The first africanamerican to be hired at disney in 1956, norman was later handpicked by walt disney to join the story team for the jungle book. An animated life won best documentary there this year. Floyd norman family, childhood, life achievements, facts, wiki and bio of 2017. Hired as the first africanamerican at disney in 1956, floyd norman worked on such classics as sleeping beauty and 101 dalmatians before being handpicked by wal. Aug 23, 2016 michael fiore and erik sharkeys documentary floyd norman an animated life is a charming, if somewhat contrived, film about one of the great pioneers of disney animation. An animated life official trailer 1 floyd norman documentary from filmmakers michael fiore and. This affectionate documentary profiles the life and career of disneys first africanamerican animator. Aug 26, 2016 but it sounds like pretty much the biggest nobrainer ever that floyd norman. But it sounds like pretty much the biggest nobrainer ever that floyd norman. An animated life is a delightful and fascinating documentary about disney legend norman, who is widely regarded as the first african. If you want a chance to hang out this legendary animator, enter the floyder with floyd contest. An animated life is a featurelength look the prolific animator and story artists life from growing up in santa barbara, ca to his years working as an animator at disney, hannabarbera, pixar and more.
The official page for the feature documentary floyd norman. The filmmakers behind the new documentary floyd norman. Aug 26, 2016 check out the trailer for floyd norman. Normans love for animated pictures started when he watched. An animated life 2016 animator floyd norman became the first disney africanamerican animator in 1956. He is known for his work on the hunchback of notre dame 1996, mulan 1998 and dinosaur 2000. Directed by michael fiore and erik sharkey, the documentary focuses on one of disney. Norman born june 22, 1935 is an american animator, writer, and comic book artist. An animated life director erik sharkey and producer michael fiore, batman. Many others know differently, and for those who need more proof, floyd norman.
Floyd norman is an animator who has had a career spanning decades both at disney and elsewhere in the animation industry. See not only was floyd norman the first africanamerican employee at disney in an era of outright segregation, this santa barbararaised artist and writer also worked intimately with walt disney, the visionaries at pixar, and with all of the big time animation wizards of the past century. Floyd norman, disneys first black animator, reflects on the studios past, present and future. An animated life is on netflix, and get news and updates, on decider. Norman began his disney career as an inbetweener on sleeping beauty, eventually rising to develop the story for the jungle book.
Download it to any device including your phone, tablet, and tv. Disneys first africanamerican animator, floyd norman worked on such classics as sleeping beauty and 101 dalmatians before being handpicked by walt disney to join the story team on the jungle book. This is the legacy of the countless animators and artists who created the classic characters and fun stories and the legacy of disney legend, floyd norman. At 80 years old, see how disney legend floyd norman, the first africanamerican animator at.
He is the subject of the 2016 documentary floyd norman. Norman s love for animated pictures started when he watched. An animated life is a journey through the life and career of the forrest gump of animation. Opening in limited release and premiering on vod platforms this weekend, the movie traces its 81yearold subjects boundless devotion to disney. Charming original animated sequences blend with interviews and archive footage to chronicle the unique career of disney animator floyd norman. This is floyd norman an animated life teaser 1 by fiore media group on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Floyd norman, the first african american to come aboard the team at walt disney studios, is a pioneer and a trailblazer.
At age 83, he still works as a storyboard artist, and is a freelance consultant for. An animated life stars floyd norman, whoopi goldberg, leonard maltin, gary trousdale the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 28 min, and received a score. This 81yearold got fired from disney and refuses to. An animated life credit a chance encounter with disneys first africanamerican animator for sparking the project. The undisputed forrest gump of the animation world, norman was hired as the first africanamerican at disney in 1956.
Over the course of his career, norman has worked for a number of animation. Norman is an american animator who worked on the walt disney animated features sleeping beauty, the sword in the stone, and the jungle book, along with various animated short projects at disney in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Besides advising animators at disney, norman continues to work in animation most recently as storyboard artist for cartoon. Directed by michael fiore and erik sharkey, the documentary focuses on. An animated life recently became available on video on demand, and its really worth the watch. Animator and script writer floyd norman was born on june 22, 1935 in santa barbara, california. After profiling disney legend bob gurrs upcoming feature with pawn stars, we were contacted by a representative of fellow disney legend floyd norman that he will be on the show as well. It looks like pawn stars is going to have a lot of disney flair for the upcoming 2020 season. Aug 26, 2016 floyd norman doesnt think hes special. Floyd norman was born on june 22, 1935 in santa barbara, california, usa.
An animated life tells the story of floyd norman, who was the first african american animator to work for walt disney animation studios and whose career has spanned 60 years. An animated life is playing at selected theatres across the country and is available via several video streaming platforms. An intimate journey through the life and career of 80yearold floyd norman, the first africanamerican animator at disney studios. At 80 years old, see how disney legend floyd norman, the first africanamerican animator at disney, continues to impact animation and stir up trouble after the company forced him to retire at age 65.
The man behind the poster and michael fiore, premiering at santa barbara international film festival this weekend, follows the. Floyd norman is a disney legend and that right there should tell anyone in the know that this book is worth checking out. An animated life, which is set to screen at comiccon this friday, and will hit theaters and vod on august 26th. His many adventures are featured in the new documentary floyd norman. This 81yearold got fired from disney and refuses to stop. He has credits ranging from walts era sleeping beauty, the jungle book, etc. By pat mullen published february 17th, 2017comments. Dec 27, 2016 we gathered at nine in the evening during comiccon to celebrate the amazing story of floyd normans career. Animator floyd norman vividly recalled the first time he encountered walt disney. An animated life, a film not only for cartoon fanatics, its a soulstirring, inspiring tale for the artist in all of us.
In early 1956, norman was one of a few young animators hired for. Aug 29, 2016 an intimate journey through the life and career of 80yearold floyd norman, the first africanamerican animator at disney studios. Early in his career, norman worked with bill woggon on the animated comic book series, archie. An animated life, traces 81yearold normans career which should have ended when disney abruptly fired him at age 65 but continues to this day as he simply refuses to put away his pencil or computer mouse. He later went on to develop the original fat albert tv special.
At 9pm tonight, norman and his storied career will take center stage at san diego comiccon in room 9, as floyd norman. Floyd is a very interesting guy with a massive amount of work to his credit, much of it on animated classics that helped to shape the field. An animated life is a documentary about animator floyd normans successful career at disney, hannabarbera, pixar, and his own company, vignette films. An intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the forrest gump of the animation industry. He later went on to develop the original fat albert tv special, early sesame street segments, and classic hannabarbera cartoons. Aug 26, 2016 directed by michael fiore, erik sharkey. In 1956, he was the first african american animator at the disney studios. His name will be familiar to only the most ardent animation buffs, but floyd norman has been.
This is the legacy of the countless animators and artists who created the classic characters and fun stories, and it is the legacy of disney legend, floyd norman. Floyd norman, disneys first black animator, reflects on. Official fan page of disney legend floyd norman a mildly interesting website sort of created by a disney writerartist who wont stay retired. Aug 20, 2016 normans first assignment was working on the dogs in 101 dalmatians. An animated life vaguely implies, floyd norman has led an animated life. For information about bluray preorders, check out the movies official website at. An animated life, codirected by michael fiore and erik sharkey opens august 26, 2016. Im bumping this very old thread because the documentary under discussion, floyd norman. An animated life from fiore media group and filmmakers michael fiore and erik sharkey. He began producing animated films while he was still in high school. An animated life portrait of a hollywood legend and unsung hero.
Anyone who was a kid in the 20th century knows normans work, whether they know it or not. With cosmo anzilotti, jane baer, dave bossert, suzanne bothke. Before his life at disney, did you know that floyd norman. Obviously, these cartoons were not intended originally to be. An animated life, is being aired on tcm tomorrow night april 19 at 8pm est. Jungle book, 101 dalmatians, sword in the stone, sleeping beauty, robin hood, fat albert, monsters, inc. Floyd worked for disney under walt and eisner, and also for hanna barbera. An animated life takes an intimate look at a legendary animators life and career. After walt disneys death in 1966, norman left disney to found vignette films, where he developed the original fat albert tv. An animated life is a mustsee documentary for all who appreciate the history of disney, the history of animation or have ever been touched by the man himself. An animated life at 84, see how disney legend floyd norman continues to impact animation and stir up trouble documentary, 94 min. Were sorry but jwapp doesnt work properly without javascript enabled. Hired as disneys first africanamerican artist in 1956, norman worked on classic movies such as sleeping beauty and 101 dalmatians before walt disney handpicked him to help write the story for the jungle book.
Over the course of his career, norman has worked for a number of animation companies, among them walt disney animation studios, hannabarbera productions, rubyspears, film roman and pixar. Whats not swell is that the documentary floyd norman. Floyd norman is an undisputed trailblazer in the animation world. A feature documentary about the life of artist and disney legend floyd norman, from michael fiore films. The smurfs, courage the cowardly dog, mulan, and on and on. Minimal violence includes clips of normans time in the military and footage of the watts. Nov 23, 2016 get lifted disneys documentary on first black animator is now on netflix. To coincide with the movie release on bluray, michael and erik are having a contest called, floydering with floyd, and all you have to do is the following. Flory norman an animated life had its initial release last year. Floyd norman biographies, facts, childhood, family life.
Written with wit and verve, animated life is a guided tour through an entire lifetime of techniques, practical handson advice and insight into an entire industry. Dont miss the documentary floyd norman an animated life tonight on. Feature documentary by michael fiore and erik sharkey following the life and career of legendary animator and story artist floyd norman. Aug 25, 2016 this affectionate documentary profiles the life and career of disneys first africanamerican animator. Disney legend floyd norman to appear on pawn stars for. Normans first assignment was working on the dogs in 101 dalmatians. Floyd norman is an unsung figure in history, but now receives tribute in floyd norman. An animated life off he went to hannabarbera, home to the flintstones and josie and the. Hired as the first africanamerican at disney in 1956, floyd. Also, netflix removed the film from their catalog a while back, and its not on any other streaming services. Disneys documentary on first black animator is now on netflix. Rick harrison productions for sharing the news of our floyd norman. At 80 years old, see how this disney legend, the first africanamerican animator at disney, continues to impact animation and stir up his own brand of trouble. And with a humility that borders on irritating, floyd norman seems unfazed by it all.
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