Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida
{{Short description|Former subsidiary of Disney Animation}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida
| logo = Walt Disney Feature Animation logo.svg
| caption =
| former_name =
| image = Magic of Disney Animation.jpg
| image_caption = Magic of Disney Animation's location
| type = {{ubl|Division (1989–1992, 1999–2004)|Subsidiary (1992–1999)}}
| industry = Entertainment
| fate = Closed
| successor = Circle Seven Animation{{cite news|last=Eller|first=Claudia|title=Disney Plans Life After Pixar With Sequel Unit|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-16-fi-animate16-story.html|access-date=February 21, 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=March 16, 2005|author2=Richard Verrier|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107212241/http://articles.latimes.com/2005/mar/16/business/fi-animate16|archive-date=November 7, 2014|url-status=live}}
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1989|05}}
| founder = Max Howard
| defunct = {{End date and age|2004|01|12}}
| hq_location = The Magic of Disney Animation, Animation Courtyard, Disney-MGM Studios, Walt Disney World
| hq_location_city = Bay Lake, Florida
| hq_location_country = United States
| key_people = {{ubl|Max Howard|(Director of Operations)|Andrew Millstein (SVP and GM)}}
| production = Animation
| num_employees = ~400 (peak, mid-1990s)
258 (final)
| parent = Walt Disney Feature Animation
(Walt Disney Studios)
| homepage =
}}
Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida was a division of Walt Disney Feature Animation that operated from 1989 to 2004. Its offices were backlot of the Disney-MGM Studios theme park and visitors were allowed to tour the studio in The Magic of Disney Animation attraction to observe animators at work from behind glass-paneled overhead breezeways. The division had primarily animated Mulan, Lilo & Stitch and Brother Bear.{{cite web|last=Drees|first=Rich|title=Disney Closes Florida Animation Studio|url=http://www.filmbuffonline.com/News/2003-2004/DisneyClosesStudio.htm|publisher=Film Buff Online|access-date=December 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523212752/http://www.filmbuffonline.com/News/2003-2004/DisneyClosesStudio.htm|archive-date=May 23, 2013|url-status=live}}
History
Walt Disney Animation placed Max Howard in charge of starting up its Florida animation studio in 1988.StoryboarD / The Art of Laughter, August 1991, Volume 2, Number 4. Page 7. via [http://kpolsson.com/disnehis/disn1988.htm Chronology of the Walt Disney Company] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929194808/http://kpolsson.com/disnehis/disn1988.htm |date=September 29, 2015 }}. Retrieved on October 8, 2015. Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida began operations in May 1989 with 40 employees. The division was originally planned to work on featurettes and shorts that they could do on its own. 70 animators including Disney veteran supervising animator Mark Henn were hired by 1990. After doing its first work, the Roger Rabbit short, Roller Coaster Rabbit, the division was enlisted to help finish The Rescuers Down Under and work on its companion featurette, The Prince and the Pauper.{{cite news|last=Hinman|first=Catherine|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1990/11/19/disney-dips-into-local-inkwell-florida-animation-team-lends-hand-to-rescuers-rescuers/|title=Disney Dips into Local Inkwell Florida Animation Team Lends Hand To 'Rescuers'|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=November 19, 1990|access-date=September 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119155236/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1990-11-19/lifestyle/9011180479_1_rescuers-bernard-and-miss-miss-bianca|archive-date=November 19, 2015|url-status=live}} In the years to come, the Florida unit would continue to make contributions to several of Disney's animated features.[https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/disney-mgms-the-magic-of-animation-building/ Disney/MGM's 'The Magic of Animation' Building | Cartoon Research] On October 7, 1992, the Florida unit was incorporated.{{cite web|title=Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida, Inc. |url=http://www.sunbiz.org/scripts/cordet.exe?action=DETFIL&inq_doc_number=V69224&inq_came_from=NAMFWD&cor_web_names_seq_number=0000&names_name_ind=&names_cor_number=&names_name_seq=&names_name_ind=&names_comp_name=WALTDISNEYFEATUREANIMATIONFLOR&names_filing_type= |work=Corporation Search |publisher=Florida Department of State |access-date=February 24, 2013 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} On April 22, 1998, Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida moved to a new $70 million facility at the Disney MGM Studios.{{cite web |last=Polsson |first=Ken |title=1998 |url=http://kpolsson.com/disnehis/disn1998.htm |work=Chronology of the Walt Disney Company |publisher=Ken Polsson |access-date=December 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225162948/http://kpolsson.com/disnehis/disn1998.htm |archive-date=December 25, 2012 |url-status=live }} source: Eyes & Ears, April 30, 1998, Volume 28, Number 18. Page 3. In June 1998, the Florida division's first feature film, Mulan, was released.{{cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1998/06/17/the-making-of-mulan/|title=The Making Of 'Mulan'|last=Abbott|first=Jim|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=June 17, 1998|access-date=September 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064752/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1998-06-17/lifestyle/9806160742_1_mulan-tom-bancroft-disney-animated-feature|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}} The unit continued as a division with its corporate form was merged out on September 30, 1999.{{cite web|title=Article of Merger For Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida, Inc. into Walt Disney World Company|url=http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ConvertTiffToPDF?storagePath=COR\1999\1006\10003501.TIF&documentNumber=V69224|website=SunBiz.org|publisher=Florida Department of State Division of Corporations|access-date=August 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192645/http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ConvertTiffToPDF?storagePath=COR%5C1999%5C1006%5C10003501.TIF&documentNumber=V69224|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}} Andrew Millstein took charge of the division as senior vice president and general manager of production in 2001 transferring in from The Secret Lab.{{cite news|last1=Graser|first1=Marc|title=Millstein to head Disney Animation|url=https://variety.com/2008/digital/features/millstein-to-head-disney-animation-1117991985/|access-date=September 18, 2015|work=Variety|date=September 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109214436/http://variety.com/2008/digital/features/millstein-to-head-disney-animation-1117991985/|archive-date=January 9, 2016|url-status=live}}
In January 2003, Disney initiated a reorganization of its theatrical and animation units to improve resource usage and continued focus on new characters and franchise development. Additionally, Feature Animation was transferred under the Walt Disney Studios in January 2003.{{cite news|last=Godfrey|first=Leigh|title=David Stainton Named President, Disney Feature Animation|url=http://www.awn.com/news/people/david-stainton-named-president-disney-feature-animation|access-date=February 27, 2013|newspaper=AWN News|date=January 3, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017170343/http://www.awn.com/news/people/david-stainton-named-president-disney-feature-animation|archive-date=October 17, 2013|url-status=live}} In June 2003, 50 animators were laid off after Brother Bear finished up production. The division was developing A Few Good Ghosts (also known as My Peoples) until it was canceled on November 15, 2003. On January 12, 2004, Disney Feature Animation President David Stainton announced the shut down of Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida.{{Cite news|title=After the Magic|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/orlandosentinel/access/653286501.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+20%2C+2004&author=Roger+Moore%2C+Sentinel+Movie+Critic&pub=Orlando+Sentinel&edition=&startpage=F.1&desc=AFTER+THE+MAGIC+%3B+SCORES+OF+FORMER+DISNEY+ANIMATORS+AND+THEIR+COLLEAGUES+HAVE+DISPERSED+TO+LAUNCH+THEIR+OWN+STUDIOS%2C+SEEK+NEW+CAREERS+AND+DISCOVER+NEW+IDENTITIES+--+DETERMINED+TO+LAND+ON+THEIR+FEET.|first=Roger|last=Moore|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|pages=F1|date=June 20, 2004|access-date=September 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107224831/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/orlandosentinel/access/653286501.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+20%2C+2004&author=Roger+Moore%2C+Sentinel+Movie+Critic&pub=Orlando+Sentinel&edition=&startpage=F.1&desc=AFTER+THE+MAGIC+%3B+SCORES+OF+FORMER+DISNEY+ANIMATORS+AND+THEIR+COLLEAGUES+HAVE+DISPERSED+TO+LAUNCH+THEIR+OWN+STUDIOS%2C+SEEK+NEW+CAREERS+AND+DISCOVER+NEW+IDENTITIES+--+DETERMINED+TO+LAND+ON+THEIR+FEET.|archive-date=November 7, 2012|url-status=dead}}
Some laid-off animators were offered transfers to the main studio while most chose to stay in Orlando or were recruited to work for rival animation studios. Other animators created their own startup studios. Legacy Animation Studios was formed by Eddie Pittman along with 15 artists previously laid off from the company.{{cite news|last1=Pack|first1=Todd|title=Disney's Exit Is No Tragedy|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2004/01/17/disneys-exit-is-no-tragedy/|access-date=February 27, 2017|work=Orlando Sentinel|publisher=Tribune Publishing|date=January 17, 2004|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917213935/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2004-01-17/news/0401170363_1_walt-disney-disney-mgm-animation|archive-date=September 17, 2017|url-status=live}} Laid off animators Travis Blaise, Todd Gilbert and Matt Gunther formed their own company, Magnetic Entertainment.
Project Firefly was set up by five former employees on Universal Studios Florida's backlot and worked on Curious George for Universal, alongside two direct to videos for DisneyToon Studios, Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie and Brother Bear 2 and Farm Force, a short/pilot as an internal project.{{cite news|last1=Moore|first1=Roger|title=Drawn to the light|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2006/01/31/drawn-to-the-light/|access-date=March 6, 2018|work=Orlando Sentinel|publisher=Tribune Publishing|date=January 31, 2006|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306202932/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2006-01-31/news/FIREFLY_1_firefly-animation-disney|archive-date=March 6, 2018|url-status=live}} Millstein was tapped to head up Florida's replacement and Pixar sequel division, Circle Seven Animation.
Filmography
As Sole Producer
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Release date
!Title !Notes |
|---|
| style="text-align:right;"| June 15, 1990
|Released with Dick Tracy |
| style="text-align:right;"| July 17, 1992
|Released with Honey, I Blew Up the Kid |
| style="text-align:right;"| March 12, 1993
|Released with A Far Off Place |
| style="text-align:right;"| June 19, 1998
| |
| style="text-align:right;"| October 30, 2000
|{{Cite interview|url=http://animatedviews.com/2010/the-princess-and-the-frog-supervising-animator-mark-henn-part-4-americana/|title=The Princess and the Frog's Supervising Animator Mark Henn – Part 4: Americana|interviewer=Jérémie Noyer|subject=Mark Henn|publisher=Animated Views|date=January 29, 2010|access-date=September 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221055131/http://animatedviews.com/2010/the-princess-and-the-frog-supervising-animator-mark-henn-part-4-americana/|archive-date=February 21, 2010|url-status=live}} |
| style="text-align:right;"| June 21, 2002
| |
| style="text-align:right;"| November 1, 2003
| |
As Animation Service:
External links
- [http://www.wdfaf.com/ Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida]