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D23: Leslie Iwerks Discusses Upcoming Book “The Imagineering Story: The Official Biography of Walt Disney Imagineering”

The imagineering story

Leslie Iwerks, founder of Iwerks & Co and granddaughter of Ub Iwerks, has done it again! You’ll know her from her incredible documentaries (The Pixar Story, Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible, The Hand Behind the Mouse: The Ub Iwerks Story, and League of Legends Origins, among others), but now she has written a book and trust me, you’re going to want to add this one to your home library. 

The imagineering story

Credit: Disney Books

When Disney+ debuted, one of its biggest original content draws was The Imagineering Story. The documentary provided an inside look at the history of Disney Imagineering and interviews with current and former Imagineers. It was a Disney fan’s dream come true. Now that documentary is becoming a book featuring never before released interviews and stories. 

 

At D23, Iwerks was present to answer questions about the book. Comments, of course, turned to the impressive documentary, where she said she was blown away by the response. She modestly credited the pandemic to its success, saying, “the timing was amazing. I think we were blessed with the timing because everyone was stuck in their house and bored, so what did they do? They watched TV.” We would argue that she isn’t giving her work enough credit. The documentary was fascinating, and the book promises to be as well. 

During the course of the interview, Iwerks stated that they did more than 200 interviews for The Imagineering Story and most of them ended up on the cutting room floor. Given the overwhelming response to the documentary, she was inspired to take those interviews and create a book that wouldn’t be limited to episode length. 

While many books have been written about Disney Imagineering,”The Imagineering Story: The Official Biography of Walt Disney Imagineering” will be the first ever official biography

About the book Iwerks said, “We all want to know how Disney is as successful as it is and this book really tells it all from a first person…It’s about their passion. It’s about going to work every single day and loving what they do” 

The Imagineering Story: The Official Biography of Walt Disney Imagineering” will be available November 2022 wherever books are sold and is available for pre-order now at Disney Books

We’re so excited about all of the incredible announcements so far! Ready for more? Stay tuned right here for full coverage of the D23 Expo 2022 because as soon as we know, you’ll know! There’s so much more to come!

About Jill Bivins

Jill Bivins has been visiting Disney Parks since she was 2 years old and loves sharing her Disney adventures with the world. She likes to say Disney is in her blood and writing is in her bones — so any time she has the opportunity to combine these loves she is one happy camper! She has a deep abiding love for Epcot and as a die hard Star Wars fan has a serious love for Hollywood Studios as well. When she isn't exploring or writing about Disney Parks, Jill is homeschooling her 8 year old son, playing with her brand new baby son, or pretending to be a farmer on her family homestead (despite being unable to keep even a cactus alive). Find Jill on Instagram @minnieonmain.