Marc Davis! One of Disney’s “Nine Old Men”!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are looking into the life and work of Marc Davis, one of Disney’s “Nine Old Men”! I was lucky enough to ask author and imagineer who co wrote an amazing book about Davis, Christopher Merritt; a few questions!

Marc Davis was one of Walt Disney’s most celebrated “Nine Old Men,” the legendary core group of animators who shaped the studio’s golden age. Joining Disney in the 1930s, Davis quickly earned a reputation for his ability to bring characters to life with personality and emotion. His work included animating classics such as “Cinderella”, “Peter Pan”, and “Sleeping Beauty”, where he designed and animated both Princess Aurora and the menacing Maleficent. Beyond animation, Davis’s creativity would later help define the immersive magic of Disney’s theme parks.

In the 1960s, Davis transitioned to Walt Disney Imagineering, where he applied his storytelling skills to attractions that became theme park staples. He contributed to “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “The Haunted Mansion”, and “it’s a small world”, infusing them with memorable scenes and humor. His work also touched “Tom Sawyer Island”, where his knack for creating detailed, story-driven environments helped enhance the guest experience. Davis’s ability to craft engaging characters and worlds in both film and physical spaces made him a rare creative force at Disney.

His remarkable career is chronicled in Marc Davis in “His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks”, written by Pete Docter and Christopher Merritt. Docter, an Academy Award-winning Pixar director behind films like “Up” and “Inside Out”, brings a filmmaker’s perspective to Davis’s legacy, highlighting his storytelling genius. Merritt, a veteran Disney Imagineer known for his work on projects like “Mickey’s Toontown” and “Sleeping Beauty Castle” refurbishments, offers insider insight into the artistry and process of Disney attraction design.

The book blends archival materials, sketches, and personal recollections to paint a vivid portrait of Davis as both an animator and Imagineer. It reveals not just the finished magic guests see on screen or in the parks, but also the thought, experimentation, and artistry that went into each creation. Together, Docter and Merritt present a tribute worthy of a man whose imagination continues to shape the Disney experience decades after his work first dazzled audiences.

Bonus Questions:

Giancarlo: Which of Marc Davis’s contributions to the parks are your favorite?

Christopher Merritt: Boy- That’s a hard one! If I have to choose, I’d have to go with his work on The Haunted Mansion- Jungle Cruise being a close second. Maybe because I used to be a Jungle Cruise skipper here in Anaheim!

Giancarlo: Do you think he knew how much positive impact he truly brought to the world?

Christopher Merritt: Well, I think he had an idea torwards the end of his life. In the 1990’s he did get a lot more attention for all of his theme park achievements. And he certainly was always beloved for all his amazing work in animation.

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Christopher Merritt: Hard to choose; but I like one thing Rolly Crump once told me when I was a student, “Always be a student of life. Always observe and be amazed by everything. That’s a very “Walt Disney” philosophy I think!

The Book!: https://a.co/d/5wASRTr

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again on Monday!

-Giancarlo