Opening night of the TCM Classic Film Festival next week will also serve as a Pulp Fiction reunion.
Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Rosanna Arquette and Harvey Keitel are among those joining John Travolta on April 18 for the 30th anniversary, 35mm screening of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994) at the Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Fellow actors Eric Stoltz, Julia Sweeney, Frank Whaley, Phil Lamarr and Burr Steers, producer Lawrence Bender and executive producers Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher are expected to be there as well.
As previously announced, actor Billy Dee Williams and makeup artist Lois Burwell will be honored at the 15th annual festival; author Jeanine Basinger will receive the Robert Osborne Award; and Jodie Foster will partake in a hand- and footprint ceremony.
The festival, with the theme “Most Wanted: Crime and Justice in Film,” runs through April 21 at venues including the rejuvenated Egyptian Theatre.
Among those...
Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Rosanna Arquette and Harvey Keitel are among those joining John Travolta on April 18 for the 30th anniversary, 35mm screening of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994) at the Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Fellow actors Eric Stoltz, Julia Sweeney, Frank Whaley, Phil Lamarr and Burr Steers, producer Lawrence Bender and executive producers Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher are expected to be there as well.
As previously announced, actor Billy Dee Williams and makeup artist Lois Burwell will be honored at the 15th annual festival; author Jeanine Basinger will receive the Robert Osborne Award; and Jodie Foster will partake in a hand- and footprint ceremony.
The festival, with the theme “Most Wanted: Crime and Justice in Film,” runs through April 21 at venues including the rejuvenated Egyptian Theatre.
Among those...
- 4/8/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Leo D. Sullivan, whose animation of a chugging train graced the opening of television dance party Soul Train for decades, died March 25 in Los Angeles. He was 82 and died of heart failure at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center, his wife Ethelyn Sullivan confirmed.
In addition to creating the memorable Soul Train opener, Sullivan contributed to cartoons featuring Fat Albert, Transformers and My Little Pony. He worked as an animator for five decades.
His resume included television work for The Incredible Hulk, Flash Gordon, BraveStarr and Scooby-Doo, his family said.
Born in Lockhart, Texas, Sullivan moved to Los Angeles in 1952, and started working for Looney Tunes animator Bob Clampett. In the 1960s, he joined forced with Floyd Norman, the first Black animator at Disney, and cofounded Vignette Film, which created educational films about historic Black figures.
He also published a video game that honored the Tuskegee Airmen and taught...
In addition to creating the memorable Soul Train opener, Sullivan contributed to cartoons featuring Fat Albert, Transformers and My Little Pony. He worked as an animator for five decades.
His resume included television work for The Incredible Hulk, Flash Gordon, BraveStarr and Scooby-Doo, his family said.
Born in Lockhart, Texas, Sullivan moved to Los Angeles in 1952, and started working for Looney Tunes animator Bob Clampett. In the 1960s, he joined forced with Floyd Norman, the first Black animator at Disney, and cofounded Vignette Film, which created educational films about historic Black figures.
He also published a video game that honored the Tuskegee Airmen and taught...
- 4/6/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Leo D. Sullivan, an Emmy-winning pioneer in animation with a career of over 50 years and work on dozens of cartoons, has died. He was 82.
Sullivan died March 25 of heart failure at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center.
Throughout his career, Sullivan helped bring characters to life through his animation, storyboarding, directing and producing. His work spanned numerous television shows, including “Hey, Hey, Hey, It’s Fat Albert,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “My Little Pony” and “Flash Gordon,” along with companies like Hanna-Barbera, Warner Brothers and Spunbuggy Works. Sullivan contributed to the opening animation on “Soul Train” which premiered in 1971.
The Lockhart, Texas native moved to Los Angeles in 1952, and soon entered the industry running errands for “Looney Tunes” animator Bob Clampett. In the 1960s, Sullivan joined former Disney animator Floyd Norman to help co-found Vignette Films, a company that created educational films for U.S. students about historic Black figures.
The...
Sullivan died March 25 of heart failure at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center.
Throughout his career, Sullivan helped bring characters to life through his animation, storyboarding, directing and producing. His work spanned numerous television shows, including “Hey, Hey, Hey, It’s Fat Albert,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “My Little Pony” and “Flash Gordon,” along with companies like Hanna-Barbera, Warner Brothers and Spunbuggy Works. Sullivan contributed to the opening animation on “Soul Train” which premiered in 1971.
The Lockhart, Texas native moved to Los Angeles in 1952, and soon entered the industry running errands for “Looney Tunes” animator Bob Clampett. In the 1960s, Sullivan joined former Disney animator Floyd Norman to help co-found Vignette Films, a company that created educational films for U.S. students about historic Black figures.
The...
- 4/6/2023
- by Sophia Scorziello
- Variety Film + TV
Leo D. Sullivan, the groundbreaking Black animator who contributed to the iconic opening for Soul Train and to cartoons featuring Fat Albert, Transformers and My Little Pony during his 50-year-plus career, has died. He was 82.
Sullivan died Saturday of heart failure at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center, his wife, Ethelyn, told The Hollywood Reporter.
The Emmy-winning Sullivan also was a writer, producer, director, layout artist and storyboard artist at studios including Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros., Filmation, DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, Dic Entertainment and Marvel Productions.
He and onetime Disney animator Floyd Norman were among the co-founders of Vignette Films in the 1960s. Their company produced educational films about such Black heroes as George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington and was behind a 1969 Bill Cosby special, Hey! Hey! Hey! It’s Fat Albert, for NBC.
The duo also teamed on AfroKids.com, whose mission it is to build self-esteem and reconnect...
Sullivan died Saturday of heart failure at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center, his wife, Ethelyn, told The Hollywood Reporter.
The Emmy-winning Sullivan also was a writer, producer, director, layout artist and storyboard artist at studios including Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros., Filmation, DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, Dic Entertainment and Marvel Productions.
He and onetime Disney animator Floyd Norman were among the co-founders of Vignette Films in the 1960s. Their company produced educational films about such Black heroes as George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington and was behind a 1969 Bill Cosby special, Hey! Hey! Hey! It’s Fat Albert, for NBC.
The duo also teamed on AfroKids.com, whose mission it is to build self-esteem and reconnect...
- 3/30/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On Wednesday evening, Jeremy Lin, the basketball star whose 2012 run of greatness with the New York Knicks sparked a period of “Linsanity,” came to LA’s Museum in Tolerance for a screening of the Oscar-shortlisted HBO documentary short 38 at the Garden — a film that contrasts the pride that the Linsanity era brought Asian-Americans with the recent rise of hate directed at them — wearing brand new clothes and shoes. That was because, he revealed, he hadn’t planned to be there, but when he decided days earlier to leave the league in China in which he had been playing, he felt it was important to show his support for a film that, in his view, is less about him than a crisis that he wants to help shine a light on.
Introduced by executive producer Lisa Ling and fielding questions from yours truly alongside the short’s director Frank Chi and...
Introduced by executive producer Lisa Ling and fielding questions from yours truly alongside the short’s director Frank Chi and...
- 1/13/2023
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
So there have been some great documentary feature biographies of show biz superstars. This year alone we’ve been given in-depth profiles of Sidney Poitier, Tanya Tucker, and Louis Armstrong. Oh but this one, well he just may be the biggest star in the whole wide world, and for the longest time. So, did I mention that he’s an animated character? Oh, but he’s The cartoon icon, who’s been entertaining the globe for 95 years. It’s been said that the test of a cartoon design is whether the figure can be identified by its silhouette. He’s got that beat as the shape of his head is immediately recognized, perhaps it’s because of its simplicity. After all, it’s really three connected circles that outline the face of Mickey: The Story Of A Mouse.
This overview/history/appreciation begins with the mouse meeting his many fans...
This overview/history/appreciation begins with the mouse meeting his many fans...
- 11/18/2022
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
"Mickey is a thing we all share. There aren't many of those around…" Disney has revealed the full-length official trailer for a documentary film titled Mickey: The Story of a Mouse, one of their latest in-house doc offerings for streaming on Disney+. This originally premiered at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival earlier this year, and also played at the Long Beach Film Festival during the summer. Once upon a time, there was a mouse… Mickey Mouse is one of the most enduring symbols in human history. Those three simple circles take on meaning for virtually everyone on the planet. So ubiquitous in our lives that he can seem invisible, Mickey is something we all share, with unique memories and feelings. Over the course of his nearly century-long history, Mickey functions like a mirror, reflecting our personal and cultural values back at us. This doc explores his history. Featuring appearances by Eric Goldberg,...
- 11/2/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The history of the world’s most famous mouse unfolds in Mickey: The Story of a Mouse. The Won’t You Be My Neighbor? team of director Jeff Malmberg and producer Morgan Neville dive into the origin of Mickey and examine the mouse’s lasting cultural impact.
Mickey Mouse’s story arrives on Disney+ on Mickey’s birthday, November 18th.
Interview subjects include Eric Goldberg, Mark Henn, Randy Haycock, Floyd Norman, Carmenita Higginbotham, Rebecca Cline, and Kevin Kern. Meghan Walsh and Chris Shellen are involved as producers, and Caitrin Rogers executive produces.
Disney+ released the following description of Mickey: The Story of a Mouse:
“One of the world’s most beloved icons, Mickey Mouse is recognized as a symbol of joy and childhood innocence in virtually every corner of the globe. Dreamed up at a low point in Walt Disney’s burgeoning career, Mickey became an overnight sensation when he...
Mickey Mouse’s story arrives on Disney+ on Mickey’s birthday, November 18th.
Interview subjects include Eric Goldberg, Mark Henn, Randy Haycock, Floyd Norman, Carmenita Higginbotham, Rebecca Cline, and Kevin Kern. Meghan Walsh and Chris Shellen are involved as producers, and Caitrin Rogers executive produces.
Disney+ released the following description of Mickey: The Story of a Mouse:
“One of the world’s most beloved icons, Mickey Mouse is recognized as a symbol of joy and childhood innocence in virtually every corner of the globe. Dreamed up at a low point in Walt Disney’s burgeoning career, Mickey became an overnight sensation when he...
- 11/2/2022
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Mickey Mouse’s birthday is coming up, and Disney is celebrating the occasion with the release of Mickey: The Story of a Mouse, a documentary chronicling the creation and legacy of the character that started it all for the unstoppable studio. To create hype for the documentary, Disney released a Mickey: The Story of a Mouse trailer detailing the impact Mickey has had on generations of fans and how the character stands as a symbol of hope in dark times.
Jeff Malmberg directs Mickey: The Story of a Mouse, with Morgan Neville, Meghan Walsh, and Chris Shellen producing. Caitrin Rogers executive produces, with Eric Goldberg, Mark Henn, Randy Haycock, Floyd Norman, Carmenita Higginbotham, Rebecca Cline, and Kevin Kern participating in the feature presentation.
Here’s the official description for Mickey: The Story of a Mouse:
One of the world’s most beloved icons, Mickey Mouse is recognized as a symbol...
Jeff Malmberg directs Mickey: The Story of a Mouse, with Morgan Neville, Meghan Walsh, and Chris Shellen producing. Caitrin Rogers executive produces, with Eric Goldberg, Mark Henn, Randy Haycock, Floyd Norman, Carmenita Higginbotham, Rebecca Cline, and Kevin Kern participating in the feature presentation.
Here’s the official description for Mickey: The Story of a Mouse:
One of the world’s most beloved icons, Mickey Mouse is recognized as a symbol...
- 11/2/2022
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Gosh, Mickey Mouse’s legacy sure is swell.
The true story behind the Walt Disney character that became the signature symbol for a century-old conglomerate is told in the upcoming Disney+ documentary, “Mickey: The Story of a Mouse,” debuting November 18 on the streamer to celebrate Mickey’s birthday.
“Marwencol” helmer Jeff Malmberg directs the documentary, which Oscar winner Morgan Neville (“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”), Meghan Walsh, and Chris Shellen produce. “Mickey” centers on Mickey Mouse’s ongoing artistic and cultural significance while unpacking the controversies surrounding the nearly 100-year-old cartoon mouse.
A quarter and two dimes construct the most “universal symbol ever created by man,” we’re told in the trailer. “Never lose sight of one thing, and it was all started by a mouse,” Walt Disney says in a 1954 clip shown in the trailer.
Per the official synopsis for the film: “One of the world’s most beloved icons,...
The true story behind the Walt Disney character that became the signature symbol for a century-old conglomerate is told in the upcoming Disney+ documentary, “Mickey: The Story of a Mouse,” debuting November 18 on the streamer to celebrate Mickey’s birthday.
“Marwencol” helmer Jeff Malmberg directs the documentary, which Oscar winner Morgan Neville (“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”), Meghan Walsh, and Chris Shellen produce. “Mickey” centers on Mickey Mouse’s ongoing artistic and cultural significance while unpacking the controversies surrounding the nearly 100-year-old cartoon mouse.
A quarter and two dimes construct the most “universal symbol ever created by man,” we’re told in the trailer. “Never lose sight of one thing, and it was all started by a mouse,” Walt Disney says in a 1954 clip shown in the trailer.
Per the official synopsis for the film: “One of the world’s most beloved icons,...
- 11/2/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
In 1958, Esquire published “A Great Day in Harlem,” a photo taken by Art Kane of 57 jazz musicians ranging from Thelonious Monk to Coleman Hawkins gathered together on a New York City stoop. In an homage to that historic picture, on June 5, 2022, Nickelodeon Animation and Paramount Pictures organized “A Great Day in Animation,” which features 54 Black professionals working in animation today. Taken by Randy Shropshire with Jeff Vespa as production lead and obtained exclusively by Variety, the photo is above.
Though Nickelodeon and Paramount put the event together and hosted it on the Paramount backlot, “A Great Day in Animation” includes artists from all across the industry. The idea for the photo came from Marlon West, a visual effects supervisor for Disney whose credits include “The Lion King,” “Encanto” and the upcoming Disney+ series “Iwájú.” For decades, West has been moved by “A Great Day in Harlem,” as well as Jean Bach...
Though Nickelodeon and Paramount put the event together and hosted it on the Paramount backlot, “A Great Day in Animation” includes artists from all across the industry. The idea for the photo came from Marlon West, a visual effects supervisor for Disney whose credits include “The Lion King,” “Encanto” and the upcoming Disney+ series “Iwájú.” For decades, West has been moved by “A Great Day in Harlem,” as well as Jean Bach...
- 6/17/2022
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
“Sketchbook,” Disney’s six-part documentary series devoted to the art of hand-drawn animation (streaming April 27 on Disney+), arrives as the studio embarks on the welcome return of traditional 2D — just ahead of its 100th anniversary in 2023. Produced by the team behind “Chef’s Table” and Walt Disney Animation Studios (via executive producer Amy Astley), the series provides an intimate look at six Disney artists and their distinctive talents and passions as they draw favorite iconic characters. It’s more than instructional — it’s a journey into their styles and personalities and overcoming personal obstacles. Story artist Gabby Capili (“Encanto”) draws Kuzco from “The Emperor’s New Groove,” 2D animator-director Eric Goldberg draws The Genie from “Aladdin,” 2D animator Mark Henn draws Simba from “The Lion King,” visual development artist Jin Kim draws Captain Hook from “Peter Pan,” supervising animator Hyun Min Lee draws Olaf from “Frozen,” and story artist Samantha Vilfort...
- 4/20/2022
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Three-time NBA champion and two-time Mvp Stephen Curry dropped a surprise, first Nft collection last week, in conjunction with breaking the all-time NBA three-point record during the Golden State Warriors game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
The Nft which will benefit Curry’s foundation, Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation with entrepreneur, host and two-time The New York Times best-selling author Ayesha Curry, features artists Andrea McDonald, a recent college graduate and aspiring corporate pilot and Floyd Norman, Disney’s first Black animator.
The Nft drop can be found at www.2974Sc.com.
With 100% of Curry’s profits stemming from the launch of the Nft the funds will directly impact those in the Oakland community, fighting to end childhood hunger, ensuring students have access to a quality education and providing safe places for all children to play and be active. From the collection, Curry is...
The Nft which will benefit Curry’s foundation, Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation with entrepreneur, host and two-time The New York Times best-selling author Ayesha Curry, features artists Andrea McDonald, a recent college graduate and aspiring corporate pilot and Floyd Norman, Disney’s first Black animator.
The Nft drop can be found at www.2974Sc.com.
With 100% of Curry’s profits stemming from the launch of the Nft the funds will directly impact those in the Oakland community, fighting to end childhood hunger, ensuring students have access to a quality education and providing safe places for all children to play and be active. From the collection, Curry is...
- 12/21/2021
- Look to the Stars
We told you. Remember the rules. You didn’t listen. Now we’re Back with an all new batch of guest recommendations featuring Blake Masters, Julien Nitzberg, Floyd Norman, Tuppence Middleton and Blaire Bercy.
Please support the Hollywood Food Coalition. Text “Give” to 323.402.5704 or visit https://hofoco.org/donate!
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Wild Angels (1966)
Spirits of the Dead (1966)
The Trip (1967)
Mooch Goes To Hollywood (1971)
Stalker (1979)
The Candidate (1972)
The Parallax View (1974)
Network (1976)
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
Ace In The Hole (1951)
Margin Call (2011)
Death Wish (1974)
Death Wish (2018)
Seconds (1966)
Soylent Green (1973)
Rage (1972)
Assault on Wall Street (2013)
Repo Man (1984)
Elmer Gantry (1960)
The Train (1965)
Clouds of Sils Maria (2014)
Strange Brew (1983)
To Have And Have Not (1944)
Singin’ In The Rain (1952)
Easter Parade (1948)
The Band Wagon (1953)
Guys And Dolls (1955)
On The Town (1949)
Casablanca (1942)
The Dirt Gang (1972)
Back To The Future (1985)
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
The Big Sleep (1946)
Bomba, the Jungle Boy (1949)
My Man Godfrey...
Please support the Hollywood Food Coalition. Text “Give” to 323.402.5704 or visit https://hofoco.org/donate!
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Wild Angels (1966)
Spirits of the Dead (1966)
The Trip (1967)
Mooch Goes To Hollywood (1971)
Stalker (1979)
The Candidate (1972)
The Parallax View (1974)
Network (1976)
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
Ace In The Hole (1951)
Margin Call (2011)
Death Wish (1974)
Death Wish (2018)
Seconds (1966)
Soylent Green (1973)
Rage (1972)
Assault on Wall Street (2013)
Repo Man (1984)
Elmer Gantry (1960)
The Train (1965)
Clouds of Sils Maria (2014)
Strange Brew (1983)
To Have And Have Not (1944)
Singin’ In The Rain (1952)
Easter Parade (1948)
The Band Wagon (1953)
Guys And Dolls (1955)
On The Town (1949)
Casablanca (1942)
The Dirt Gang (1972)
Back To The Future (1985)
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
The Big Sleep (1946)
Bomba, the Jungle Boy (1949)
My Man Godfrey...
- 8/14/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Legendary animator Floyd Norman talks about his all time favorite movies.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Floyd Norman: An Animated Life (2016)
Vertigo (1958)
Citizen Kane (1941)
Rope (1948)
The Trouble With Harry (1955)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
Song of the South (1946)
The Treasure of Sierra Madre (1948)
The Third Man (1950)
The Jungle Book (1967)
The Jungle Book (2016)
The Lion King (2019)
Pinocchio (1940)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
The Old Mill (1937)
Casablanca (1942)
Cinderella (1950)
Singin’ In The Rain (1953)
Paths of Glory (1957)
1917 (2019)
The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)
Star Wars (1977)
American Graffiti (1973)
Sorcerer (1977)
Other Notable Items
Michael Fiore
The Watts riots
The LAPD’s cruel mistreatment of Rodney King
The George Floyd protests
Move in Philadelphia
Walt Disney Pictures
Tfh Guru Roger Corman
Erik Sharkey
The Three Stooges
I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali TV series (1977)
Muhammad Ali
Fred Calvert
Alfred Hitchcock
Bernard Herrman’s Vertigo score
Robert Burks
The latest...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Floyd Norman: An Animated Life (2016)
Vertigo (1958)
Citizen Kane (1941)
Rope (1948)
The Trouble With Harry (1955)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
Song of the South (1946)
The Treasure of Sierra Madre (1948)
The Third Man (1950)
The Jungle Book (1967)
The Jungle Book (2016)
The Lion King (2019)
Pinocchio (1940)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
The Old Mill (1937)
Casablanca (1942)
Cinderella (1950)
Singin’ In The Rain (1953)
Paths of Glory (1957)
1917 (2019)
The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)
Star Wars (1977)
American Graffiti (1973)
Sorcerer (1977)
Other Notable Items
Michael Fiore
The Watts riots
The LAPD’s cruel mistreatment of Rodney King
The George Floyd protests
Move in Philadelphia
Walt Disney Pictures
Tfh Guru Roger Corman
Erik Sharkey
The Three Stooges
I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali TV series (1977)
Muhammad Ali
Fred Calvert
Alfred Hitchcock
Bernard Herrman’s Vertigo score
Robert Burks
The latest...
- 6/9/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
"He's like the Forrest Gump of animation." This isn't a brand new documentary, but it's still worth watching if you've never seen it. We originally featured the very first trailer for Floyd Norman: An Animated Life back in 2016, after the film premiered at a few film festivals. TCM (Turner Classic Movies) has been offering the documentary as part of their streaming / VOD selection this month. The documentary film is about Disney legend Floyd Norman, the first African-American animator at Disney. Described as: "Animator. Storyman. Troublemaker." After working there for almost all of his life, he was told by Disney to retire, but has refused to do so and keeps on working with the mantra that he'll "die at the drawing board." Floyd has worked on Disney classics like Sleeping Beauty and The Jungle Book and even worked at Pixar on Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc. We're posting this trailer again four years later,...
- 4/27/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Herb Stott, a trailblazing director and producer of TV commercials, died Feb. 8 in Hollywood. He was 85. The cause of death has not been made public.
Through his two production companies, Spungbuggy Works Inc. and Herb Stott Films, he produced both live-action and animated commercials. Stott’s live-action clients included McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Little Debbie, Doritos, Carl’s Jr., Whataburger, Mattel, Subaru and Target. His animation team created spots for Tootsie Roll, Mr. Clean, ehe Grateful Dead, United Airlines, Levi-Strauss and Kellogg’s. He also worked with celebrities such as Magic Johnson, George Foreman, Wayne Gretzky, Rich Little and John Wayne.
Among Stott’s greatest achievements was producing and directing the first non-political presidential advertisement for George H.W. Bush in 1991, aimed to encourage tourism after the Gulf War. Over his four-decade career, Stott acquired several awards, including a Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists Guild award and three Clio awards for excellence in advertising,...
Through his two production companies, Spungbuggy Works Inc. and Herb Stott Films, he produced both live-action and animated commercials. Stott’s live-action clients included McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Little Debbie, Doritos, Carl’s Jr., Whataburger, Mattel, Subaru and Target. His animation team created spots for Tootsie Roll, Mr. Clean, ehe Grateful Dead, United Airlines, Levi-Strauss and Kellogg’s. He also worked with celebrities such as Magic Johnson, George Foreman, Wayne Gretzky, Rich Little and John Wayne.
Among Stott’s greatest achievements was producing and directing the first non-political presidential advertisement for George H.W. Bush in 1991, aimed to encourage tourism after the Gulf War. Over his four-decade career, Stott acquired several awards, including a Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists Guild award and three Clio awards for excellence in advertising,...
- 4/20/2020
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Back in 2016, Matthew A. Cherry put out a call on Twitter looking for 3D artists to help with a project. On Sunday, Cherry was standing on the stage of the Dolby Theatre celebrating his Oscar win for best animated short for “Hair Love.”
His triumph comes as Variety continues to celebrate African-American artisans who work behind the scenes and continue to make an impact.
“Hair Love” was executive produced by Frank Abney and Peter Ramsey. The latter has been drawing since the age of 3. Ramsey, whose credits as an illustrator include “Godzilla,” “Independence Day” and “Batman Forever,” was a self-taught storyboard artist who dreamed as a young kid in Crenshaw of becoming a director.
Ramsey went on to work at DreamWorks and directed “Rise of the Guardians,” making history as the first African-American to helm an animated film with a $145 million budget. He notched another benchmark in 2019 as the first...
His triumph comes as Variety continues to celebrate African-American artisans who work behind the scenes and continue to make an impact.
“Hair Love” was executive produced by Frank Abney and Peter Ramsey. The latter has been drawing since the age of 3. Ramsey, whose credits as an illustrator include “Godzilla,” “Independence Day” and “Batman Forever,” was a self-taught storyboard artist who dreamed as a young kid in Crenshaw of becoming a director.
Ramsey went on to work at DreamWorks and directed “Rise of the Guardians,” making history as the first African-American to helm an animated film with a $145 million budget. He notched another benchmark in 2019 as the first...
- 2/13/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Several wonderfully talented artists have come together to submit some awesome imaginative art for a book called Beginnings. The art book is being crowdfunded on Crowdwise and it's all for charity to support children who are victims of the tragic events from all over the world. It's described as a way to "celebrate the innocence and wonder of childhood."
One of the coolest things about the book is the fact that it will be filled with the art showing us what inspired each of the artists when they were kids. So, there's a very personal touch to each piece that tells us something about the artist, which I think is pretty awesome.
Read through all the details and check out some examples of the art that will be in the book below. If you want to donate, click here.
Recent events across the world have had a devastating impact on many people’s lives.
One of the coolest things about the book is the fact that it will be filled with the art showing us what inspired each of the artists when they were kids. So, there's a very personal touch to each piece that tells us something about the artist, which I think is pretty awesome.
Read through all the details and check out some examples of the art that will be in the book below. If you want to donate, click here.
Recent events across the world have had a devastating impact on many people’s lives.
- 11/16/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
04.27.17: This list is now final. While I may in the future see additional films that were released in the awards year of 2016, no more films will be added to this list. (I may add links to reviews of films listed here.)
This ranking includes only new theatrical releases viewed for the awards year of 2016 (for eligibility for the Academy Awards and the Ofcs and Awfj awards); some films released in the UK without Us releases (and so ineligible for those awards this year) may also be included, for my own bookkeeping purposes. Links go to my review. Numbers after each entry are Date First Viewed/NYC Release Date/London Release Date; year is 2016 unless otherwise noted.
worth paying multiplex prices for
[5 stars]
Arrival (10.10/11.11/11.10)
La La Land (10.07/12.09/01.13.17)
A Monster Calls (10.06/12.23/01.01.17)
The Lobster (07.16.15/05.13/10.16.15)
Zootropolis (aka Zootopia) (02.22/03.04/03.25)
A Bigger Splash (10.08.15/05.04/02.12)
Miss Sloane (11.20/11.25/05.12.17)
London Road (06.03.15/09.09/06.12.15)
The Girl with All the Gifts (07.26/02.24.17/09.23)
I, Daniel Blake...
This ranking includes only new theatrical releases viewed for the awards year of 2016 (for eligibility for the Academy Awards and the Ofcs and Awfj awards); some films released in the UK without Us releases (and so ineligible for those awards this year) may also be included, for my own bookkeeping purposes. Links go to my review. Numbers after each entry are Date First Viewed/NYC Release Date/London Release Date; year is 2016 unless otherwise noted.
worth paying multiplex prices for
[5 stars]
Arrival (10.10/11.11/11.10)
La La Land (10.07/12.09/01.13.17)
A Monster Calls (10.06/12.23/01.01.17)
The Lobster (07.16.15/05.13/10.16.15)
Zootropolis (aka Zootopia) (02.22/03.04/03.25)
A Bigger Splash (10.08.15/05.04/02.12)
Miss Sloane (11.20/11.25/05.12.17)
London Road (06.03.15/09.09/06.12.15)
The Girl with All the Gifts (07.26/02.24.17/09.23)
I, Daniel Blake...
- 4/27/2017
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Floyd Norman: An Animated Life Screens at Webster University Saturday April 22nd at 7:30pm at Winifred Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood) . This event is free. It’s part of Kinematifest 10! Floyd Norman himself will conduct a master class in animation that afternoon at 2pm. This will take place at Webster University’s Sverdrup Complex (8300 Big Bend Boulevard, 63119) in room 123. Space is limited for the class so please RSVP by email to: emilyimmer03@webster.edu
Kinematifest 10 is Webster University’s International Animation and Interactive Media festival. The mission is to showcase student work and foster a worldwide interest in animation and interactive media striving to give students an opportunity to have their work critiqued by industry professionals, facilitate networking opportunities and advocate learning through workshops and seminars. For more details on all of the events, visit the site Here
When Jim Batts reviewed Floyd Norman: An Animated Life here at We Are Movie Geeks,...
Kinematifest 10 is Webster University’s International Animation and Interactive Media festival. The mission is to showcase student work and foster a worldwide interest in animation and interactive media striving to give students an opportunity to have their work critiqued by industry professionals, facilitate networking opportunities and advocate learning through workshops and seminars. For more details on all of the events, visit the site Here
When Jim Batts reviewed Floyd Norman: An Animated Life here at We Are Movie Geeks,...
- 4/17/2017
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
After a theatrical run in USA theaters that kicked off in the late summer, August 26, 2016, the documentary “Floyd Norman – An Animated Life” – an intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the legendary animator Floyd Norman, the… Continue Reading →...
- 11/22/2016
- by shadowandact
- ShadowAndAct
Keep up with the glitzy film awards world with our weekly Awards Roundup column.
-Natalie Portman will receive the Hollywood Actress Award for her role as Jacqueline Kennedy in “Jackie” at the annual Hollywood Film Awards. Comedian James Corden will host the event, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and takes place in Beverly Hills on November 6. Also being honored at the awards are actress Janelle Monáe, who will receive the Hollywood Spotlight Award for her breakout role in “Hidden Figures,” and the cast of the film “Gold,” including Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, Golden Globe Award-nominated actress Bryce Dallas Howard, Golden Globe Award-nominated actor Edgar Ramirez and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Stacy Keach, all of whom will receive the Hollywood Ensemble Award.
-The African American Film Critics Association will honor Oscar-Nominated producer-director Lee Daniels with the Aafca Cinema Vanguard award at its Special Achievement Awards ceremony...
-Natalie Portman will receive the Hollywood Actress Award for her role as Jacqueline Kennedy in “Jackie” at the annual Hollywood Film Awards. Comedian James Corden will host the event, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and takes place in Beverly Hills on November 6. Also being honored at the awards are actress Janelle Monáe, who will receive the Hollywood Spotlight Award for her breakout role in “Hidden Figures,” and the cast of the film “Gold,” including Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, Golden Globe Award-nominated actress Bryce Dallas Howard, Golden Globe Award-nominated actor Edgar Ramirez and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Stacy Keach, all of whom will receive the Hollywood Ensemble Award.
-The African American Film Critics Association will honor Oscar-Nominated producer-director Lee Daniels with the Aafca Cinema Vanguard award at its Special Achievement Awards ceremony...
- 10/28/2016
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
It should go without saying that “Floyd Norman: An Animated Life,” a lovingly crafted biographical documentary about one of the most beloved, talented, hard-working, and experienced animators in Disney history, is a godsend for fans of Disney and animation in general. Yet as Floyd Norman’s wholly impressive and inspirational life story is meticulously laid out […]
The post Documentary ‘Floyd Norman: An Animated Life’ Is A Godsend For Disney & Animation Fans [Review] appeared first on The Playlist.
The post Documentary ‘Floyd Norman: An Animated Life’ Is A Godsend For Disney & Animation Fans [Review] appeared first on The Playlist.
- 9/1/2016
- by Oktay Ege Kozak
- The Playlist
Opening in the USA (in theaters, as well as on VOD and Digital HD) tomorrow, Friday, August 26, 2016, is the documentary “Floyd Norman – An Animated Life” – an intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the legendary animator… Continue Reading →...
- 8/25/2016
- by shadowandact
- ShadowAndAct
Two years ago, I wrote a piece about Floyd Norman – the first black animator to work for Walt Disney. Born in 1935 in Santa Barbara, his love of animation first came when his mother took him to see Disney’s “Bambi” and “Dumbo.” By the time he… Continue Reading →...
- 8/4/2016
- by Sergio Mims
- ShadowAndAct
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.
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.
- 7/31/2016
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Back in 1956, Floyd Norman became the first African-American animator hired by Disney. But in his mind, he was just an artist looking for a job. Having worked on classics such as Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians and The Jungle Book, Norman is a veteran of the animation industry who spent his glory days at the […]
The post ‘Floyd Norman: An Animated Life’: Learn About Disney’s First African-American Animator appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Floyd Norman: An Animated Life’: Learn About Disney’s First African-American Animator appeared first on /Film.
- 7/27/2016
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
"Floyd says to us all: we could do better. That's part of what makes him a legend." This looks like a gem. FilmBuff will be releasing this award-winning documentary on a legendary animator in theaters + on VOD next month. Floyd Norman: An Animated Life tells an "intimate journey through the life and career" of 80-year-old animator Floyd Norman, the first African-American animator ever at Disney Studios (back in 1956). After working for almost all of his life, he was told by Disney to retire, but has refused to do so and keeps on working with the mantra that he'll "die at the drawing board." Floyd has worked on Disney films like Sleeping Beauty and The Jungle Book and even worked at Pixar on Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc. This trailer promises such an uplifting, inspiring story about a person who totally loves the art of animation and can't give it up,...
- 7/26/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
A new trailer has been released for Floyd Norman: An Animated Life.
From filmmakers Michael Fiore and Erik Sharkey, the feel good documentary is an intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the ‘Forrest Gump’ of the animation industry – Disney Legend, Floyd Norman.
In Theaters, On Demand and Digital HD August 26, 2016
Comic-Con Screening & Panel July 22nd tomorrow Friday, (July 22nd at 3:10pm) followed by a Q&A with Floyd, the filmmakers Michael Fiore and Erik Sharkey and composer Ryan Shore – a separate panel will be held that evening at 9pm.
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...
From filmmakers Michael Fiore and Erik Sharkey, the feel good documentary is an intimate journey through the celebrated life and career of the ‘Forrest Gump’ of the animation industry – Disney Legend, Floyd Norman.
In Theaters, On Demand and Digital HD August 26, 2016
Comic-Con Screening & Panel July 22nd tomorrow Friday, (July 22nd at 3:10pm) followed by a Q&A with Floyd, the filmmakers Michael Fiore and Erik Sharkey and composer Ryan Shore – a separate panel will be held that evening at 9pm.
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...
- 7/21/2016
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Two years ago, I wrote a piece about Floyd Norman – the first black animator to work for Walt Disney. Born in 1935 in Santa Barbara, his love of animation first came when his mother took him to see Disney’s “Bambi” and “Dumbo.” By the time he… Continue Reading →...
- 7/21/2016
- by Sergio Mims
- ShadowAndAct
Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our weekly Rundown of everything that’s been picked up around the globe. Check out last week’s Rundown here.
– Oscilloscope Laboratories will open Rosemary Myers’ subversive debut feature, “Girl Asleep,” preceded by Amy Nicholson’s delightful, award-winning documentary short, “Pickle,” at Landmark NuArt in Los Angeles on September 23 and at Landmark Sunshine in New York on September 30, with a nationwide rollout to follow. Billed as “a vibrant portrayal of Australian adolescence” the film follows what happens when “Greta Driscoll’s bubble of obscure loserdom is burst [and] her parents throw her a surprise 15th birthday party and invite the whole school! Perfectly content being a wallflower, suddenly Greta’s flung far from her comfort zone into a distant, parallel place.”
– NYC-based film production and theatrical distribution company 26 Aries will release their first theatrical release, Kurt Vincent’s...
– Oscilloscope Laboratories will open Rosemary Myers’ subversive debut feature, “Girl Asleep,” preceded by Amy Nicholson’s delightful, award-winning documentary short, “Pickle,” at Landmark NuArt in Los Angeles on September 23 and at Landmark Sunshine in New York on September 30, with a nationwide rollout to follow. Billed as “a vibrant portrayal of Australian adolescence” the film follows what happens when “Greta Driscoll’s bubble of obscure loserdom is burst [and] her parents throw her a surprise 15th birthday party and invite the whole school! Perfectly content being a wallflower, suddenly Greta’s flung far from her comfort zone into a distant, parallel place.”
– NYC-based film production and theatrical distribution company 26 Aries will release their first theatrical release, Kurt Vincent’s...
- 7/15/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The documentary from Michael Fiore and Erik Sharkey will get a limited theatrical release day-and-date with digital and VOD on August 26.
Floyd Norman: An Animated Life received its world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February and won the audience award at the Bentonville Film Festival
It will next screen at the San Diego Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival on July 22.
The film follows the life of the animator, who became the first African-American animator to work at Disney and achieved credits such as The Jungle Book, Sleeping Beauty and 101 Dalmatians.
After Walt Disney’s death in 1966, Norman left and founded Vignette Films, where he developed the original Fat Albert TV special and produced segments for Sesame Street.
He went on to work at Hanna-Barbera on classic cartoons like Scooby Doo before joining Pixar and working on Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc. Now 81, he continues to work at Disney Publishing as a freelancer...
Floyd Norman: An Animated Life received its world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February and won the audience award at the Bentonville Film Festival
It will next screen at the San Diego Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival on July 22.
The film follows the life of the animator, who became the first African-American animator to work at Disney and achieved credits such as The Jungle Book, Sleeping Beauty and 101 Dalmatians.
After Walt Disney’s death in 1966, Norman left and founded Vignette Films, where he developed the original Fat Albert TV special and produced segments for Sesame Street.
He went on to work at Hanna-Barbera on classic cartoons like Scooby Doo before joining Pixar and working on Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc. Now 81, he continues to work at Disney Publishing as a freelancer...
- 7/14/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
“Introducing the Academy class of 2016,” reads the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences website announcement of its invited new members Wednesday. And while joining that august organization is a singular honor, many say they were surprised to learn of their inclusion — mainly because they hadn’t applied for membership. Traditionally, that’s a laborious process that can take years before you get recommended by peers, vetted by your branch, and finally invited. Every year it’s a shock that someone like, say Tina Fey, IFC’s Arianna Bocco, last year’s Oscar-winner Margaret Sixel (“Mad Max: Fury Road”), or Oscar marketer Lisa Taback, wasn’t already a member.
Read More: Oscars So White: 8 Ways to Solve the Academy’s Diversity Problem
At the heart of the Academy’s complex diversity issue is how much the Oscars reflect the way that the Academy likes to view itself. Believe me, they were horrified when,...
Read More: Oscars So White: 8 Ways to Solve the Academy’s Diversity Problem
At the heart of the Academy’s complex diversity issue is how much the Oscars reflect the way that the Academy likes to view itself. Believe me, they were horrified when,...
- 6/29/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
“Introducing the Academy class of 2016,” reads the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences website announcement of its invited new members Wednesday. And while joining that august organization is a singular honor, many say they were surprised to learn of their inclusion — mainly because they hadn’t applied for membership. Traditionally, that’s a laborious process that can take years before you get recommended by peers, vetted by your branch, and finally invited. Every year it’s a shock that someone like, say Tina Fey, IFC’s Arianna Bocco, last year’s Oscar-winner Margaret Sixel (“Mad Max: Fury Road”), or Oscar marketer Lisa Taback, wasn’t already a member.
Read More: Oscars So White: 8 Ways to Solve the Academy’s Diversity Problem
At the heart of the Academy’s complex diversity issue is how much the Oscars reflect the way that the Academy likes to view itself. Believe me, they were horrified when,...
Read More: Oscars So White: 8 Ways to Solve the Academy’s Diversity Problem
At the heart of the Academy’s complex diversity issue is how much the Oscars reflect the way that the Academy likes to view itself. Believe me, they were horrified when,...
- 6/29/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Has it really been 20 years since Hunchback of Notre Dame hit theaters? Oui, c'est vrai! The 34th animated feature from the House of Mouse, Hunchback has a place among the Disney Renaissance movies of the 1990s, though it tends to be less remembered and celebrated than the likes of The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Mulan. Adapted from Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel, it’s darker than many Disney pics, and the only animated movie from the studio that’s had a major focus on themes of religion and faith. Though the filmmakers “were told to not make the movie too religious — a pretty daunting task when you consider how much of this story takes place inside of a big church,” animator Floyd Norman said. Hunchback of Notre Dame also had an outcast hero that didn’t look like dashing princes of Disney films past. And...
- 6/21/2016
- by Emily Rome
- Hitfix
Drew Struzan’s art has given us the iconic posters for Back to the Future, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, The Muppet Movie, and so many other beloved films. He also recently did some pro-bono poster artwork for the documentary Batkid Begins, and now his art is on the poster for another documentary, Floyd Norman: An Animated Life, about the Disney animator, the first African-American artist to work at the studio long-term. Earlier this week, news broke of the next opportunity you’ll have to see Floyd Norman: It will screen at Geena Davis’ Bentonville Film Festival, in Bentonville, Ar next month. The festival created by the Thelma & Louise actress champions women and diverse voices in media. But if you don’t live in Arkansas, you can hope to see the feature-length doc in a few months. Michael Fiore, who made the film with Erik Sharkey, told HitFix...
- 4/9/2016
- by Emily Rome
- Hitfix
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced new additions to its leadership on Tuesday in the wake of this year’s #OscarsSoWhite controversy. Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs appointed Reginald Hudlin (directors branch), Gregory Nava (writers branch), and Jennifer Yuh Nelson (short films and feature animation branch) to join the Academy’s 51-seat Board of Governors for three-year terms. The Board of Governors also selected seven members of the Academy to join six existing Board committees. Actor Gael García Bernal (“Mozart in the Jungle”) joins the awards and events committee; cinematographer Amy Vincent (“Wayward Pines”) joins the preservation and history committee; producer Effie Brown (“Dear White People”) joins the museum committee; executive Marcus Hu (“Bad Actress”) and animator Floyd Norman (“Monsters, Inc.”) join the education and outreach committee; executive of 20th Century Fox’s animation division Vanessa Morrison joins the finance committee; and producer Stephanie Allain (“Beyond the Lights...
- 3/16/2016
- backstage.com
On a day when the Academy unveiled new governors to reflect a more diverse representation, the body was forced to apologise on Tuesday for racially insensitive elements in its recent Oscar broadcast.
Two episodes during the 88th Academy Awards on February 28 prompted 24 Academy members of Asian lineage including George Takei and Ang Lee to complain on Tuesday.
In one, host Chris Rock introduced three Asian children on stage wearing suits and carrying briefcases and described them as auditors from PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the accountancy firm that validates the Academy’s voting ballots.
In another, Sacha Baron Cohen mocked the size of Asian people’s genetalia during a stint as a presenter.
“The Academy appreciates the concerns stated, and regrets that any aspect of the Oscar telecast was offensive,” an Academy spokesperson said on Tuesday after Academy CEO Dawn Hudson sent a letter of apology to each of the 24 members.
“We are committed to doing our best to ensure...
Two episodes during the 88th Academy Awards on February 28 prompted 24 Academy members of Asian lineage including George Takei and Ang Lee to complain on Tuesday.
In one, host Chris Rock introduced three Asian children on stage wearing suits and carrying briefcases and described them as auditors from PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the accountancy firm that validates the Academy’s voting ballots.
In another, Sacha Baron Cohen mocked the size of Asian people’s genetalia during a stint as a presenter.
“The Academy appreciates the concerns stated, and regrets that any aspect of the Oscar telecast was offensive,” an Academy spokesperson said on Tuesday after Academy CEO Dawn Hudson sent a letter of apology to each of the 24 members.
“We are committed to doing our best to ensure...
- 3/15/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Two years ago, I wrote a piece about Floyd Norman - the first black animator to work for Walt Disney. Born in 1935 in Santa Barbara, his love of animation first came when his mother took him to see Disney’s "Bambi" and "Dumbo." By the time he was a high schooler, Norman knew his goal was to be an animator at Disney studios. After graduation, the brief version of his story goes like this... With the help of a friend Norman got an appointment at Disney and he walked into Disney studios, portfolio in hand, for an interview. But instead of getting a job, he was told to go to school, which Norman said later was the best advice...
- 2/1/2016
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
Trailer for 'Floyd Norman - An Animated Life' - Feature Doc on 1st Black Animator to Work for Disney
Two years ago, I wrote a piece about Floyd Norman - the first black animator to work for Walt Disney. Now there's a feature documentary on his life in the works titled "Floyd Norman - An Animated Life," from filmmaker Michael Fiore and Erik Sharkey. Born in 1935 in Santa Barbara, his love of animation first came when his mother took him to see Disney’s "Bambi" and "Dumbo." By the time he was a high schooler, Norman knew his goal was to be an animator at Disney studios. After graduation, the brief version of his story goes like this... With the help of a friend Norman got an appointment at Disney and he walked...
- 7/13/2015
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
Are you ready for some puppy love? 101 Dalmatians is now available for the first time on Digital HD and Blu-ray, and in celebration, Wamg was invited to a press day for the film at the Ink & Paint building on the Walt Disney Studios Lot. While there, we got the chance to chat with Lisa Davis (English voice of “Anita”), Mimi Gibson (English voice of ‘Lucky’), and Floyd Norman (Animator). We also took a class on painting our own animation cels, which we got to keep. Check out the fun filled day below!
First, we entered a small theater where we were introduced to some of the bonus features on the blu-ray, such as the short film The Further Adventures Of Thunderbolt. The Further Adventures Of Thunderbolt was inspired by the television show that the puppies watch on the tv in the film about a crime fighting dog named Thunderbolt. We...
First, we entered a small theater where we were introduced to some of the bonus features on the blu-ray, such as the short film The Further Adventures Of Thunderbolt. The Further Adventures Of Thunderbolt was inspired by the television show that the puppies watch on the tv in the film about a crime fighting dog named Thunderbolt. We...
- 2/19/2015
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
101 Dalmatians was one of my favorites films as a child. I generally found that Disney cartoons involving animals, like it and Jungle Book were a lot funnier and less sentimental than all those boring girly fairy-tales like Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs and Sleeping Beauty. I also liked the fact that the action took place not in some fantastic never-never land but in the real England. 101 Dalmatians of course deals with the theft of a litter of Dalmatian puppies by a woman named Cruella De Vil who wants to skin them and turn them into fur coats. The human authorities are baffled, so it falls to the kidnapped puppies’ parents, Pongo and Perdita, to track them down and rescue them- along with a lot more Dalmatian pups acquired by Cruella for the same nefarious purpose.
101 Dalmatians is rather different in look from a lot of earlier Disney cartoons, which were characterized by bright colors.
101 Dalmatians is rather different in look from a lot of earlier Disney cartoons, which were characterized by bright colors.
- 2/10/2015
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
These days, it’s all about the Disney princesses, but Perdita is merely a dog without high pedigree. As a result, she and her mate Pongo, are often overlooked. They’re certainly overshadowed by their antagonist, the Dalmatian loving Cruella De Vil, about the chew every scene in Once Upon a Time. Thank goodness, then, that Walt Disney reminds us about the utter charm contained within their 1961 release 101 Dalmatians. Out Tuesday in a handsome Diamond Combo Pack, their 17th film holds up remarkably well.
The film arrived at a precarious time for the studio as rising costs made their animated fare very expensive. Tastes were changing and they were now competing with television for the younger eyeballs so a different approach was called for. From a technological standpoint, the arrival of Xerography allowed them to streamline the filmmaking process, reducing costs. Ub Iwerks, one of the grand animators in Walt Disney’s employ,...
The film arrived at a precarious time for the studio as rising costs made their animated fare very expensive. Tastes were changing and they were now competing with television for the younger eyeballs so a different approach was called for. From a technological standpoint, the arrival of Xerography allowed them to streamline the filmmaking process, reducing costs. Ub Iwerks, one of the grand animators in Walt Disney’s employ,...
- 2/8/2015
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
Tim here. With Black History Month still in full swing, I thought it would be worth spending some time diving into the history of African-American animation and reporting back to everyone with what I found, which turns out to be easier said than done. Despite a history of animation as an independent and avant-garde form welcoming any and all groups trapped without a voice in the mainstream reaching into the silent era, there has been shockingly little overlap between black cinema and animation down through the years. Which isn’t the same as saying that there’s none, and I am certain that there’s probably more than I was able to scrounge up over a couple of days of researching.
Pioneering animators Frank Braxton (L) and Floyd Norman (R)
By and large, though African-American animators have been associated primarily with big studios, beginning in the 1950s, when Frank Braxton...
Pioneering animators Frank Braxton (L) and Floyd Norman (R)
By and large, though African-American animators have been associated primarily with big studios, beginning in the 1950s, when Frank Braxton...
- 2/21/2014
- by Tim Brayton
- FilmExperience
The release of The Jungle Book on Blu-ray today has become, as when Saving Mr. Banks was unveiled a couple months ago, an unplanned forum on a most thorny issue for the Disney uber-fan: was Walt Disney a racist/sexist/anti-Semite, and if so, was he a super-racist/sexist/anti-Semite, or just your average, garden-variety racist/sexist/anti-Semite? Even though the 1967 animated film based loosely on a collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling opened months after Disney passed away, this was the last film on which he had any serious impact. And, since Meryl Streep chose to make her speech applauding Emma Thompson for her performance as P.L. Travers in Saving Mr. Banks as much about exactly how bad a man Walt Disney was, the issue of his true personal feelings–whatever those may have been–and whether or not they crept into the films he made has become unavoidable as of late.
- 2/11/2014
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Earlier today, I wrote a piece about a new animation project that is going to be directed by former Disney animator Ron Husband, and I called him the first black animator for Walt Disney. Well… Oops!I didn’t say that just guessing about it. Everything I’ve ever read about Husband calls him the first AA animator who ever worked for Disney, and I’ve been hearing about him for years.Well it turns out that Husband was the second AA animator who worked for Disney. The first was Floyd Norman.Born in 1935 in Santa Barbara his love of animation first came when his mother took him to see Disney’s Bambi and Dumbo..By the time he was a high schooler, Norman knew his goal was to be an...
- 10/5/2013
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
The voice of Mowgli and the storyman behind the beloved 1967 animation recall the difficulties of pleasing Walt Disney
Bruce Reitherman, Mowgli
I was 11 and my dad, Wolfgang Reitherman, was the director so it didn't take much for him to see me on the sofa at home and have his lightbulb casting moment. I was the voice of Christopher Robin when I was six but had no other acting experience. I just sounded like an ordinary kid.
The makers wanted someone who sounded very innocent to play Mowgli, to soften the parts where, thanks to his lines, he might come across as a petulant teenager. But in the 1960s, it took four years to make an animated film – so if you cast a kid and didn't get to the cutting room quick enough, you'd end up with an adolescent. And sure enough, the first Mowgli had had to be replaced after his voice broke.
Bruce Reitherman, Mowgli
I was 11 and my dad, Wolfgang Reitherman, was the director so it didn't take much for him to see me on the sofa at home and have his lightbulb casting moment. I was the voice of Christopher Robin when I was six but had no other acting experience. I just sounded like an ordinary kid.
The makers wanted someone who sounded very innocent to play Mowgli, to soften the parts where, thanks to his lines, he might come across as a petulant teenager. But in the 1960s, it took four years to make an animated film – so if you cast a kid and didn't get to the cutting room quick enough, you'd end up with an adolescent. And sure enough, the first Mowgli had had to be replaced after his voice broke.
- 7/29/2013
- by Anna Tims
- The Guardian - Film News
The voice of Mowgli and the storyman behind the beloved 1967 animation recall the difficulties of pleasing Walt Disney
Bruce Reitherman, Mowgli
I was 11 and my dad, Wolfgang Reitherman, was the director so it didn't take much for him to see me on the sofa at home and have his lightbulb casting moment. I was the voice of Christopher Robin when I was six but had no other acting experience. I just sounded like an ordinary kid.
The makers wanted someone who sounded very innocent to play Mowgli, to soften the parts where, thanks to his lines, he might come across as a petulant teenager. But in the 1960s, it took four years to make an animated film – so if you cast a kid and didn't get to the cutting room quick enough, you'd end up with an adolescent. And sure enough, the first Mowgli had had to be replaced after his voice broke.
Bruce Reitherman, Mowgli
I was 11 and my dad, Wolfgang Reitherman, was the director so it didn't take much for him to see me on the sofa at home and have his lightbulb casting moment. I was the voice of Christopher Robin when I was six but had no other acting experience. I just sounded like an ordinary kid.
The makers wanted someone who sounded very innocent to play Mowgli, to soften the parts where, thanks to his lines, he might come across as a petulant teenager. But in the 1960s, it took four years to make an animated film – so if you cast a kid and didn't get to the cutting room quick enough, you'd end up with an adolescent. And sure enough, the first Mowgli had had to be replaced after his voice broke.
- 7/29/2013
- by Anna Tims
- The Guardian - Film News
Whether you were aware of it or not, there was a major upheaval in the Internet last week that — among other things — seriously affects Bad Lit’s links posts.
Once again proving the old adage “The Internet doesn’t owe you anything,” Google decided to shut down their Reader app for the reason, it is assumed, that it wasn’t making them any money. (They publicly claimed not that many people were using it anymore.)
For those who didn’t use Google Reader, it was a free RSS feed app that compiled and saved in a very organized, neat and helpful way the posts from the websites that one subscribed to. Plus, Reader had the ability to scan the Internet for keywords — like, lets pick two at random, “underground” and “film” — that would display articles from other websites that contain those keywords. Over the past few years, Bad Lit has...
Once again proving the old adage “The Internet doesn’t owe you anything,” Google decided to shut down their Reader app for the reason, it is assumed, that it wasn’t making them any money. (They publicly claimed not that many people were using it anymore.)
For those who didn’t use Google Reader, it was a free RSS feed app that compiled and saved in a very organized, neat and helpful way the posts from the websites that one subscribed to. Plus, Reader had the ability to scan the Internet for keywords — like, lets pick two at random, “underground” and “film” — that would display articles from other websites that contain those keywords. Over the past few years, Bad Lit has...
- 3/17/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
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