3. Fantasia

Through the stories of ten of his greatest works, Mel Giedroyc examines the life of Walt Disney, a much mythologised genius. A man to whom storytelling was an escape from an oppressive father and a respite from periods of depression.

His name is truly iconic, but how much do we really know about this titan of the entertainment industry? Who was the real Walt and why did a man who moulded Western pop culture in his image end up on his deathbed, afraid that he’d be forgotten?

In this episode, Mel invites you to explore the surreal musical world of Walt Disney’s Fantasia, a film which saw Walt attempt to elevate his animations to the status of high art.

Fantasia was meant to be the movie that proved Walt’s remaining doubters wrong. Instead, the stress of bringing it into being would land him in hospital. It also plunged the Disney company into financial disarray once again, risking his studio’s future.

A Novel production for BBC Radio 4