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. Hired as the first africanamerican at disney in 1956, floyd. Companies michael fiore films title cast release date august 26, 2016. At 80 years old, see how disney legend floyd norman, the first africanamerican animator at. 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. Norman left disney to start his own company to produce black history films for. An animated life is codirected by filmmakers michael fiore and erik sharkey drew. An animated life off he went to hannabarbera, home to the flintstones and josie and the. The filmmakers behind the new documentary floyd norman. Race appears as a tenuous subject in an animated life as archival. An animated life vaguely implies, floyd norman has led an animated life.
The film was well made, but its character design was totally. 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. 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, which is now streaming on netflix.
Official fan page of disney legend floyd norman a mildly interesting website sort of created by a disney writerartist who wont stay retired. Hired as the first africanamerican at disney in 1956. Jun 02, 2018 a couple years ago, floyd was the subject of a documentary film about his life, floyd norman. We will send you an email to confirm your account upon completion. Floyd norman, disneys first black animator, reflects on. Two years later, petersen, now a marine, completed flight school and was. He was the first african american hired as an artist at disney. Im bumping this very old thread because the documentary under discussion, floyd norman. Normans first assignment was working on the dogs in 101 dalmatians. Norman born june 22, 1935 is an american animator, writer, and comic book artist. An informative documentary on the african american animation pioneer who worked on everything from the original jungle book to toy story 2 since he. Floyd norman is an undisputed trailblazer in the animation world. An animated life, a film not only for cartoon fanatics, its a soulstirring, inspiring tale for the artist in all of us. Anyone who was a kid in the 20th century knows normans work, whether they know it or not.
Aug 26, 2016 but it sounds like pretty much the biggest nobrainer ever that floyd norman. Doc profiles animator floyd norman, the first africanamerican at disney. An animated life on tcm 41920 at 8pm est distributor. Floyd norman was born on june 22, 1935 in santa barbara, california, usa.
And with a humility that borders on irritating, floyd norman seems unfazed by it all. Harold and lillian eloped to hollywood in 1947, where they became the film industrys secret weapons. Nobody talked about them, but everybody wanted them. Also, netflix removed the film from their catalog a while back, and its not on any other streaming services. This 81yearold got fired from disney and refuses to. 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. 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. Mouseplanet floyd norman remembers the sword in the stone. 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.
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. The way the movie was marketed was that floyd norman was a man who worked. Directed by michael fiore and erik sharkey, the documentary focuses on one of disney. Floyd norman on his days as a lowly assistant disney insider. 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. Opening in limited release and premiering on vod platforms this weekend, the movie traces its 81yearold subjects boundless devotion to disney. An intimate journey through the life and career of 80yearold floyd norman, the first africanamerican animator at disney studios.
Michael fiore and erik sharkeys film is most revealing and involving when norman, now 80, talks. 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. After walt disneys death in 1966, norman left disney to found vignette films, where he developed the original fat albert tv special and. Jul 29, 2016 an intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the forrest gump of the animation industry. 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. Aug 26, 2016 floyd norman doesnt think hes special. Disneys documentary on first black animator is now on netflix. In 1956, he was the first african american animator at the disney studios. Floyd norman is a selfproclaimed cartoonist, having worked in motion pictures, television, comic books and strips since the 1950s. This affectionate documentary profiles the life and career of disneys first africanamerican animator. Floyd norman was hired by the walt disney company in 1956 as an assistant animator. The documentary does a very good job at paining a complete picture of. 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.
An animated life credit a chance encounter with disneys first africanamerican animator for sparking the project. 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. Aug 29, 2016 an intimate journey through the life and career of 80yearold floyd norman, the first africanamerican animator at disney studios. 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, early sesame street segments, and classic hannabarbera cartoons. Animator floyd norman became the first disney africanamerican animator in.
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. This originally premiered in 2016 at the santa barbara film festival. Aug 26, 2016 directed by michael fiore, erik sharkey. Directed by michael fiore and erik sharkey, the documentary focuses on. An animated life hit the big screen today in four cities. Normans love for animated pictures started when he watched. 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. An animated life, delves into normans early beginnings at disney and his rise in the realm of animation, reports the huffington post. At 81, disneys first africanamerican animator is still in the studio first hired in the 1950s, floyd norman is still drawing. 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 filmmakers discuss movies comiccon origins. 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 is playing at selected theatres across the country and is available via several video streaming platforms.
Floyd norman penned his way into the hearts of disney lovers more than five decades. His name will be familiar to only the most ardent animation buffs, but floyd norman has been. Animation is truly normans passionhe started at the studio when he was still a teenager in 1956. An intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the forrest gump of the. Later, he formed a revolutionary film studio that specialized in education shorts about black history and culture. 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. At 81, disneys first africanamerican animator is still. 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. Disneys first black animator looks back in the incisive. An animated life won best documentary there this year.
An animated life is on netflix, and get news and updates, on decider. An animated life, 2016, directed by michael fiore, with cosmo anzilotti. An animated life, is being aired on tcm tomorrow night april 19 at 8pm est. The film s producers have also created a bluray edition, with extras which arent on netflix, which they are selling at. Norman recounts his experience in the film industry in amiable and easygoing. Disney legend floyd norman on documenting his life on film. An intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the forrest gump of the animation industry. 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.
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. An animated life screens at the hot docs ted rogers cinemas doc soup sunday on feb. Norman left disney to start his own company to produce black history films for high schools. Aug 25, 2016 this affectionate documentary profiles the life and career of disneys first africanamerican animator. Fiore media group production co michael fiore films directors.
He is known for his work on mulan 1998, the hunchback of notre dame 1996 and dinosaur 2000. An animated life recently became available on video on demand, and its really worth the watch. With cosmo anzilotti, jane baer, dave bossert, suzanne bothke. Normans 65th birthday in 2000, disney hr forced floyd to retire. Many others know differently, and for those who need more proof, floyd norman. The official page for the feature documentary floyd norman. Animator floyd norman became the first disney africanamerican animator in 1956. A feature documentary about the life of artist and disney legend floyd norman, from michael fiore films. Documentary honors floyd norman, disneys first black. Disneys first black animator looks back in the incisive doc. In the film, he discloses his experience in the world of animation as a black. He later went on to develop the original fat albert tv special.
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