大象传媒

Through the stories of ten of his greatest works, Mel Giedroyc examines the life of Walt Disney, a much mythologised genius. A man to whom storytelling was an escape from an oppressive father and a respite from periods of depression.

His name is truly iconic, but how much do we really know about this titan of the entertainment industry? Who was the real Walt and why did a man who moulded Western pop culture in his image end up on his deathbed, afraid that he鈥檇 be forgotten?

In this episode, Mel examines the seismic impact of World War Two on Disney鈥檚 company. We鈥檒l hear how soldiers swarmed Disney鈥檚 LA studio and discover that Disney animations made a remarkable contribution towards the war effort.

Dumbo is a film with a controversial legacy, with problematic racial language and instances of cartoon blackface. Mel uses the troubling elements of Dumbo as a launching point for a wider examination of Walt鈥檚 views on race and the accusations of racism that have followed him over the decades.

Walt Disney: A Life in Films is produced by Novel for 大象传媒 Radio 4