Disney's
First Black Artist
When Walt Disney passed
away in December 1966, America lost a national icon.
Few people have had such a profound influence on popular
culture in this country or for that matter, the entire
world. Because race was not a major issue in the quiet
days of the nineteen fifties, not many people ever
knew there was a young African American artist
working at the Disney studios. In time, this young
artist rose through the ranks of the animation department
to finally work with Walt Disney on the last motion
picture he personally supervised, "The Jungle
Book." |
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Floyd Norman has been working
in the animation industry for over fifty years.
Much of that time has been spent at the Walt Disney
Company where he has contributed his story telling
talents to a list of films including, "The
Hunchback of Notre Dame, "Mulan," and
Pixar's "Toy Story2." "I never felt
like I was breaking down any doors," said the
soft spoken animation artist. "I simply wanted
a job working at one of the greatest animation studios
in the world. "When Diane Disney Miller, Walt
Disney's eldest daughter decided to tell the story
of her father's life, she wanted to finally put
to rest the many rumors that Disney had been anti-semitic
and racist. "Diane wanted to tell the real
story of her Dad's life," said Norman. "She
requested that people who actually knew Walt be
the ones to tell the story."
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Floyd Norman left the
studio the same year Walt Disney died. He joined with
his partner, Leo Sullivan to launch Vignette Films,
Inc., a small production company, to produce films on
African American history. "Walt Disney showed that
learning can be fun," said Norman. Floyd Norman
appeared on "Walt, The Man Behind The Myth,"
Sunday, September 16, 2001 on the ABC Television network.
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In October, 2007 Floyd
will be recognized as a “Disney Legend”
by the Walt Disney Company.
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The Disney
Legend award copyright
Walt Disney Company and Disney.com
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The
Disney Legend Program
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The Disney Legends program
was established in 1987 to acknowledge and honor the
many individuals whose imagination, talents and dreams
have created the Disney magic. The awards are given
annually during a ceremony at The Walt Disney Studios.
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The Legends are chosen
by a selection committee chosen by Roy E. Disney. Since
it's inception, the program has honored many gifted
animators, Imagineers, songwriters, actors and business
leaders as having made a significant impact on the Disney
legacy.
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In 1997, the Legends
program was established in Europe with a ceremony held
at Disneyland Paris, commemorating the 5th anniversary
of the park and honoring those who established many
of the Disney European businesses. During the eremony,
a 14-foot bronze enlargement of the Disney Legends award
was unveiled as an enduring reminder of their contributions.
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On October 16, 1998,
the new Disney Legends Plaza was dedicated at The Walt
Disney Studios to commemorate the 75th anniversary of
the The Walt Disney Company. The Plaza features a second
edition of the bronze sculpture first placed in Disneyland
Paris, with bronze plaques representing the individual
Legends lining the columns of the Plaza.
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Each year, new Legends
will join this celebrated group so that we may always
remember the gifts of those people who know the secret
of making dreams come true.
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Legends
Philosophy
The Disney Legends award has three distinct elements
that characterize the contributions made by each talented
recipient.
The Spiral ... stands
for imagination, the power of an idea.
The
Hand ... holds the gifts of skill, discipline
and craftsmanship.
The Wand and the Star
... represent magic: the spark that is ignited when
imagination and skill combine to create a new dream.
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Legend
Award Details
The Disney Legends award was created in 1987 by Andrea
Favilli. The awards are cast in bronze and hand-crafted
each year by the artist that characterize the contribution
made by each talented recipient.
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Extracted from the Disney
web site.
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Disney Legends Ceremony
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Two
Legends...Marge Champion and Floyd Norman!
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The
Setting!
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Ken
and Floyd... |
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Floyd
and the Ladies! |
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Roy
Disney Presenting to Floyd!! |
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Legends
all!
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Photos
provided by Adrienne Brown |
