Making Disney Magic . . . from a Mermaid to Moana, by Ron Clements, is now available for pre-order. The book was announced last year at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. In the book, Clements shares his stories of making magical tales come to life while working at Disney for 45 years. The book includes artwork and photos in its 496 pages. It can be pre-ordered here. It will be released on October 21, 2025.
Making Disney Magic . . . from a Mermaid to Moana
An engaging story of 45 magical years of Disney animation, featuring nearly 500 museum-quality, full-color pages and 1,000+ pieces of archival artwork and photos.
The corners of this smaller-than-typical coffee table book also serve as an animation flip-book celebrating Disney characters from the 1970s–2010s.
If your favorite Disney Princess is Moana or Ariel . . . if your favorite Disney magic comes from Aladdin’s Genie or Mama Odie . . . if your favorite Disney baddie is Hades or Professor Ratigan . . . then say, “thank you,” to Ron Clements. (He says, “you’re welcome”.)
Ron Clements is a key filmmaker (along with co-writer and co-director John Musker) responsible for some of the most beloved animated Disney movies. Now he shares his 45-year history at Walt Disney Animation Studios. His armchair-worthy memoir meets coffee table art book is an honest & fun ride sure to delight every Disney fan!
Movies that Ron features in his book:
- Moana (2016)
- The Princess and the Frog (2009)
- Treasure Planet (2002)
- Hercules (1997)
- Aladdin (1992)
- The Little Mermaid (1989)
- The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
- The Fox and the Hound (1981)
- Pete’s Dragon (1977)
- The Rescuers (1977)
- Pinocchio (1940)
Ron shares Easter eggs, behind-the-scenes stories & fun facts about:
- People who directly worked on & influenced the films
- Research trips & selection of artists, voice cast & songwriters in preparation for the films
- Screenwriting, character development & world-building processes
- From storyboards, technical innovations, voice recording & animation to final frames
- Early screenings (reaction to feedback & resulting changes)
- Press tours, debuts, receptions, awards seasons & growing the Disney legacy
What do you think of Making Disney Magic . . . from a Mermaid to Moana? Will you be adding it to your library this fall? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
