Jim Fanning specializes in Disney. In a career dedicated to celebrating and exploring the work and life of Walt Disney, as well as his collaborators and those who carry on his legacy, Jim has recounted the history of many areas of the wide world of Disney.

He has conducted extensive research at the Walt Disney Archives, the Disney Photo Library, the Animation Research Library and the Walt Disney Imagineering Image Libraries, and has interviewed many Disney luminaries and talents including Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Marc Davis, John Musker, Mike Gabriel, Mary Costa, Kathryn Beaumont, the Sherman Brothers and Roger Mobley.

Jim has written officially commissioned works for many departments of The Walt Disney Company, as well as lending his expertise to many Disney licensees, including Enesco, Technicolor, Dixie, NBC and Mattel. Whether writing of Walt’s boyhood in Marceline, Missouri, relating the creation of Mickey Mouse, Disneyland or Mary Poppins, or editing a series of books starring the characters from Disney/Pixar’s Cars, Jim’s philosophy is historical accuracy, dedication to uncovering new and little-known behind-the scenes stories, and lively and engaging storytelling that illuminates authentic Disney “magic.”

From a biography of Walt Disney to a book exploring the art of Disney music to scrapbooks about Mickey Mouse and the characters from The Incredibles, Jim has written a number of Disney books. Click on the cover images below to see examples.

The Comic Book stories written by Jim Fanning have been published all over the world, including Italy, France, Germany, Brazil, Egypt, Denmark and Finland, as well as the USA. Though many of Jim’s comic stories have never been published in English, the original English-language scripts are available on request.

Click on the images below to see examples.

In addition to being head writer and image researcher for Disney Train (Hachette Japan) and Disney Parade and Disney Dream File (both Deagostini Japan) as well as a contributor to Disney Fan magazine (published in Japan) and Disney twenty-three magazine, as well as co-editor and staff writer for Sketches, the Official Magazine of the Walt Disney Collectors Society, Jim has written many articles for various publications. Here’s a sampling of articles Jim has written for such magazines as The Hollywood Reporter, The Disney Magazine, Disney Newsreel, Animato, Collectors Showcase and Persistence of Vision.  Subjects include Disney comic books, animation and art. Click below to see examples.

 

 

 

Click on the images below to see examples.