An animated life is codirected by filmmakers michael fiore and erik sharkey drew. An animated life on digital hd and on demand platforms on august 26, 2016 the same day it opens in select theaters and is available on bluray with special features. At 81, disneys first africanamerican animator is still in the studio first hired in the 1950s, floyd norman is still drawing. Normans 65th birthday in 2000, disney hr forced floyd to retire. Jul 29, 2016 an intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the forrest gump of the animation industry.
At 81, disneys first africanamerican animator is still. Directed by michael fiore and erik sharkey, the documentary focuses on one of disney. Nobody talked about them, but everybody wanted them. An intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the forrest gump of the. Floyd norman was born on june 22, 1935 in santa barbara, california, usa. Floyd was just starting his animation career when he was assigned to the film, and it represented not only a master class in the craft, but also a new venture for the company.
Im bumping this very old thread because the documentary under discussion, floyd norman. This affectionate documentary profiles the life and career of disneys first africanamerican animator. Jun 02, 2018 a couple years ago, floyd was the subject of a documentary film about his life, floyd norman. Directed by michael fiore and erik sharkey, the documentary focuses on. We will send you an email to confirm your account upon completion. 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. Floyd norman was hired by the walt disney company in 1956 as an assistant animator. He started on the film beat at, and has contributed to the canadian encyclopedia, paste, beatroute, that shelf, sharp, and other outlets and is a member of the toronto.
Mouseplanet floyd norman remembers the sword in the stone. Official fan page of disney legend floyd norman a mildly interesting website sort of created by a disney writerartist who wont stay retired. Race appears as a tenuous subject in an animated life as archival. The film s producers have also created a bluray edition, with extras which arent on netflix, which they are selling at. An animated life, which is now streaming on netflix. An animated life hit the big screen today in four cities. This 81yearold got fired from disney and refuses to. Aug 29, 2016 an intimate journey through the life and career of 80yearold floyd norman, the first africanamerican animator at disney studios. In the film, he discloses his experience in the world of animation as a black. 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. Hired as the first africanamerican at disney in 1956, floyd. The film was well made, but its character design was totally.
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. Aug 26, 2016 directed by michael fiore, erik sharkey. Companies michael fiore films title cast release date august 26, 2016. Floyd norman is an animator who worked on the walt disney animated features sleeping beauty, the sword in the stone and the jungle book, as well as.
He was the first african american hired as an artist at disney. And with a humility that borders on irritating, floyd norman seems unfazed by it all. Floyd norman is a selfproclaimed cartoonist, having worked in motion pictures, television, comic books and strips since the 1950s. Floyd norman on his days as a lowly assistant disney insider. Aug 26, 2016 floyd norman doesnt think hes special. He later went on to develop the original fat albert tv special, early sesame street segments, and classic hannabarbera cartoons. The documentary does a very good job at paining a complete picture of. 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. Aug 25, 2016 this affectionate documentary profiles the life and career of disneys first africanamerican animator. Documentary honors floyd norman, disneys first black. Doc profiles animator floyd norman, the first africanamerican at disney. Aug 26, 2016 but it sounds like pretty much the biggest nobrainer ever that floyd norman. An animated life is on netflix, and get news and updates, on decider. Disneys first black animator looks back in the incisive.
An intimate journey through the life and career of 80yearold floyd norman, the first africanamerican animator at disney studios. After walt disneys death in 1966, norman left disney to found vignette films, where he developed the original fat albert tv special and. 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. Also, netflix removed the film from their catalog a while back, and its not on any other streaming services. Norman left disney to start his own company to produce black history films for. Later, he formed a revolutionary film studio that specialized in education shorts about black history and culture. He has served in nearly every department of animation from cel painter and layout artist, to story director and story artist, and of course, animator. Michael fiore and erik sharkeys film is most revealing and involving when norman, now 80, talks. An animated life from fiore media group and filmmakers michael fiore and erik sharkey. He later went on to develop the original fat albert tv special. The way the movie was marketed was that floyd norman was a man who worked.
Aug 25, 2016 this delightful documentary about the very animated life of floyd norman is a mustsee for fans of animation, movie history, and stories of lives filled with creativity, courage, and a sense of adventure. 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. An animated life, delves into normans early beginnings at disney and his rise in the realm of animation, reports the huffington post. Animator floyd norman became the first disney africanamerican animator in. Opening in limited release and premiering on vod platforms this weekend, the movie traces its 81yearold subjects boundless devotion to disney. An animated life filmmakers discuss movies comiccon origins. Floyd norman, disneys first black animator, reflects on. An animated life, is being aired on tcm tomorrow night april 19 at 8pm est. At 80 years old, see how disney legend floyd norman, the first africanamerican animator at. An animated life screens at the hot docs ted rogers cinemas doc soup sunday on feb. This delightful documentary about the very animated life of floyd norman is a mustsee for fans of animation, movie history, and stories of lives filled with. Animation is truly normans passionhe started at the studio when he was still a teenager in 1956. He is known for his work on mulan 1998, the hunchback of notre dame 1996 and dinosaur 2000. An animated life on tcm 41920 at 8pm est distributor.
An animated life vaguely implies, floyd norman has led an animated life. Norman born june 22, 1935 is an american animator, writer, and comic book artist. Normans first assignment was working on the dogs in 101 dalmatians. Two years later, petersen, now a marine, completed flight school and was. Disney legend floyd norman on documenting his life on film. With cosmo anzilotti, jane baer, dave bossert, suzanne bothke. An intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the forrest gump of the animation industry. 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. 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. Harold and lillian eloped to hollywood in 1947, where they became the film industrys secret weapons. Nov 01, 2017 floyd norman is an animator who worked on the walt disney animated features sleeping beauty, the sword in the stone and the jungle book, as well as various animated short projects at disney in the. An animated life credit a chance encounter with disneys first africanamerican animator for sparking the project. This originally premiered in 2016 at the santa barbara film festival. 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.
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. The filmmakers behind the new documentary floyd norman. An animated life off he went to hannabarbera, home to the flintstones and josie and the. Normans love for animated pictures started when he watched. Disneys first black animator looks back in the incisive doc. 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. Anyone who was a kid in the 20th century knows normans work, whether they know it or not. Norman left disney to start his own company to produce black history films for high schools. The official page for the feature documentary floyd norman. 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, 2016, directed by michael fiore, with cosmo anzilotti. An animated life won best documentary there this year.
Hired as the first africanamerican at disney in 1956. An animated life, a film not only for cartoon fanatics, its a soulstirring, inspiring tale for the artist in all of us. Floyd norman penned his way into the hearts of disney lovers more than five decades. Floyd norman is an undisputed trailblazer in the animation world. Animator floyd norman became the first disney africanamerican animator in 1956. Norman recounts his experience in the film industry in amiable and easygoing. Disneys documentary on first black animator is now on netflix. In 1956, he was the first african american animator at the disney studios. An animated life recently became available on video on demand, and its really worth the watch. If a theater near you isnt screening this whimsical film, you can purchase the bluray, which will include a documentary short, floyd and leo, a round table conversation among animators, cartoonists and. A feature documentary about the life of artist and disney legend floyd norman, from michael fiore films. Many others know differently, and for those who need more proof, floyd norman.