Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Looking for something to melt your cold, bitter heart this weekend? Then look no further than the documentary that took San Diego Comic Con by storm. Floyd Norman: An Animated Life recently became available on video on demand, and it’s really worth the watch.
Directed by Michael Fiore and Erik Sharkey, the documentary focuses on one of Disney’s legendary animators, Floyd Norman. Basically, if it was made by Disney and brought tears of joy to your eyes, then Norman, Disney’s first African-American animator, was likely involved. The 81-year-old legend has worked on everything from Sleeping Beauty and 101 Dalmations to The Jungle Book and Monsters, Inc. In fact, while working on The Jungle Book, Norman was hand-selected to work alongside Walt Disney himself. An Animated Life takes an intimate look at the amazing creator’s life while at the same time peeling back the curtain on one of the happiest and most secretive companies in the world: Disney.
The biggest point of contention in the documentary is Norman’s forced departure from Disney. On the animation legend’s 65th birthday, Norman was forced to retire by Walt Disney’s HR department. However, the dedicated animator refused to leave, securing a cubicle at Disney Publishing and picking up freelance work for 16 years after its forced retirement. At age 81, Norman is still willingly and happily at the drawing board.
Norman has also worked for other studios, including Vignette Films, a studio he helped found along with several colleagues that specializes in animated and live-action films about African-American experiences. He was also a writer and animator for Hanna-Barbera who worked heavily on Scooby-Doo. It’s rare to find anyone as dedicated to their craft as Norman is to Disney animation, and it’s equally daunting to learn that so much of the animation we praise today is connected through one powerful person.
In his review of the documentary, The New York Times’ Ken Jaworowski said, “With all this film’s jubilance, that delight becomes contagious.” So if you’re looking for an educational film experience that captures the magic of everything you loved during your childhood, check out Floyd Norman: An Animated Life. You won’t be disappointed.
