Disney War by James Stewart, the book that fires the heavy artillery at Michael Eisner, Bob Iger, and their co-conspirators in the fiscal mishandling of the Disney Brand, has been released and the reviews are in. I have not yet gotten my hands on a copy, so I’m not reading the reviews yet. But here’s a list of links should you wish to.
Reuters
Los Angeles Times (nothing yet, odd)
New York Times
Marketwatch
Orlando Sentinel
‘Disney War’ graffito found on pavement, near Belsize Park.
This image featuring the face of George Bush II with the ears of Mickey Mouse was found on the pavement between Belsize Park and Hampstead tube stations, not far from the royal-free hospital. I get the impression that the author of this image dislikes …
I’m only at chapter 3, but I love the book so far. Love it. I read this now thinking that Eisner took a brand that was in the possession of people who truly did not know what to do with it. He might not have done what “Walt” would have done, but in the 18 years that had passed since Walt died, no one had any kind of vision for what Disney was supposed to be. They recruited a media guy and they got a media guy, and they got a media company. Animation was just crap when Eisner took over. He enabled another “Golden age” to take place in the 80’s and early 90’s. The only reason he didn’t just buy Pixar was that he thought Jobs was an A**hole (and he is). I learned a lot in this book that sometimes all the “goods” and credentials in the world don’t mean anything when two people just don’t jive. Sure, it was time for Eisner to go when he did, but seriously, do not blame him for a failure to innovate. He took a zero of a company and made it into something bigger than it previously had been. When you look at the battle of Roy Disney -vs- Eisner, don’t EVER be naive enough to think that it’s just Roy fighting to get back to the “good ‘ol days” of Walt. Walt didn’t even like Roy as a businessman, and Roy knows it. Roy was just smart enough to know that it was time for change again. Simple as that. Eisner doesn’t like to do things that are not his idea. Simple as THAT. The battle is that simple.
i am a film student at southampton, tho born in london. i am currently writing an essay on the sexism, racism an homophobia within disney and comparing it to being raised by the stereotypical male back in the days of war when disney started. is disney the stuburn father who raises us?
james
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