You might not know his face or his name but you’ve seen his work. Probably hundreds of times. Disney Legend Floyd Norman is one of the first black animators to be hired at the Walt Disney Studio where he launched into an illustrious career that started with Sleeping Beauty in 1950s and spanned onwards to this very day.

In celebration of his body of work, Disney California Adventure added a tribute to display to his many achievements with the Mouse.

20240425_100409Although it debuted earlier this year for Disney’s Celebrate Soulfully event for Black History Month, the Floyd Norman tribute window is still setup and visible at Disney California Adventure. It can be seen in the window on the building across the street from Schmoozies and immediately adjacent to Mickey’s Philharmagic. clearboth

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About Floyd

Floyd Norman, born on June 22, 1935, in Santa Barbara, California, is a pioneering figure in animation. Breaking barriers, he became one of the first African American animators at Walt Disney Studios in 1956. Norman contributed to classics like “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Jungle Book.” His career expanded to Hanna-Barbera Productions in the 1980s, working on iconic shows such as “The Flintstones.” A mentor and consultant, Norman’s legacy inspires aspiring artists. He received the Winsor McCay Award in 2007 for his contributions to animation.

A few years ago, Disney+ put together a special piece about his work. Ezra Edmond (Content Marketing Manager, Diversity and Inclusion) and Fox Carney (Manager of Research, Walt Disney Animation Research Library) discuss Norman’s legacy and highlight the many, many characters that he animated over the years.

See it for Yourself

The Floyd Norman tribute window is available at Disney California Adventure for a limited time.

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