Film
Floyd Norman: An Animated Life
- 1:40PM
Single Tickets
A Michael Fiore Films Production
Director Erik Sharkey
Director of Animation & Photography Michael Fiore
Animator, storyman, trailblazer. Floyd Norman is an undisputed trailblazer in the animation world. The first African-American to be hired at Disney in 1956, Norman was later handpicked by Walt Disney to join the story team for The Jungle Book. He later went on to start his own company, work with Hanna Barbera, and animate the original Fat Albert special and the titles to Soul Train. And eventually he returned to Disney, working in the story department on Mulan, and getting an invite to the Bay Area to work with Pixar and Steve Jobs on Toy Story 2 and Monsters, Inc.
Life as an animator is a nomadic one, but Norman, now 80 years old, remains committed to Disney. This unique documentary portrays his refusal to quit, even though the company forced him to retire at age 65. He has occupied an empty cubicle at Disney for the last 15 years, continuing to pick up freelance work and make an impact on animation as both an artist and mentor.
