The Disney Animation Renaissance

The Disney Animation Renaissance examines the unique situation of an animation studio, known as Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida (WDFAF), existing within a theme-park attraction, the Magic of Disney Animation. This dual-identity facility debuted in May 1989 at the Disney-MGM Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Operating during the period now known as the Disney Renaissance (1989-1999), this studio/attraction represents a microcosm of what was occurring in the animation due to the introduction of computer technology. This book utilizes contemporary journalism, subsequent academic investigation, and oral histories from the artists, administrators, and support personnel to illustrate what the dramatic shift from traditional hand-drawn animation methods to a purely digital format—the movement from mechanization to computerization. Moving through a chronological format, this book demonstrates how the history of the Florida studio is emblematic of how the computer revolutionized animation as an art form, growing from a supporting technology to a dominant position in the industry.