Art of Disney Animation
A fascinating journey through the history of animation – from Stone Age cartoons to the present day
Please note: the Art of Disney Animation attraction is permanently closed.
Enter the world of animation and take a look behind the scenes of Disney magic – that was the concept of The Art of Disney Animation attraction. Here, in the Art of Disney Animation attraction, you have learned how the well-known characters from the Disney films came to life. You were able to look over the artists' shoulders as they worked and learn how an animated film is made.
You entered the building with the iconic big blue sorcerer's hat and first came to the waiting and pre-show area, where many exhibits brought the development of animation from its origins to life. The highlight was certainly the multiplan camera that Walt Disney designed in the 1930s. It is one of only two existing examples in the world. In addition to this rare piece, there was also a praxinoscope, one of the first devices for projecting moving images, developed by the Frenchman Émile Reynaud, its forerunner, the zeotrop (also known as the Wheel of Life), and much more.
From there, we went to the screening room, the Disney Classics Theatre. A short film with some of the most moving moments from Disney classics was shown here. Thumper, Mickey, Snow White, Aladdin and many other well-known Disney characters made an appearance.
Once this screening was over, the tour continued to the Drawn to Animation room, where an animator, together with a cast member and the little dragon Mushu from the film Mulan, revealed many details about the creation of an animated film. Mushu simply refused to believe that he was just a cartoon character and that he was designed according to the ideas of a Disney animator, but in the end he had no choice but to accept his ‘fate’.
This show was presented in French, but there were headphones at each seat from which you could also listen to the show in German, English, Dutch, Italian or Spanish.
After that, you went to the last room of the Art of Disney Animation attraction, where you were invited to try your hand at the various aspects of making an animated film. Children especially loved the area where they could show off their drawing skills on an interactive display.
