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GeezerVison is showing en.wikipedia.org — The Magic of Disney Animation - Wikipedia
The Magic of Disney Animation is an interactive tour and attraction located at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Inspired by the 2023 animated short Once Upon a Studio, the attraction portrays an "open house" at Walt Disney Animation Studios with the studio's canon of animated characters acting as hosts. A previous incarnation of the attraction operated at the park from May 1, 1989 until July 12, 2015. In the original version, a live animator would show guests how the characters in Disney animated films were chosen and designed. In December 2015, the building began to be used to house the Star Wars Launch Bay. HistoryOriginally, when the park first opened on May 1, 1989, the Feature Animation pavilion of "The Magic of Disney Animation", designed originally by award-winning experience designer Bob Rogers[2] and his design team BRC Imagination Arts,[3] included four connected experiences which explored the legacy of Disney animation. The tour commenced with the live action/animated short film entitled "Back to Neverland"[4] in which veteran newscaster, Walter Cronkite and comedian Robin Williams guided guests through the different stages in animating a feature-length film by turning Williams into an animated character in the form of one of the Lost Boys of Peter Pan. Following that introductory film, guest would witness the process of animation, first-hand, from elevated, glass-enclosed walkways within Disney's actual animation studio.[5] Several original cels from Disney films as well as several of the Academy Awards won by Disney films were on display at the attraction. The third segment of the animation tour was a short film in which Disney Animators described the joy of the art of animation. A finale film, entitled "Classic Disney" presented a montage of key moments from animated Disney films and shorts.[6] An expanded production area was dedicated and opened on April 22, 1998, the same day Disney's Animal Kingdom opened. Chairman Roy E. Disney noted it in his dedication speech.  After the Orlando, Florida division of Walt Disney Feature Animation closed on January 12, 2004, the preshow was changed to one main showroom where a Disney animator showed guests how the characters in Disney animated films were chosen and designed, with the help of Mushu, the dragon from Disney's Mulan (voiced in the show by Eddie Murphy's sound double, Mark Moseley). After guests left the showroom, they were led to the area of the former studio with interactive games and a chance to meet characters from the latest Disney animated pictures. There was also a section called Animation Academy, where guests could draw their favorite Disney characters, under the guidance of a Disney animator. ClosureThe Magic of Disney Animation closed on July 12, 2015 and was replaced by Star Wars Launch Bay, an interactive walkthrough attraction based on the Star Wars franchise and in anticipation of the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a direct sequel to the original Star Wars trilogy. ReopeningOn July 22, 2025, it was announced that Star Wars Launch Bay would close and The Magic of Disney Animation would return on September 14, 2026.[7][8][9] The building's facade was renovated to resemble the Roy E. Disney Animation Building at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. The guest experience inside the building includes a permanent screening of the short film Once Upon a Studio, released during the centennial of The Walt Disney Company in 2023. The former Animation Courtyard was also renovated to resemble the buildings of the Disney Studios.[10] The Animation Academy returned to the building as "Olaf Draws!", hosted by an audio-animatronic figure of Olaf (voiced by Josh Gad), "Off The Page!", a meet-and-greet section, and Drawn to Wonderland, an Alice in Wonderland-themed playground for toddlers.[11] Magic of Disney Animation productionsInside the building which housed The Magic of Disney Animation, were the former production facilities of Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida. Some of its productions included:
Films shown during the attractionOriginal version (1989–2015)
Updated version (2026–present)
Courtyard handprintsDuring the original version of the attraction, handprints of Disney animators Marc Davis, Ken Anderson, Ken O'Connor, Ollie Johnston, Frank Thomas and Ward Kimball were present in the courtyard when it opened on May 1, 1989. The handprints were removed when the area was closed and converted to Star Wars Launch Bay. When the attraction was set to reopen in 2026, handprints, paw prints, shoe prints, footprints and signatures of animated Disney characters were added to the courtyard including:[12][13]
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