Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
animation process from concept to finished film, with a peek at each of the steps along
the way. Throughout, you are surrounded by animation, and sometimes it's even projected
above your head and under your feet!
Because DCA's Animation building is not a working studio, the attraction does not
showcase artists at work on real features, and the interactive exhibits are more whimsical
than educational. “Sorcerer's Workshop,” for example, is an interactive exhibit where you
can act and sing with various cartoon scenes through a touch screen computer interface.
The Animation Academy, hosted by a Disney cartoonist, teaches you how to draw a
Disney character; if you have any artistic inclination, you may consider it DCA's best-kept
secret and find yourself taking the class repeatedly, as a Salt Lake City reader suggests:
[Animation Academy] turned out to be one of my absolute favorite things. I did
it four times in a row and would have gone more if I wasn't starving. I plan to
devote quite a bit of time to it on my next trip. I don't think you give it enough
credit in your book.
And from a Sammamish, Washington, mom:
I agree with the reader comment that you do not give enough emphasis to the
Animation Academy drawing classes. I took three, and they were the highlight
of the trip. I have no drawing ability whatsoever, but following along with the
instructor I was able to make a pretty decent Donald, a passable Mickey, and
a Pooh Bear, although he looked like he was in a car accident. My 4-year-old
loved drawing along, my husband loved it, and my 2-year-old loved scribbling
on her paper and drawing board. It was fun for the whole family.
Both “Sorcerer's Workshop” and Animation Academy provide a good foundation on
theanimation processandwillenhanceyourappreciation oftheotherexhibits.
TurtleTalk
with Crush
is also located here. Finally, for a WOW! moment, be sure to check out the
amazing zoetrope (no, don't worry, it's not that thing that the urologist threatened you
with).
TOURING TIPS
On entering the Animation building, you'll step into a lobby where signs
mark the entrances of the various exhibits. Look up in the lobby for a moment at the
oversize projections of animations in process, including Pixar's latest hits. It takes 40-55
minutes to do all the interactive stuff and see everything. You probably won't experience
much of a wait for the Disney Animation offerings except on weekends and holidays.
Even then, the Animation building clears out considerably by late afternoon.
Disney Junior—Live on Stage!
