an excellent read. I'll definitely be returning to this one many more times!
May 5, 2023
I look forward to revisiting this one in the future. Don Bluth is as effective a storyteller with his own life as he is with his craft. Captivating, heart wrenching, and inspiring every step of the way.
March 14, 2025
Really enjoyed this one, particularly how Bluth got to work for Disney, learned from the Nine Old Men and what caused him to eventually leave and eventually rival them.
July 22, 2025
Don Bluth is a classic underdog in animation history. Wonderful for fans of animation or any of his feature films!
February 2, 2023
Some really fascinating anecdotes and some really interesting insights to the realm of feature animation from the 60s through today. It might not dwell on all of his films to the extent that readers want, but the length and breadth of his career examined was still great.
August 7, 2024
I’ve always considered Don Bluth the unsung hero of classic animation. While I love Disney and how all the animators brought classic stories to life, Bluth animation and stories always hit different for me.
January 19, 2023
This is, hands down, one of thee best books I've read in my life. I was absolutely entranced by it, I never wanted it to end. There was not one unnecessary or dull word in the whole volume, this is a masterpiece by a master storyteller from my childhood.
Like most who pick up this book, I adored the films by Don Bluth as a child (and I still do!), I preferred them to Disney movies. I was hugely obsessed with Anastasia and sang Once Upon a December incessantly. I still can't watch Land Before Time without bawling and I just love Thumbelina and Pebble and the Penguin. Since I can remember it was films like that that made me desperately want to be a voice actress when I grew up, I wanted to be a cartoon. Naturally I had to read the autobiography of one of the men who inspired this passion.
His story is amazing, from start to finish. It's told as if he's your best friend and yet, it's so brilliantly done it could be a fairytale. I was continually struck by how similar my life, experiences and feelings are to Mr Bluth, he was a farm kid who felt stuck, his determination to somehow work for Disney one day, having epilepsy, his horse being his teacher and guide as my cows are to me, talking to himself often, right down to how he learned about the birds and the bees by seeing cows one day could have all been taken from my own diary. I understood perfectly his awe of Walt Disney and his huge, impossible- to-undertake dreams of becoming an animator and his overwhelming desire and knowingness that somehow he would make it. I cried a lot reading this book because it matched my own soul so exactly. It inspired me so much to go for my dreams with renewed strength.
There are so many wonderful adventures and so many exciting people and things that he did and met and it just makes you cheer through the whole book. He achieved such a lot, took massive risks and gave us a wonderful childhood because of it. He's definitely become one of my heroes after reading this book. It also answers the question of why after Anastasia did Bluth animation just vanish, something I'd often wondered.
This book is immensely special, it's a must read. It's powerful, it's written with such heart and passion and brings such messages as following your heart and joy, staying true to what you believe in, the power of faith and belief and uplifting others. And the stories of all your favourite animated films discussed in complete honesty.
Thank you Mr Bluth for this book, it is a treasure and a blessing to all who may read it.
Like most who pick up this book, I adored the films by Don Bluth as a child (and I still do!), I preferred them to Disney movies. I was hugely obsessed with Anastasia and sang Once Upon a December incessantly. I still can't watch Land Before Time without bawling and I just love Thumbelina and Pebble and the Penguin. Since I can remember it was films like that that made me desperately want to be a voice actress when I grew up, I wanted to be a cartoon. Naturally I had to read the autobiography of one of the men who inspired this passion.
His story is amazing, from start to finish. It's told as if he's your best friend and yet, it's so brilliantly done it could be a fairytale. I was continually struck by how similar my life, experiences and feelings are to Mr Bluth, he was a farm kid who felt stuck, his determination to somehow work for Disney one day, having epilepsy, his horse being his teacher and guide as my cows are to me, talking to himself often, right down to how he learned about the birds and the bees by seeing cows one day could have all been taken from my own diary. I understood perfectly his awe of Walt Disney and his huge, impossible- to-undertake dreams of becoming an animator and his overwhelming desire and knowingness that somehow he would make it. I cried a lot reading this book because it matched my own soul so exactly. It inspired me so much to go for my dreams with renewed strength.
There are so many wonderful adventures and so many exciting people and things that he did and met and it just makes you cheer through the whole book. He achieved such a lot, took massive risks and gave us a wonderful childhood because of it. He's definitely become one of my heroes after reading this book. It also answers the question of why after Anastasia did Bluth animation just vanish, something I'd often wondered.
This book is immensely special, it's a must read. It's powerful, it's written with such heart and passion and brings such messages as following your heart and joy, staying true to what you believe in, the power of faith and belief and uplifting others. And the stories of all your favourite animated films discussed in complete honesty.
Thank you Mr Bluth for this book, it is a treasure and a blessing to all who may read it.
February 5, 2026
The career of Don Bluth has been one of both praise and ridicule if you know of him only through YouTube video retrospectives. While in college I had to write a paper on someone who I admired and I chose Don Bluth to write about because as I stated in my report he was the man who shook the throne of animation.
For anyone who wants a more in-depth look at the career of Don Bluth look no further than the words of the man himself (also I recommend reading this along with the audiobook which is narrated by Bluth as well). The main thing that impressed me about his autobiography is how throughout his life Bluth has remained faithful in his faith growing up in the church of LDS. Most famous people as they grow older nowadays abandon their faith but Bluth has stuck to it which I have garnered and even greater respect for him. Bluth gives a sense of relatability in his autobiography with his constant conversations with his inner voice or as he calls it "the man in the mirror". It was this voice that convinced him on making the tough decision of leaving the Walt Disney animation studios which to many seemed like career suicide. But doing this opened many doors for him not only in making his own films but meeting a lot of influential people including one Michael Jackson (I seriously did a double take when I got to that part). If you're looking for how Don's failure films of the '90s made him feel then you may be disappointed because he doesn't go too much into depth about those films only about their production. He may have been crushed by the Disney Renaissance but the head brass at Disney will never admit the fact that his films The secret of them and The Land before Time were the films that gave the mouse house their wake up call. And his four films of the 80s still have a cult following to this very day.
God willing I will be able to meet Don Bluth at the upcoming comic convention where I can tell him how much his films made a great impression on me as a kid and even do this day as a 37 year old man. (Edit Didn't get to meet him unfortunately 😞)
Thank you Don for your perseverance and understanding that animation is a form of art.
For anyone who wants a more in-depth look at the career of Don Bluth look no further than the words of the man himself (also I recommend reading this along with the audiobook which is narrated by Bluth as well). The main thing that impressed me about his autobiography is how throughout his life Bluth has remained faithful in his faith growing up in the church of LDS. Most famous people as they grow older nowadays abandon their faith but Bluth has stuck to it which I have garnered and even greater respect for him. Bluth gives a sense of relatability in his autobiography with his constant conversations with his inner voice or as he calls it "the man in the mirror". It was this voice that convinced him on making the tough decision of leaving the Walt Disney animation studios which to many seemed like career suicide. But doing this opened many doors for him not only in making his own films but meeting a lot of influential people including one Michael Jackson (I seriously did a double take when I got to that part). If you're looking for how Don's failure films of the '90s made him feel then you may be disappointed because he doesn't go too much into depth about those films only about their production. He may have been crushed by the Disney Renaissance but the head brass at Disney will never admit the fact that his films The secret of them and The Land before Time were the films that gave the mouse house their wake up call. And his four films of the 80s still have a cult following to this very day.
God willing I will be able to meet Don Bluth at the upcoming comic convention where I can tell him how much his films made a great impression on me as a kid and even do this day as a 37 year old man. (Edit Didn't get to meet him unfortunately 😞)
Thank you Don for your perseverance and understanding that animation is a form of art.
January 15, 2025
2.75 rounded up to a 3. I wanted to love it. You probably would if you were a fan of "The Secret of Nimh", "An American Tail", Titan A.E.", "Anastasia", etc. just for those movies that rivaled what The Disney Studios were putting out at the time. My problems with it were numerous.
Although I loved the behind the scenes look at what it takes to be an animator and to put an animated movie together, some parts of his personal story put me off, plus his editor needs to be fired. His ego is off the charts, but I guess that goes with the territory when you're a successful artist.
It was fascinating to learn the story of animation when he came up in it. He began at Disney when "Nine Old Men" were retiring and dying. He left Disney when he felt they were looking for the money instead of honoring the art. His career came to a close when "Toy Story" came out. His thoughts on the animation world as it left the golden days of hand-drawn animation and entered CGI were fascinating. His "man in the mirror" (his inner critic) thoughts were a great insight into his unspoken thoughts and taught me how his world turned.
My issues:
First - One chapter ended mid-sentence. How was that not caught? And my copy had many pages where the print was too light and others where the ink was so heavy and blotched out a lot of the words. Was this self published? Horrible editor? Both? Not certain.
Second - his proselytizing was off the charts! He was raised in the LDS church and he lets you know it. In an autobiography, talking about your beliefs is expected and I would argue also necessary. The author crosses the line when he tells you what you SHOULD believe. This was not off-putting to me, but it might be to others, so know that you have been warned.
Third - for constantly talking about how it's not about the money, but about the art, he sure chased the money and loved it when he had it. A bit off-putting.
Although I loved the behind the scenes look at what it takes to be an animator and to put an animated movie together, some parts of his personal story put me off, plus his editor needs to be fired. His ego is off the charts, but I guess that goes with the territory when you're a successful artist.
It was fascinating to learn the story of animation when he came up in it. He began at Disney when "Nine Old Men" were retiring and dying. He left Disney when he felt they were looking for the money instead of honoring the art. His career came to a close when "Toy Story" came out. His thoughts on the animation world as it left the golden days of hand-drawn animation and entered CGI were fascinating. His "man in the mirror" (his inner critic) thoughts were a great insight into his unspoken thoughts and taught me how his world turned.
My issues:
First - One chapter ended mid-sentence. How was that not caught? And my copy had many pages where the print was too light and others where the ink was so heavy and blotched out a lot of the words. Was this self published? Horrible editor? Both? Not certain.
Second - his proselytizing was off the charts! He was raised in the LDS church and he lets you know it. In an autobiography, talking about your beliefs is expected and I would argue also necessary. The author crosses the line when he tells you what you SHOULD believe. This was not off-putting to me, but it might be to others, so know that you have been warned.
Third - for constantly talking about how it's not about the money, but about the art, he sure chased the money and loved it when he had it. A bit off-putting.
August 17, 2024
Don...Donnie! Buddy I want to help you, I want to streamline your vision. He came up in animation at the tale end of it. I think if he had been able to break away a few decades before, him and Walt would be the Pepsi and coke of animation. But our good friend Don gets easily yanked around, while Walt would focus then branch out. The behind the scenes of the movies was interesting but an editor could have tightened up this book. Keep the work Don, keep it up.
November 5, 2023
His quirky gee-wiz language, conversing with the man in the mirror, and frequent praising and witnessing for God and Jesus was exhausting.
July 24, 2024
If you ever suspected that the guy who made Rock-a-Doodle and Thumbalina might be a big ol' weirdo, you were right! 😃
Huge Mormon goofball with a suitably goofy autobiography 😐😬
Huge Mormon goofball with a suitably goofy autobiography 😐😬
December 10, 2022
This autobiography of animator Donald Virgil "Don" Bluth opens with the story of his birth in El Paso, Texas from a religious viewpoint, with his membership and faith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints significant in his upbringing and later animated work. His family would move to a farm in Utah, Bluth only occasionally mentioning other family members such as his siblings, including his older brother Bob, fascinated with taxidermy, and his younger brother Toby, who would produce creative work of his own, although Don only briefly touches upon Toby's divergence from his birth name, another of his creative siblings, Brad, given no mention at all.
The Bluth family's farm in Utah would ruin them financially, with Don ultimately attending high school in California before his hiring into Disney (which had the potential to become a hospital were it to go under financially), although a church mission to Argentina would divert him for a few years, and he would go back to Utah to attend Brigham Young University (BYU), where he would improve his reading skills. Bluth would remain with Disney until the death of its eponymous founder Walt, with the question of the company's leadership mulled postmortem. The animator would meet and partner with Gary Goldman, the two working on a few Disney animated features such as Robin Hood.
Bluth would eventually break with Disney after his involvement in the short The Small One and the animation of the eponymous character of Pete's Dragon, producing Banjo the Woodpile Cat and The Secret of NIMH among his first independent features, though the latter fared poorly at the box office against Steven Spielberg's ballyhooed E.T. Regardless, Bluth would go on to animate the arcade game Dragon's Lair, noting that he found humans more difficult to work with than animals. Spielberg would collaborate with Bluth on An American Tail as well as George Lucas for The Land Before Time, with Michael Jackson wishing for collaboration as well, though that would fizzle.
Most of Bluth's other works such as All Dogs Go to Heaven and Rock-A-Doodle would face troubled productions despite featuring celebrity talent, with some of his films having distribution by different studios and ultimately sending the animator financially down under. He would resurge with Anastasia under 20th Century Fox, which would ultimately come under the Disney banner, although Titan A.E. would fare poorly, given its high preproduction costs. Anastasia would eventually become a Broadway production, with Bluth ending his autobiography on a high note with a proposed Dragon's Lair film in the indefinite future.
All in all, Bluth's book is an interesting read, with his Mormonism definitely catching me unaware, and the details of the productions of his various animated films are certainly insightful, despite the troublesome disposition of most of them. Granted, I do wish he had talked more about his brothers, particularly Toby and Brad, a few of whose illustrated literary works I own. His early career Bluth certainly highlights well, although having watched a few of his films, his faith certainly isn’t overly ham-fisted in most of them, except maybe All Dogs Go to Heaven. Regardless, those with a passing interest in traditional animation owe it to themselves to check out his autobiography.
The Bluth family's farm in Utah would ruin them financially, with Don ultimately attending high school in California before his hiring into Disney (which had the potential to become a hospital were it to go under financially), although a church mission to Argentina would divert him for a few years, and he would go back to Utah to attend Brigham Young University (BYU), where he would improve his reading skills. Bluth would remain with Disney until the death of its eponymous founder Walt, with the question of the company's leadership mulled postmortem. The animator would meet and partner with Gary Goldman, the two working on a few Disney animated features such as Robin Hood.
Bluth would eventually break with Disney after his involvement in the short The Small One and the animation of the eponymous character of Pete's Dragon, producing Banjo the Woodpile Cat and The Secret of NIMH among his first independent features, though the latter fared poorly at the box office against Steven Spielberg's ballyhooed E.T. Regardless, Bluth would go on to animate the arcade game Dragon's Lair, noting that he found humans more difficult to work with than animals. Spielberg would collaborate with Bluth on An American Tail as well as George Lucas for The Land Before Time, with Michael Jackson wishing for collaboration as well, though that would fizzle.
Most of Bluth's other works such as All Dogs Go to Heaven and Rock-A-Doodle would face troubled productions despite featuring celebrity talent, with some of his films having distribution by different studios and ultimately sending the animator financially down under. He would resurge with Anastasia under 20th Century Fox, which would ultimately come under the Disney banner, although Titan A.E. would fare poorly, given its high preproduction costs. Anastasia would eventually become a Broadway production, with Bluth ending his autobiography on a high note with a proposed Dragon's Lair film in the indefinite future.
All in all, Bluth's book is an interesting read, with his Mormonism definitely catching me unaware, and the details of the productions of his various animated films are certainly insightful, despite the troublesome disposition of most of them. Granted, I do wish he had talked more about his brothers, particularly Toby and Brad, a few of whose illustrated literary works I own. His early career Bluth certainly highlights well, although having watched a few of his films, his faith certainly isn’t overly ham-fisted in most of them, except maybe All Dogs Go to Heaven. Regardless, those with a passing interest in traditional animation owe it to themselves to check out his autobiography.
August 21, 2022
Just like the Disney Animated movies, my childhood was also marked by the animated movies made by Don Bluth, such as An American Tale, Anastasia, The Land Before Time, Thumbelina, The Secret of Nimh, and All Dogs Go to Heaven. I also really love the game Dragon's Lair, which I have a version of on my Nintendo Switch. Those movies meant so much to me, so I was very excited when I saw the ARC of Somewhere Out There on NetGalley. Then, I found the audiobook on Audible and decided to listen to it while reading my ARC copy. I'm glad that I did.
It was absolutely wonderful hearing about Don Bluth's life and career in his own words. He did an incredible job reading the book, and I loved the personality that he gave it. There were times that he would laugh at his decisions or about what he was saying, which made it feel so genuine. Don made it feel like he was just sitting down and telling you a story about his life like he was an old friend. The illustrations in the book were another great addition to his story. I love the one at the very end of the book. It's wonderful!
This book is not only for the fans of Don Bluth or animation but also for creators themselves. It tells of Don's dream and how he works to become an animator. I enjoyed this journey and seeing the elements of his life that went into his movies. His love for the early movies from Disney animation, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, greatly impacted his later life and dreams. I loved seeing how Walt was one of his heroes since he was a child and getting to see when he started to work for the Disney company.
Also, every time I read the cover; I think of the song ''Somewhere Out There'' from An American Tale. That song will always be a favorite of mine.
I am so glad that I picked up a copy of this book, and I will definitely be buying a physical copy for my collection.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC of the ebook all opinions are my own. *
It was absolutely wonderful hearing about Don Bluth's life and career in his own words. He did an incredible job reading the book, and I loved the personality that he gave it. There were times that he would laugh at his decisions or about what he was saying, which made it feel so genuine. Don made it feel like he was just sitting down and telling you a story about his life like he was an old friend. The illustrations in the book were another great addition to his story. I love the one at the very end of the book. It's wonderful!
This book is not only for the fans of Don Bluth or animation but also for creators themselves. It tells of Don's dream and how he works to become an animator. I enjoyed this journey and seeing the elements of his life that went into his movies. His love for the early movies from Disney animation, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, greatly impacted his later life and dreams. I loved seeing how Walt was one of his heroes since he was a child and getting to see when he started to work for the Disney company.
Also, every time I read the cover; I think of the song ''Somewhere Out There'' from An American Tale. That song will always be a favorite of mine.
I am so glad that I picked up a copy of this book, and I will definitely be buying a physical copy for my collection.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC of the ebook all opinions are my own. *
March 11, 2024
Extremely interesting! It was fun to learn more about the man behind some of my very favorite childhood movies (it was Thumbelina and Anastasia for me!)
As a frequent reader of memoir, I'd say this gave a lot of interesting early life stories, business tidbits, and celebrity interactions. I learned a ton about what was going on behind the scenes with Don Bluth Productions and why certain films took a long time to be produced, etc. I also appreciated his spiritual/faith insights and how his faith has impacted his work (Bluth is a life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
However - the thing that made this 4 stars instead of 5 for me was that the vulnerability/personal life story are not consistent throughout. In the beginning Don is vulnerable in sharing about his family life, experiences with a guardian angel, dating girls, etc. He starts the book as a very 3-dimensional person. But the focus of the book then shifts to be primarily about his work and professional achievements, and falls a little flat in some ways.
I just assumed he never had a family, because after he mentioned a failed engagement in his 20s, he never wrote about romance again. But then in the acknowledgements, he thanks his son!! Guys, he has a son and a daughter in law! That never get mentioned in the book at all except for the acknowledgements! This blew my mind.
He doesn't appear to speak about his family/son publicly at all (I can't find any interviews), so I can understand if it is a topic that he is extremely private about and did not care to share in his memoir. But I do think it could have been a stronger literary work if he had been willing to share more personal details and add more dimension to the last half of the book.
As a frequent reader of memoir, I'd say this gave a lot of interesting early life stories, business tidbits, and celebrity interactions. I learned a ton about what was going on behind the scenes with Don Bluth Productions and why certain films took a long time to be produced, etc. I also appreciated his spiritual/faith insights and how his faith has impacted his work (Bluth is a life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
However - the thing that made this 4 stars instead of 5 for me was that the vulnerability/personal life story are not consistent throughout. In the beginning Don is vulnerable in sharing about his family life, experiences with a guardian angel, dating girls, etc. He starts the book as a very 3-dimensional person. But the focus of the book then shifts to be primarily about his work and professional achievements, and falls a little flat in some ways.
I just assumed he never had a family, because after he mentioned a failed engagement in his 20s, he never wrote about romance again. But then in the acknowledgements, he thanks his son!! Guys, he has a son and a daughter in law! That never get mentioned in the book at all except for the acknowledgements! This blew my mind.
He doesn't appear to speak about his family/son publicly at all (I can't find any interviews), so I can understand if it is a topic that he is extremely private about and did not care to share in his memoir. But I do think it could have been a stronger literary work if he had been willing to share more personal details and add more dimension to the last half of the book.
May 12, 2023
I have always been a huge fan of Don Bluth's movies. Even before I was old enough to understand the artistry and craft that went into creating them, I counted them among my favorites. And yes, I am aware that they had four or five characters that they just changed the colors on from movie to movie, but they are still magical stories told with beautiful images.
Yet all my fangirling about the movies never led me to wonder about the main man behind them. Bluth was never as in the limelight as Walt Disney, and his religious beliefs may have played a big role in that as they make him a very humble man. So getting to hear how an animator's dream is born and all the struggles that he went through to find the path that made him happy were as interesting as hearing the behind the scenes stories of how the movies got made.
My one gripe with this one is that I wish there was more art to go along with the stories about the movies. There are cute little sketches to illustrate the general themes of the chapters, but a small Fievel or Anastasia would have been perfect. Although, I do get that the licensing permissions for that would have probably kept the book from coming out.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and Smart Pop for the walk down memory lane!
Yet all my fangirling about the movies never led me to wonder about the main man behind them. Bluth was never as in the limelight as Walt Disney, and his religious beliefs may have played a big role in that as they make him a very humble man. So getting to hear how an animator's dream is born and all the struggles that he went through to find the path that made him happy were as interesting as hearing the behind the scenes stories of how the movies got made.
My one gripe with this one is that I wish there was more art to go along with the stories about the movies. There are cute little sketches to illustrate the general themes of the chapters, but a small Fievel or Anastasia would have been perfect. Although, I do get that the licensing permissions for that would have probably kept the book from coming out.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and Smart Pop for the walk down memory lane!
July 31, 2022
This was a brilliant autobiography/memoir. It was such a fascinating book. Don's life was so interesting and the book quickly became a page turning book that I was determined to stay up to finish but I feel asleep and had to wake up early to finish reading it. Don's life was fascinating especially his lucky break working for Walt Disney so soon. It was quite a shock that at one point he left to start his own company to keep those beautiful details in the animated film that we all love. If like me you have always wanted to know what life is like working within Disney films or as a famous animator then you really need to read this book its both exciting and shocking. I really can't recommend this book enough. I am so glad I found this book as I learnt so much and was taken on a roller coaster ride through the life , successes and failures in the animating world. I couldn't get over how much goes into making them plus the costs are rather eye watering.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for bringing us this wonderful story thatvi couldn't put down.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for bringing us this wonderful story thatvi couldn't put down.
August 19, 2022
When I was 10 years old, I remember going to the theater to see the movie An American Tale. I fell in love with the story! The Land Before Time and Anastasia are two other Don Bluth films that I adored. So, of course I had to read his memoir!
It was fun reading about Mr. Bluth's animation career and how he became started in the business of animation. I had no idea that he was employed with Disney for a number of years and that he worked on some of my favorite childhood Disney films as well. The process of animation is fascinating! I learned so much from reading this book about all of the people and steps involved in making an animated film.
There were fun easter eggs throughout the book for those who are familiar with his work - quotes from films written into the storyline (never say never). Illustrations by Mr. Bluth accompanied the text to add some fun and humor.
If you love Don Bluth films or are interested in learning about animation, this is a must read.
Thank you to #NetGally for the privilege of reading an ARC of #SomewhereOutThere by #DonBluth - 4 stars
It was fun reading about Mr. Bluth's animation career and how he became started in the business of animation. I had no idea that he was employed with Disney for a number of years and that he worked on some of my favorite childhood Disney films as well. The process of animation is fascinating! I learned so much from reading this book about all of the people and steps involved in making an animated film.
There were fun easter eggs throughout the book for those who are familiar with his work - quotes from films written into the storyline (never say never). Illustrations by Mr. Bluth accompanied the text to add some fun and humor.
If you love Don Bluth films or are interested in learning about animation, this is a must read.
Thank you to #NetGally for the privilege of reading an ARC of #SomewhereOutThere by #DonBluth - 4 stars
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