The Imagineering Story
{{short description|2019 American documentary television miniseries}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox television
| image = The Imagineering Story titlecard.jpg
| caption =
| genre = Documentary
| creator = Leslie Iwerks
| based_on =
| developer =
| writer = Mark Catalena
| director = Leslie Iwerks
| narrated = Angela Bassett
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer = Jeffrey Kryka
| country = United States
| editor = {{Plainlist|
- Mark Catalena
- Mo Stoebe
- Ian Arthur
}}
| language = English
| num_seasons =
| num_episodes = 6
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Leslie Iwerks
}}
| producer = Michael E. Tang
| company = Iwerks & Co.
| channel = Disney+
| first_aired = {{Start date|2019|11|12}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2019|12|13}}
}}
The Imagineering Story is a documentary miniseries created, directed and executive produced by Leslie Iwerks. The series is focused on Walt Disney Imagineering and takes an in-depth look at the history and creation of the Disney theme parks and attractions around the world.{{Cite web |url= https://www.slashfilm.com/disney-original-shows-reviews/|title=Disney Original Show Reviews|website=DTCI Media |date=November 4, 2019 |access-date=2019-11-07}} The series premiered on Disney+ at the launch date of November 12, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://dtcimedia.disney.com/disney-plus/the-imagineering-story|title=The Imagineering Story Media Kit|website=DTCI Media|access-date=2019-10-17}}
Production
Originally announced as a feature documentary in 2013, The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger announced that the film was being revamped as a series of six one-hour episodes for the upcoming Disney+ streaming service. In April 2019, the series was formally announced.{{Cite web |url= https://www.slashfilm.com/trailer-for-leslie-iwerks-documentary-about-walt-disney-imagineering/|title=Trailer For Leslie Iwerks' Documentary About Walt Disney Imagineering|website=DTCI Media |date=August 12, 2013 |access-date=2019-10-17}}{{Cite web |url= https://www.slashfilm.com/imagineering-tv-show/|title=Walt Disney Imagineering TV Show Heading to Disney+|website=Slashfilm |date=November 10, 2018 |access-date=2019-10-17}} In August 2019, it was announced that Angela Bassett would be narrating the series.{{Cite web |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/live-feed/angela-bassett-narrate-disney-docu-series-imagineering-story-1233743|title=Angela Bassett to Narrate Disney+ Docuseries 'The Imagineering Story' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 22, 2019 |access-date=2019-10-17}}
Episodes
{{Episode table |background=#3350B1 |total_width=70 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = The Happiest Place on Earth
|DirectedBy = Leslie Iwerks
|WrittenBy = Mark Catalena
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|12}}
|ShortSummary = Focuses on the creation and evolution of Disneyland and its attractions up until Walt Disney's death, as well as Imagineering's involvement with the 1964 New York World's Fair.
|LineColor = 3350B1
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = What Would Walt Do?
|DirectedBy = Leslie Iwerks
|WrittenBy = Mark Catalena
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|15}}
|ShortSummary = Topics covered include Roy Disney's supervision over the construction and opening of Walt Disney World and Magic Kingdom, the subsequent conception of Epcot Center, and the first international expansion with Tokyo Disneyland.
|LineColor = 3350B1
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = The Midas Touch
|RTitle = {{Cite web |url=https://dtcimedia.disney.com/disney-plus/the-imagineering-story/103 |title=The Imagineering Story – Media Kit |website=Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International Media Center |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
|DirectedBy = Leslie Iwerks
|WrittenBy = Mark Catalena
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|22}}
|ShortSummary = Topics covered include Michael Eisner and Frank Wells' takeover of Disney, the addition of Disney-MGM Studios, the building and initial failure of Euro Disneyland, and Wells' death.
|LineColor = 3350B1
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = Hit or Miss
|DirectedBy = Leslie Iwerks
|WrittenBy = Mark Catalena
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|29}}
|ShortSummary = Topics covered include the success of Disney Cruise Line, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Tokyo DisneySea (with inputs from Wing Chao); the unrealized projects of Disney's America and WestCOT; and the failures of Disney's California Adventure, Walt Disney Studios Park, and Hong Kong Disneyland.
|LineColor = 3350B1
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|Title = A Carousel of Progress
|DirectedBy = Leslie Iwerks
|WrittenBy = Mark Catalena
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|12|6}}
|ShortSummary = Topics covered include Bob Iger stepping in as CEO, the overhaul of California Adventure, the creation of Cars Land, the revamping of Disney attractions such as Haunted Mansion Holiday, adding Jack Sparrow to Pirates of the Caribbean, and the initial outcry of the addition of Disney characters to the Disneyland version of "It's a Small World", the creation of Mystic Manor, Ratatouille: L'Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy, and the announcement of Shanghai Disneyland.
|LineColor = 3350B1
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|Title = To Infinity and Beyond
|DirectedBy = Leslie Iwerks
|WrittenBy = Mark Catalena
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|12|13}}
|ShortSummary = Topics range from the groundbreaking of Shanghai Disneyland, Pandora – The World of Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and future upcoming projects.
|LineColor = 3350B1
}}
}}
Release
The Imagineering Story premiered on November 12, 2019, on Disney+, in the United States and in the United Kingdom on March 24, 2020.{{cite web |title=Details Revealed on 'The Imagineering Story' Documentary Coming to Disney+|url=https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/details-revealed-on-the-imagineering-story-documentary-coming-to-disney/amp/|website=io9.gizmodo.com |access-date=April 11, 2019 |date=April 11, 2019}}
A supplemental book based on the series written by Iwerks entitled The Imagineering Story: The Official Biography of Walt Disney Imagineering was published by Disney Editions on November 8, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://books.disney.com/book/the-imagineering-story/|title=The Imagineering Story: The Official Biography of Walt Disney Imagineering|work=Disney Books|accessdate=December 15, 2022}}
Reception
= Critical reception =
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating for the series with an average rating of 6.84/10, based on 13 reviews.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_imagineering_story/s01|title=The Imagineering Story: Season 1 (2019)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=August 3, 2020}} Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 62 out of 100 based on 7 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-imagineering-story|title=The Imagineering Story – TV Show Reviews|website=Metacritic|access-date=November 30, 2019}}
Joel Keller of Decider praised the series for depicting the construction and development of Walt Disney World in Florida, and the achievements of Disney employees working at Walt Disney Imagineering, but claimed that the documentary could have been more lively.{{Cite web |date=2019-11-13 |title=Stream It Or Skip It: 'The Imagineering Story' On Disney+, A Docuseries On How Walt Disney's Imagineers Brought His Vision To Life |url=https://decider.com/2019/11/13/the-imagineering-story-disney-plus-stream-it-or-skip-it/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Decider |language=en-US}} Melissa Camacho of Common Sense Media rated the documentary 3 out of 5 stars, stating: "The Imagineering Story is a documentary series about the creative teams that conceptualize, design, and build Disney theme parks and their best attractions. It highlights the importance of pushing boundaries and being creative, and the role of STEAM principles in this process."{{Cite web|date=2020-05-11|title=The Imagineering Story - TV Review|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-imagineering-story|access-date=2020-11-24|website=www.commonsensemedia.org|language=en}} Gretchen Smail of IGN rated the series 6,5 out of 10, praised the documentary and found it interesting for providing information and anecdotes on the history of Disney parks, stated that the series forms a tribute to the people who created and worked on Disney's parks and attractions that highlights their innovative contributions, but claimed that the documentary does not engage with the history of The Walt Disney Company with enough balance.{{Cite web |last=Smail |first=Gretchen |date=2019-11-12 |title=Disney Plus' The Imagineering Story: Premiere Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/11/12/disney-plus-imagineering-story-review |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=IGN |language=en}}
= Accolades =
| class="wikitable"
|+ ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Nominee(s) ! Result ! Ref. |
| rowspan="2" | 2020
| Angela Bassett {{small|("The Happiest Place on Earth")}} | {{nom}} |
| Online Film & Television Association TV Awards
|Best Voice-Over Performance in an Animated Program |{{Nom}} |style="text-align:center;" | {{Cite web|title=24th Annual TV Awards (2019-20) - Online Film & Television Association|url=http://www.oftaawards.com/television-awards/24th-annual-tv-awards-2019-20/|access-date=2020-11-24|language=en-US}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Television}}
- {{Disney+ series}}
- {{IMDb title|9331982}}
{{Disney+ original ended series}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Imagineering Story, The}}
Category:2010s American documentary television series
Category:2019 American television series debuts
Category:2019 American television series endings
Category:Disney+ original programming
Category:Documentary television series about industry
Category:American English-language television shows