Norman began his disney career as an inbetweener on sleeping beauty, eventually rising to develop the story for the jungle book. And with a humility that borders on irritating, floyd norman seems unfazed by it all. 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. An animated life, a lovingly crafted biographical documentary about one of. 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 2016 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The smurfs, courage the cowardly dog, mulan, and on and on.
Turner classic movies adapts film festival to special. Now 81, norman isnt one of the legendary nine old men, walt disney companys core animators, the last of whom, ollie johnston, died in 2008 at. Filmbuff after a theatrical run in usa theaters that kicked off in the late summer, august 26, 2016, the documentary floyd norman an animated life an. I had previously met norman during a special press presentation for the rerelease of 101 dalmatians. Aug 29, 2016 an intimate journey through the life and career of 80yearold floyd norman, the first africanamerican animator at disney studios. It looks like we dont have any quotes for this title yet. Jul 29, 2016 an intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the forrest gump of the animation industry.
Hired as the first africanamerican at disney in 1956. If you want a chance to hang out this legendary animator, enter the floyder with floyd contest. Here is a man whos lived and loved his work for seven decades and floyd norman. We are proud to present a very special interview with legendary disney animator, floyd norman. At 80 years old, see how this disney legend continues to impact animation and stir up his own brand of trouble. 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.
Life, animated tells the remarkable story of how owen found in disney animation a pathway to language and a framework for making sense of the world. Flory norman an animated life had its initial release last year. Take an intimate journey through the life and career of the forrest gump of the animation industry floyd norman. From filmmakers michael fiore and erik sharkey, the feel good documentary is an intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the forrest gump of the animation industry disney legend, floyd norman. Exclusive clip from awardwinning documentary floyd.
Documentary about disneys first black animator reveals a. 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. Aug 26, 2016 directed by michael fiore, erik sharkey. African american animator at disney is now streaming on netflix. Mass choir was featured on the movie soundtracks the five heart beats and hair spray. Norman has also authored a semibiographical animation primer, titled. He later went on to develop the original fat albert tv special. Many others know differently, and for those who need more proof, floyd norman. A mouth or so after black history mouth, i discovered a man named frank braxton who is credited as being the first black animator and had short but impactful career over at warner bros. Normans 65th birthday in 2000, disney hr forced floyd to retire.
Sunday, tcm is showing a 2016 documentary about his remarkable career, floyd norman. Highly recommended for those who value the art and craft of animation, floyd norman. This years comiccon international independent film festival documentary award winner is about a southern california native and an sdcc. Jul 18, 2016 an intimate journey through the life and career of 80yearold floyd norman, the first africanamerican animator at disney studios. An animated life 2016 animator floyd norman became the first disney africanamerican animator in 1956. An animated life official trailer 1 floyd norman documentary from filmmakers michael fiore and erik sharkey, the feel good documentary is an intimate. In 2016, norman was the recipient of the special achievement award legendary animator from the africanamerican film critics association. A lifetime of tips, tricks, techniques and stories from an animation legend animation masters isbn 0240818059, that was published by focal press in 20. Michael fiore and erik sharkeys film is most revealing and involving when norman. Disneys first black animator looks back in the incisive. Black hollywood, short film, tv and industry insight. An animated life from michael fiore films and filmmakers michael fiore and erik sharkey. Animator floyd norman became the first disney africanamerican animator in 1956. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events.
With cosmo anzilotti, jane baer, dave bossert, suzanne bothke. Jungle book, 101 dalmatians, sword in the stone, sleeping beauty, robin hood, fat albert, monsters, inc. Take an intimate journey through the life and career of the forrest gump of the animation industry floyd. A feature documentary about the life of artist and disney legend floyd norman, from michael fiore films.
Floyd norman screening at the landmark the filmmakers behind the new documentary floyd norman. An intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the forrest gump of the animation industry. An intimate journey through the life and career of 80yearold floyd norman, the first africanamerican animator at disney studios. 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. Our own david vanhook talks with floyd about his career, working with greats such as walt disney and stan lee, what he is working on now, and the documentary on his life, floyd norman. Awardwinning new doc on floyd norman, 1st black animator to. But it sounds like pretty much the biggest nobrainer ever that floyd norman. An animated life is a loving look at the first african american disney animator.
An animated life, a lovingly crafted biographical documentary about one of the most beloved, talented, hardworking. 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. Michael fiore and erik sharkey directed this profile of floyd norman, the first africanamerican animator to work at disney. An animated life is playing at selected theatres across the country and is available via several video streaming platforms. 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. Later, he formed a revolutionary film studio that specialized in education shorts about black history and culture. Animator floyd norman to be honored at the tcm film. An animated life beautifully jampacked documentary about the beautifully jampacked life of pioneering africanamerican disney animator floyd norman, the forrest gump of animation. If it werent for the pandemic, norman would be at graumans chinese theatre this weekend to receive a standing ovation from festivalgoers. An animated life 2016 directed by michael fiore, erik sharkey. 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. After walt disneys death in 1966, norman left disney to found vignette films, where he developed the original fat albert tv. Norman thought, this film was worthy of the old disney classics.
Anyone who was a kid in the 20th century knows normans work, whether they know it or not. Floyd norman became good friends with drew struzan after their introduction at. An animated life 2016 this documentary salutes floyd norman, who was slated to be honored with a tribute at the 2020 tcm classic film. An animated life recently became available on video on demand, and its really worth the watch. He is the subject of the 2016 documentary floyd norman.
Then, possibly another mouth after that i saw the trailer for floyd norman. 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. Jul 20, 2016 legendary animator floyd norman is headed to san diego comiccon for the screening of the documentary about his career and heat vision has an early look at the film floyd norman. Mass choir was one of the most popular choral groups of the 80s and 90s creating 14 albums including artists such as neal diamond, gerald albright, tevin campbell, red hot chili peppers, christina aguillera and patty labelle.
An animated life shows that he wasnt just the first black man to work at disney he was also a vital connection to all the ups and downs in several creative mediums for more. An animated life, a film not only for cartoon fanatics, its a soulstirring, inspiring tale for the artist in all of us. The official page for the feature documentary floyd norman. An animated life 2016 michael fiore films official trailer on vimeo. His name will be familiar to only the most ardent animation buffs, but floyd norman has. An intimate journey through the life and career of 80yearold floyd norman. Watch the trailer for the disney animator documentary floyd. He later went on to develop the original fat albert tv special, early sesame street segments, and classic hannabarbera cartoons. Awardwinning new doc on floyd norman, 1st black animator to work for disney, now streaming on netflix.
An animated life tells the story of floyd norman, who was the first african american animator to work for walt disney animation studios. An animated life official trailer 1 floyd norman documentary from filmmakers michael fiore and erik sharkey, the. An animated life vaguely implies, floyd norman has led an animated life. Hired as the first africanamerican at disney in 1956, floyd. With all this films jubilance, that delight becomes contagious. An animated life sets out to cover that life from a quiet young man who starting inking pages for bill woggins katy keene comic to the elder statesman who offers input and advice to todays upandcoming disney animators. Norman was later employed as an artist at pixar, and his work has been seen in dozens of iconic animated films since the 1950s. Reviewed in the united states on september 10, 2016. Norman left disney to start his own company to produce black history films for high schools. An animated life is genial on the surface but lets us go a little deeper into an unusual life than we might have expected. 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. An animated life credit a chance encounter with disneys first africanamerican animator for.
Anyone who was a kid in the 20th century knows norman s work, whether they know it or not. Filmbuff opening in the usa in theaters, as well as on vod and digital hd tomorrow, friday, august 26, 2016, is the documentary floyd norman an animated life an intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the legendary animator floyd norman, the first african american animator at disney. People have often asked me how i feel about being the first africanamerican artist at disney, norman recalls in the teaser for the featurelength documentary floyd norman. Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the quotes submission guide. An animated life won best documentary there this year. The film highlights norman s role as an africanamerican in animation and filmmaking.