First published 2020
Nathalia Holt uncovers the forgotten history of female artists who worked inside Walt Disney Studios from the 1930s onward. These women entered a male-dominated animation industry and contributed to classics from Snow White through Frozen. Holt draws on interviews and archival materials to document how these artists battled workplace discrimination, domestic violence, and professional intimidation while creating the artwork and stories that defined Disney's output. The book traces their efforts to change how female characters appeared on screen and shows their influence on Disney's evolution toward films like Frozen, the studio's first full-length feature directed by a woman. Holt reveals the specific contributions these artists made during Disney's most celebrated period and demonstrates their lasting impact on animation.
Genres: biography, art, 20th-century, gender-studies, feminism, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: forgotten-history, underdog
Setting: Walt Disney Studios
Period: 1930s
598 pages · Library Binding · Thorndike Press Large Print
Content warnings: domestic-violence