Meet the Team Tasked With Preserving and Restoring Disney’s Classic Films
At the center of the Walt Disney Studios Lot sits a vault holding some of Hollywood’s greatest treasures- the Walt Disney Studios Film Archive.
Here, the original celluloid negatives of Fantasia, Cinderella, and Mary Poppins, among others, are carefully reviewed and periodically reviewed to ensure they remain preserved for generations to come.
Disney
The vault, kept between 37 and 40 degrees and 25% humidity, expanded by 65% with the company’s acquisition of 21st Century Studios.
The job preserving these treasures falls on the Disney Restoration team and the Disney Film Archive Team.
Photo: Disney
“If not properly archived, film deteriorates over time,” Kevin Schaeffer, Director of Restoration & Library Management at the Walt Disney Studios Film Archive, explained. “Science has shown that archiving the film in this environment will halt the natural deterioration,” he noted.
How Disney Restores a Film
While the Film Archive team is tasked with preserving the films, the Restoration team is charged with Disney’s restoration efforts.
Photo: Disney
To restore a film, the Restoration team turns to the Film Archive, which hopefully has the original negative or original sound recordings that the team needs.
If not, Restoration turns to outside archives like the Library of Congress, the Museum of Modern Art, or The Academy Film Archive.
Photo: Wikipedia
These prints are essential when restoring the original color and composition of films.
“On Cinderella, we borrowed an original 1950 nitrate Technicolor IB print from the Library of Congress as our guide,” Schaeffer said.
After finding the best source, the films are digitally scanned at a 4K resolution to capture every detail. That scan then becomes the basis for the restoration team’s work.
A scene from ‘Cinderella’ before and after restoration. Photo: Disney
Finding the correct color is important to the Restoration team’s work.
“Depending on the type of film stock used in the original production, the color often fades to some degree. This requires manipulation to recreate the look of the original release,” Schaeffer explains.
At this point, an expert colorist is brought in to correct the brightness and shade.
A scene from ‘Planet of the Apes’ before and after being restored. Photo: Disney
Finally, the Restoration team will review the film and make any necessary adjustments. If possible, they will also consult with the original director.
‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Schaeffer first worked on a restoration of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 2009. At the time, Disney used cutting-edge technology to provide the clearest image possible.
Since that time, however, technology has improved. This has made it possible to create even better restorations.
A scene from ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ before and after restoration.
Because of the subsequent technological advances, Disney restored Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs again this year, providing an even sharper image.
The team’s efforts paid off, and the new 4K restoration of Snow White was bestowed the Outstanding Achievement in Restoration award by The Hollywood Professional Association.
Photo: Disney
The Restored Copies Are Used For Future Screenings
After a movie like Snow White is restored, the original film is returned to the Film Archive, while the digital restoration is added to a digital archive.
By creating a digital copy, the archive can share the film worldwide.
The Disney Restoration Team. Photo: Disney
New Digital Cinema masters are also created for any future screenings.
“New files to service any Blu-ray, digital streaming, and broadcast needs are made available in the inventory for any future use,” Schaeffer said. “We want to ensure the best possible experience for anyone enjoying our features anywhere, on any platform,”
Schaeffer and his team’s work is all about preserving Hollywood history for future generations.
Photo: Disney Wiki
“More than just preserving the legacy of an individual studio, we are also protecting parts of a whole culture and history,” Schaeffer said. “We are ensuring that these works of art are available for new generations to discover and love.”
