In 1964, Tania McKnight Norris was hired to work at WED Enterprises—now known as Walt Disney Imagineering—as an interior designer for the highly-anticipated Disneyland expansion: New Orleans Square. She joined Walt and Lilly Disney, Roy and Edna Disney, Walt's daughter Sharon and her husband Bob
Back by popular demand, Ron Diamond, Curator and Producer of The Animation Show of Shows, will host his exclusive Oscar® Showcase Tour of Academy Award®-nominated animated short films at The Walt Disney Family Museum. Join us to view this year’s nominated films and hear about the making of these
As a former Disney Channel sit-com actress, a current voice talent for Star Wars and Sofia the First projects, and now, as the Designer behind a sci-fi/fantasy-inspired fashion company for women, Her Universe, Ashley Eckstein has made a name for herself across the Disney landscape in a unique way.
In recognition of Women’s History Month, join members of Pixar’s story department in this very special panel. Moderated by Her Universe Founder and Designer Ashley Eckstein, hear from Story Supervisor Valerie LaPointe (Toy Story 4, 2019), Storyboard Artist Aphton Corbin (Toy Story 4, 2019), and
Inspired by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Cinderella (1950), and Sleeping Beauty (1959), Enchanted (2007) follows Giselle, played by Academy Award®-nominee Amy Adams, as she is transported by the evil Queen Narissa, played by Academy Award-winner Susan Sarandon, from the animated kingdom
Through a guided tour of the museum galleries, students gain a better understanding of significant women in Disney history. Students will participate in group discussions to promote feminist perspectives and critical thinking. During the workshop, the students will ink and paint a cel, a job done
In 1951—four years before the grand opening of Disneyland—a man named Harper Goff browsed the shelves of Bassett-Lowke, a miniature train store in central London. When a particular antique train took Goff’s eye, he was told that it had been promised to someone else. “I found one,” Goff later remembered, “and the man said ‘There’s a gentleman coming in this evening who’s shown some interest in that…’”
The gentleman in question was Walt Disney. When Walt returned to the store later that day to
During Open Studio this month, we created a collective storyboard outlining some of the key plot moments from the story Peter Pan. A storyboard can be made fairly simply at home using easy-to-find materials. In addition to helping outline a story, storyboards can be used to organize ideas for an essay, a website, a theme park attraction, or a video game. Click through for instructions on how to create your very own original storyboard.
Walt made thirteen nature films in the 1950s known as the True-Life Adventures series. Eight of them won Academy Awards®. They were shown in public schools for decades and—judging by correspondence that is in the Walt Disney Archives in Burbank—many young people went into the forestry service and related fields due to the influence of these films...
The Walt Disney Family Museum celebrates the 2013 Academy Awards season with recently compiled fun facts about the legendary Oscars® and Walt Disney. Twenty-six of these famed Awards are on view at the Museum including the celebrated Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Oscar which is on exhibit through April 14, 2013 in the special exhibition, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic.
Once a story man, always a story man.
The Sherman brothers (or “the boys” as Walt Disney called them) were staff writers for The Walt Disney Studio, and are responsible for some of the best-loved songs in entertainment history. In an early meeting with Walt, the Sherman brothers explained their reasoning behind the song “For Now, For Always” from the 1961 film,The Parent Trap...
Join museum volunteer & guest blogger Lucas O. Seastrom as he gives you an in-depth look at the incredible impact that artist Eyvind Earle made on the animated classic, Sleeping Beauty.
In light of the recent rumors that have been spreading about Walt Disney, The Walt Disney Family Museum would be more than happy to address misconceptions that have been told as bold, un-sourced statements and wildly false accusations, as part of our mission to enlighten and educate.
Roy Disney was a financial genius. But he was more than that in the same way that Walt Disney was more than a film producer. Here is a chance to learn more about him through his own words and recollections of his contemporaries. Even a small sample of his correspondence to Walt shows the caliber of person that was Roy Oliver Disney.
Even decades after his passing, Walt Disney still retains the honor of being the individual with the most Academy Award nominations and the most Oscar wins. While the listing of these awards for animation, live action and more is very impressive, it is fun to take a quick look behind some of the stories of those golden statuettes...
