Chapter 6 - 7 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 6, "Ub Iwerks," recounts the career of the legendary animator that helped Walt Disney start his studio. Maltin refers to Iwerks as "animation's forgotten man." Iwerks was Disney's right hand man for many years and was known as a world class animator. Iwerks was responsible for animating Steamboat Willie and Skeleton Dance almost single handedly. When Iwerks and Disney parted company in the 1930s, it became clear that while Iwerks had the talent, the animator "had none of Disney's creative spark and imagination."

Iwerks met Walt Disney in 1919 when both men worked as commercial artists. In 1922 when Walt decided to open his own studio, Iwerks was the first artist on the payroll. When the studio went under Iwerks went back to his old job and Disney headed for California. When Disney began to get work, he sent for Iwerks...