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Cadettes connect with animation experts from The Walt Disney Family Museum to learn how Walt encouraged his staff to experiment with special effects to make animation more interesting and realistic, and how the resulting advancements in technology enhanced his classic films. In the Learning Center, experiment in groups with a mini Multiplane Camera, explore how depth is created in animation, and create your own silent stop-motion shorts about the cause of your choice.

Girl Scout Juniors visit The Walt Disney Family Museum to accomplish three of the five steps toward earning a Drawing Badge. In the galleries, observe how drawing was the foundation to Walt Disney’s many animated films from the early 1920s to the late 1960s. In the Learning Center, experiment with different materials to practice various visual effects such as stippling, crosshatching, and smudging. Making your own concept art, backgrounds, and cartoon characters, then showcase your work for other attendees during a concluding group critique.

Taking a cue from ekphrasis, the Greek word for “description,” tour the core galleries in search of artworks that will be used as the inspiration for an imaginative activity focused on writing and storytelling. In the Learning Center, consider the “action” observed in your chosen art object to write a short poem or description of the piece—a textual exploration that will ultimately amplify the original work’s meaning.

In 1939, Walt Disney began production on the animated feature Bambi (1942) and enlisted artist Tyrus Wong to inspire the influential backgrounds used in the film. His minimalist style, specifically in his background concepts, revolutionized the animation art form and continues to be used today. Join...

Walt Disney always encouraged his animators to remain students and to continually learn and improve their craft with every project. Bring your art and join us for this informative workshop about how to build a well-rounded portfolio or demo-reel and catering these items to the job or internship you...

Aside from creating unforgettable animated films, Walt Disney also had a deep-rooted passion for miniatures. In fact, Walt built a miniature train around his Los Angeles home in 1950. Join us this holiday season to learn how to create winter jar dioramas that can be used as decoration in your home.

Over the years, Disneyland has released guidebooks in various styles and fashion to better acclimate guests to the park’s unique layout and environment. Like these and other theme park guidebooks, certain areas and attractions were highlighted on the pages to help guests plan their visits. Join us...

After the success of Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney wanted to diversify his art form and create an experimental animated series called Silly Symphonies. The first of these animation shorts was The Skeleton Dance (1929), in which skeletons joyfully dance throughout a graveyard. This month, celebrate skeletons and Dia de Los Muertos by learning about the history behind the traditional Mexican holiday and then make a festive Day of the Dead wreath.  

In 1954, Walt Disney began construction on a long-awaited dream, Disneyland. The project required a new team of creatives to makes his vision into a reality. Walt chose one of his Nine Old Men, animator Marc Davis, to help develop many of the theme parks characters and attraction designs. In fact, Davis became responsible for designs in Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and updates to Jungle Cruise, to name a few. In this workshop, explore character styling by studying designs that center around theme, environment, and time period to then create a character of your own.

In 1954, Walt Disney began construction on a long-awaited dream, Disneyland. The project required a new team of creatives to makes his vision into a reality. Walt chose one of his Nine Old Men, animator Marc Davis, to help develop many of the theme parks characters and attraction designs. In fact, Davis became responsible for designs in Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and updates to Jungle Cruise, to name a few. In this workshop, explore character styling by studying designs that center around theme, environment, and time period to then create a character of your own.

John Lounsbery, one of Walt Disney’s legendary Nine Old Men, animated some of the most eccentric and temperamental Disney characters to date, including the Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland (1951) and George Darling in Peter Pan (1953). Lounsbery used over-the-top acting and dramatic staging in his animation to truly capitalize on his character’s quirky personalities. Join us for this hands-on workshop, in which we delve into animation principles like staging, squash, stretch, and exaggeration to animate a bold personality.

John Lounsbery, one of Walt Disney’s legendary Nine Old Men, animated some of the most eccentric and temperamental Disney characters to date, including the Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland (1951) and George Darling in Peter Pan (1953). Lounsbery used over-the-top acting and dramatic staging in his animation to truly capitalize on his character’s quirky personalities. Join us for this hands-on workshop, in which we delve into animation principles like staging, squash, stretch, and exaggeration to animate a bold personality.

Les Clark, one of Walt Disney’s legendary Nine Old Men, served as an animator for countless Disney classics and was well known for his iconic work animating Mickey Mouse in the Fantasia (1940) segment “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” In fact, Clark extensively studied the movement of cloth and drapery in order to create a believably natural sorcerer robe for Mickey. Join us for this workshop about the foundations of drawing drapery—using charcoal and newsprint, learn about shape, form, and weight while drawing from still-life.

Students will learn and reflect on the tasks of Imagineers, who worked under Walt at WED Enterprises during the 1950s and 60s to imagine, research, design, and build some of Disney’s most iconic and revolutionary projects and park attractions. In this hands-on workshop, students will apply these concepts to collaboratively build a prototype ride, and creatively problem-solve challenges that may arise.

The Walt Disney Family Museum Teen Animation Festival International (TAFI) celebrates animation created by artists ages 13 through 19. TAFI invites entries from around the world and offers both educational and collaborative opportunities as well as a chance to win great prizes. Previous awards have...

In this fun and hands-on session, learn how to make your drawings truly come to life and put your creativity in the spotlight. For artists of all ages, join us in our Learning Center where an instructor will teach you step-by-step instructions on how to draw an original cartoon character.

In this fun and hands-on session, learn how to make your drawings truly come to life and put your creativity in the spotlight. For artists of all ages, join us in our Learning Center where an instructor will teach you step-by-step instructions on how to draw an original cartoon character.

In this fun and hands-on session, learn how to make your drawings truly come to life and put your creativity in the spotlight. For artists of all ages, join us in our Learning Center where an instructor will teach you step-by-step instructions on how to draw an original cartoon character.

Designing a character is more than the internal, it is also about representing the character’s personality through costume. In Walt Disney’s TV series Zorro (1957), the lead character Don Diego de la Vega’s iconic mask plays a crucial role to visually represent his metamorphosis into his alter-ego swordsman. Join us for this workshop, in which author, illustrator, and paper engineer Matthew Reinhart will show you how to design a pop-up Halloween mask. Follow along step-by-step as you learn how to use colors and shapes to create a unique mask of your own.