The Walt Disney Company

Authored by tolkiengateway.net and submitted by Phooka12

, also known simply as, is an American media and entertainment conglomerate, founded in 1923 by brothers Walt Disney and Roy Disney.

Throughout his life, J.R.R. Tolkien had a deep concern and strong opinions about adaptations of his legendarium. For Tolkien, the products of the Disney company were an especially prominent example of bad style.

In 1946, he rejected suggestions for illustrations by Horus Engels for the German edition of the Hobbit as "too Disnified",

"Bilbo with a dribbling nose, and Gandalf as a figure of vulgar fun rather than the Odinic wanderer that I think of." ― The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, #107

Moreover, when certain producers became interested in movie adaptations of Tolkien's works, (he had sold the film, stage and merchandise rights of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to United Artists in 1968), he forbade Disney should ever be involved:

"It might be advisable [...] to let the Americans do what seems good to them — as long as it was possible [...] to veto anything from or influenced by the Disney studios (for all whose works I have a heartfelt loathing)." ― The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, #13

In another letter, Tolkien writes in 1965 that neither he nor his publishers (George Allen and Unwin) intend to give Walt Disney permission to make a film of his books.[1]

A remarkable critique of Walt Disney was given by Tolkien in a 1964 letter to a fan:

"I recognize [Walt Disney's] talent, but it has always seemed to me hopelessly corrupted. Though in most of the 'pictures' proceeding from his studios there are admirable or charming passages, the effect of all of them to me is disgusting. Some have given me nausea" ― Letter to Miss J.L. Curry, of 15 July 1964

Nevertheless, Disney's Disneyland and Buena Vista record labels were to release six audio products based on the Rankin/Bass The Hobbit and two based on Rankin/Bass The Return of the King in the 1970s and 1980s.

mrshatnertoyou on January 10th, 2018 at 15:59 UTC »

According to an account in the J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide, Tolkien didn’t go see Snow White until some time after its 1938 U.K. release, when he attended the animated film with Lewis.

Lewis had previously seen the film with his brother, and definitely had some opinions. In a 1939 letter to his friend A.K. Hamilton, Lewis wrote of Snow White (and Disney himself): Dwarfs ought to be ugly of course, but not in that way. And the dwarfs’ jazz party was pretty bad. I suppose it never occurred to the poor boob that you could give them any other kind of music. But all the terrifying bits were good, and the animals really most moving: and the use of shadows (of dwarfs and vultures) was real genius. What might not have come of it if this man had been educated–or even brought up in a decent society?

In another instance, Lewis called the evil queen’s design unoriginal, and described the dwarves as having, “bloated, drunken, low comedy faces.”

So Lewis and Tolkien went to a movie together...

TooShiftyForYou on January 10th, 2018 at 15:53 UTC »

Tolkien released The Hobbit in September 1937 just a couple of months before Disney released the film Snow White. Tolkien's grim, mythical race of dwarves born from Nordic myth couldn't have been any more different than the jolly, goofy seven dwarfs accompanying Snow White. He apparently felt this was a gross simplification of a concept he held as precious.

rounder55 on January 10th, 2018 at 15:46 UTC »

the Beatles wanted Kubrick to direct them in a Lord of the rings film.....John pushed for as he'd be Gollum, Paul Frodo, Ringo Samwise, and George Gandalf

Tolkien nixed it. People aren't sure if it was because he didn't like the idea of it (likely) or if he still had a grudge against them.

J.R.R. Tolkien himself also turned down the idea, according to Variety, although he was seemingly more annoyed about their loud practice sessions. "In a house three doors away dwells a member of a group of young men who are evidently aiming to turn themselves into a Beatle Group," wrote Tolkien in a letter. "On days when it falls to his turn to have a practice session the noise is indescribable."