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A new Disney Editions Deluxe book from legendary Disney animation director Ron Clements is now available for pre-order on Amazon.
Making Disney Magic . . . from a Mermaid to Moana: Tales of a Disney Animation Director – $41.85
Reg. $50; Hardcover; Pre-Order
Making Disney Magic . . . from a Mermaid to Moana: Tales of a Disney Animation Director is a new hardcover memoir and art book from Ron Clements, with a foreword by his longtime creative partner John Musker. The 496-page volume is published by Disney Editions and is currently slated for release on October 13, 2026.
The book looks back on Clements’ 45-year career at Walt Disney Animation Studios, combining stories from his time at the studio with more than 1,000 pieces of full-color archival artwork and photos. It covers Clements’ work on films including The Rescuers, Pete’s Dragon, The Fox and the Hound, The Great Mouse Detective, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Moana.
Clements shares behind-the-scenes stories, animation Easter eggs, and production details from across his Disney career. It touches on his experience with the artists and collaborators who shaped the films, research trips, voice casting, songwriting, screenwriting, character development, world-building, technical innovations, voice recording, animation, and much, much more throughout the continuing legacy of Disney Animation.
The memoir also includes a unique flip-book style “animation” built into the page corners, celebrating Disney characters from the 1970s through the 2010s.
Clements began at Walt Disney Animation Studios in the 1970s and went on to become one of the defining filmmakers of the Disney Renaissance alongside Musker. Their collaborations include The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, Treasure Planet, The Princess and the Frog, and Moana.
The legendary filmmaker’s influence on Disney animation continues well into the 2020s. Last year, Clements came out of retirement to return to Walt Disney Animation Studios in a mentorship role for the next generation of creators and animators.
Have you read any other memoirs or biographies from other Disney animators? Tell us about your favorite on social media.
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