Trailer for the Disney Animator Documentary FLOYD NORMAN: AN ANIMATED LIFE
A wonderful trailer has been released for an upcoming documentary that revolves around Disney animator Floyd Norman. The doc is called Floyd Norman: An Animated Life, and it offers viewers an intimate journey through the life and career of Norman, who is described as the Forrest Gump of the animation industry and is a Disney legend.
The doc comes from filmmakers Michael Fiore and Erik Sharkey, and it seems to be one of those feel good documentaries. If you have any interest in animation and want a candid, behind the scenes look at what the animation industry is like, then this seems like a doc that you’ll want to check out.
Hired as the first African-American at Disney in 1956, Floyd worked on such classics as SLEEPING BEAUTY and 101 DALMATIANS, to name a few. In 1967, he was hand-picked by Walt Disney to join the story team on THE JUNGLE BOOK. He would later work at Hanna Barbera on many classic cartoons, including SCOOBY DOO. His talents would later take him to Pixar to work on TOY STORY 2 and MONSTERS INC… But on Mr. Norman’s 65th birthday in 2000, Disney HR force-retired him. He struggled with Disney’s decision and refused to leave his “home”.
For the last 16 years, Floyd has “hijacked” a cubicle at Disney Publishing, unpaid, but picking up freelance work when he can. At 81 he continues to have an impact as both an artist and a mentor. As Mr. Norman says “[He] [plans] to die at the drawing board.”
It hits theaters and On Demand and Digital HD on August 26th, 2016.