Cost
$25 members $45 adults | $40 seniors and students (with ID) | $35 youths
FREE for children ages 5 and under, Registration Required
Date
Sat, Nov 7 | 1pm
Year
2026
Location
Theater
Join filmmaker Ron Clements for a behind-the-scenes look at his new book, Making Disney Magic… from a Mermaid to Moana, which chronicles Clements’ 45-year career with Walt Disney Animation Studios, giving readers unique insights into the beloved feature films he worked on, including those with longtime collaborator John Musker.
On-Sale Information
- Walt’s Circle Donors: Tuesday, September 29 at noon PT by emailing the Membership team
- Founding, Supporter, and Friend-level members: Wednesday, September 30 at noon PT by emailing the Membership team
- All member levels: Thursday, October 1 at noon PT online
- Public (non-members): Friday, October 2 at noon PT online
Join as a member or upgrade your current membership to receive priority access and discounts to programs like these. For more information, please visit our Membership page.
About the Speaker
Ron Clements
Ron Clements is a renowned Walt Disney Animation Studios filmmaker and storyteller. With his longtime collaborator, John Musker, Clements has written and directed iconic feature films that have shaped Disney Animation’s legacy, including the beloved classics The Little Mermaid (1989), Aladdin (1992), The Princess and the Frog (2009), and Moana (2016).
Born and raised in Sioux City, Iowa, Clements traces his interest in animation to his first viewing of Disney Animation’s Pinocchio (1940) at age nine. As a teenager, he began making super-8 animated films—including Shades of Sherlock Holmes (1972), a 15-minute featurette he animated single-handedly. The short film won critical acclaim and led to a part-time job as an artist at a television station, where he animated commercials for the local market.
After graduating from high school, Clements came to California to try his luck at animation. Because there were no openings at Disney, he worked for several months at Hanna-Barbera while studying life drawing in the evening at Art Center. With persistence and determination, Clements was finally accepted into Disney’s Talent Development Program—a training ground for animators.
After successfully completing the training program, Clements served a two-year apprenticeship under Disney Legend Frank Thomas. He quickly progressed through the ranks from in-betweener to assistant to animator and story artist. His credits include Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, Too (1974); The Rescuers (1977), Pete’s Dragon (1977), The Fox and the Hound (1981), and The Black Cauldron (1985). Clements made his writing-directing debut with Musker on the 1986 feature The Great Mouse Detective. Their credits also include 1997’s epic comedy Hercules and the intergalactic adventure Treasure Planet in 2002.
His new book, Making Disney Magic . . . from a Mermaid to Moana is filled with stories of his 45-year career with Disney Animation and releases October 13, 2026.
Accessibility Information
Guests of The Walt Disney Family Museum can request American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters on-demand for our Talks, Workshops, School Experiences, Tours, and Storytimes. If you would like to request an ASL interpreter, please fill out the form linked below. Please note: Interpreter availability is not guaranteed and requests must be submitted at least two weeks in advance.
The museum is proud to partner with Bay Area Communication Access (BACA) for our ASL interpreter needs. For more information on their services, please visit BACA's website.
For more information on our Accessibility offerings, please visit our Accessibility page by clicking the link below.