In the late ’80s and throughout most of the ’90s, the fast-paced world of film and television production had become a budding industry for international interest and public engagementmore than it had ever been before. Conjointly, the sunny shores ofOrlando, Florida had skyrocketed as a popular location for film and TV production. The coastal city became an industry equal to that of Los Angeles and New York City and a hotbed for screen talent and scenic filming locations. This new climate brought about the rise of Universal Studios Florida (later renamed Universal Orlando Resort) andWalt Disney World’s Disney-MGM Studios (later renamed Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Each billed itself as a unique blend of an interactive working film set and an amusement theme park.
With these parks,Orlando was positioned to become a new filmmaking capital and vacation destination, crown-jeweled by these working production studio lots that showcased how the magic of the movies happens firsthand through public tours, special effects demonstrations, and larger-than-life stunt shows. Throughout the ’90s, these studios exhibited the ways of modern filmmaking and housed productions for the entire industry. While these parks allowed guests a sneak peek into live-action filmmaking,it was Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World that gave the public an intimate lookat howWalt Disneybrings their animated films to life.
‘The Magic of Disney Animation’ Showcased Movie Magic at Walt Disney World
As an opening attraction for Disney-MGM Studios in 1989, “The Magic of Disney Animation” took guests on a guided tour of the animation process, much in the spirit of other slower-paced, “edutainment” attractions like Magic Kingdom’s “The Hall of Presidents” and EPCOT’s “Living with the Land”. Guests were treated to a history of the studio’s films, exhibits of original artwork and animation cels, and interactive activities like the Animation Academy, where a Disney artist gives a crash course on how to draw a popular animated character. The Animation Academy was later transferred to Disney’s California Adventure Park, where it still operates today, to the delight of aspiring artists and animation fans. The attraction was also honored by the cement handprints ofthe legendary “Nine Old Men” animatorssuch asFrank Thomas,Ollie Johnston,Ward Kimball,andMarc Davis.
The most famous aspect of the attraction was the pre-show film, which entertainingly explained the animation process. The first one, “Back to Neverland”, starredWalter Cronkiteas he gave a very eagerRobin Williamsan up-close and personal tour through the animation process, transforming him into an animated lost boy before Robin faced off againstPeter Pan’s Captain Hook in Neverland. This short comically demonstrated the animation and original ink-and-paint cel process and was later updated to include the then-newCAPS programof digital art assembly that Disney revolutionized and used regularly,starting withThe Rescuers Down Under.This pre-show was later replaced with “Drawn to Animation”, whereMulan’s Mushu would interact with a live park host to explain how stories and designs for animated characters would evolve throughout a production. This pre-show would also include a teaser of the latest upcoming Disney andPixar animated films.Both of these pre-shows included appearances from current studio animators working and echoed other behind-the-scenes featurettes likeThe Reluctant DragonandThe Wonderful World of Disney.
Films like ‘Mulan’ and ‘Lilo and Stitch’ Called Walt Disney World Home
While seemingly billed on the surface as just another park attraction at first glance, the building was not only a living interactive art museum but alsoserved as a fully operational animation production facilitystationed within the park itself. The second new animation building to be made for the Walt Disney Animation Studiossince the 40s and the first one on the East Coast,Walt Disney Feature Animation’s Florida studio, was wheresome of the company’s most celebrated sequences and films of the 90s renaissance were created right before park guests’ eyes.Full animation and coloring for select characters and scenes for films duringDisney’s animation renaissance,likeBeauty and the Beast,Aladdin,andThe Lion Kingwere done in conjunction with the Burbank studio at the start of the decade.Musical numbers like “Be Our Guest” and “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King”wereentirely produced within feet of Walt Disney World guests.
As the 90s continued andthe workload ofanimated movies for Disneyprogressed,the Orlando studio took on the task of being the sole production homefor shorts like theRoger Rabbitspin-offsRoller Coaster RabbitandTrail Mix-Up,John HenryandHow to Haunt a Housestarring Goofy and Donald Duck. The Florida studio’s greatest claim to fame was thatthey served as the home for the entire production ofMulan(1998),Lilo and Stitch(2002), andBrother Bear(2003).These three films maintained much of the same crew and held similar, subtle artistic styles and designs throughout each of them, making them aesthetically stand out from the work of their Burbank contemporaries. The films produced by this teamincorporated painterly backgrounds and softer-edged character designsthat made them appealing and greatly contrasted with the sharper characters and detailed backgrounds of Burbank-produced films likeThe Emperor’s New GrooveandAtlantis: The Lost Empire.
Over 15 years, some ofDisney animation’s most iconic characters and filmswere made within a short distance of pretzel stands and gift shops. The Florida studio officially closed in 2004to help Walt Disney Studios focus their business in Burbank, Californiarather than two locations. While Star Wars Launch Bay has since replaced the Florida studio’s building and is now occupied by Stormtroopers and Jedi warriors, the environment of the facility and the interest in animation that the studio fostered in its guestsare emblematic of the Disney Renaissance decade. The Orlando parks may not be as active a spot for film production as they were in the past, but the opportunity for guests to see the work that goes into movie magiccreated incredible experiences that served as insight and inspirationinto the world of moviemaking.
