Getting to meet and chat with Floyd Norman, a Disney Animator, was cool because he got to work with Walt Disney…yes, the Walt Disney himself.
It is amazing that after all the years he spent working on Disney animations such as 101 Dalmatians, Sleeping Beauty and Jungle Book, he still loves it. His love for Disney and his passion for animation is still so evident. So much so that while he officially retired for 10 years he has since returned to work on special projects.
Other animated films he has worked on over the years include Mulan (one of my favorites), The Tigger Movie, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Toy Story 2 and Monsters, Inc.
Here’s some of what Floyd Norman had to say about his career as a Disney Animator…
What is your favorite character?
There are so many Disney characters how to you choose a favorite from all of those?
Which character do you love to draw the most?
I spent a lot of time with Mickey, in the comic Disney character. Mickey became very special to me not only because I got to draw Mickey…I had the opportunity to write Mickey in the Mickey Mouse comic strip.
Out of all the projects you’ve worked on, do you have a favorite?
My favorite would have to be the Jungle Book. That is the only film I worked with Walt Disney. Which makes that a very special motion picture. Walt passed away after the completion of that film. So we never worked together again.
What do you remember most about working with Walt?
Fear (laughter)…keep in mind how young we were. Most of us were in our 20’s, Walt Disney and the Disney artists were all the age of our parents, so that is how we looked at them. We were very respectful of them.
…Walt Disney had this first name policy where everyone was called by their first name. For us who came from a traditional background, to show respect for our elders, it was difficult calling these gray haired old men by their first names.
Walt was a nice guy, he was very patient with us. We had been given an assignment on the Jungle Book and we were going to show the story board to Walt, back then Walt came to your office to see the story board. You did not know when he was going to do it. He would just show up, can you imagine when your boss walks in for a minute you just can’t move. Walt’s here! He would come in and say “what do you have to show me?” Then you would have to pitch the story board to him. Then Walt would either like it or he wouldn’t like it. Walt was clear and concise, he either liked something or he hated it. He would not say I hated it, he would say that doesn’t work. If you did a terrific job and you sold him he would say that’ll work. If you got this from Walt that was considered huge.
Want to know more about Floyd Norman? You can check him out on the Disney’s 101 Dalmatians: Diamond Edition On Blu-ray and Disney HD, which is now out of the vault and available to be purchased in stores or on Amazon.com
After we chatted, he showed us how to draw Mickey Mouse…what do you think of my masterpiece?
I know. I shouldn’t quit my day job…”A” for effort?
