When I was a kid, I just assumed that Walt Disney drew all the early Mickey Mouse cartoons and was THE force behind it in every sense. Later, I learned of Ub Iwerks' important contributions to the studio and the fact that he created the iconic mascot of the studio--though still too few people know the origins of this beloved character. Well, this Disney Studios-produced documentary tries to correct this myth and shows how influential Ub was to Disney as well as all the many great inventions he later contributed to in order to improve the quality of animations and even films like Hitchcock's THE BIRDS--that sure took me by surprise.
As for the way the documentary was arranged, it was generally excellent though it's a shame more footage of Ub himself wasn't included. I assume like most behind the scenes staff, there really isn't much footage of him or recordings of his thoughts and recollections. For what it is, it's excellent--but it also seemed a bit distant emotionally--partly due to the paucity of Ub in the film and partly because of the style film. I felt I did connect well with his work but didn't particularly connect well with him as a human being. Still, a fascinating film and a must for fans of animation.