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The Magic of Disney Animation is was an attraction located in [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]].
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==Attraction History==
When the Animation Courtyard section of the Disney MGM Studios opened in 1989, Disney wanted guests to be able to see how their animated films were created. To do this, the area housed the a branch of the Walt Disney Feature Animation Studio. This meant that real Disney animators worked inside the theme park, animating sequences for Disney films. Mulan, Lilo and Stitch, Brother Bear and the "I Just Can't Can’t Wait To to Be King" segment of the Lion King were all animated at the Florida studios.
The animation studios were incorporated within an attraction known as The Magic of Disney Animation. The 35 minute tour showed guests a short film titled Return to Neverland which explained how animated films were created. After the film, a walking tour allowed guests to see the animators working inside the studio. After the walking tour guests watched another short film, this one a montage of Disney animated films.
On April 22, 1998 an expanded production area was dedicated. The area opened on the same day as [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]], a fact which was referenced in Roy E. Disney's dedication speech for the new park. In 2003, Disney announced that the Florida branch of the Walt Disney Feature Animation Studio would be closing.
The original Animation Tour began with guests winding through halls decorated with animation sketches from various Disney movies. Guests then entered a theater where they watched a short film called Back to Neverland featuring Robin Williams and Walter Cronkite.
The film began with Walter Cronkite telling guests that they were going to learn how Disney animated its movies. Walter was soon joined by Robin Williams who told guests that his favorite movie was Peter Pan, and that he wished he could go to Neverland. Cronkite then explained to Robin, that in order to show how Disney animation works, they were going to turn him into a an animated character. Tinkerbell then flew on screen, and with a little pixie dust transported Walter and Robin away from the Disney Studios. After Tinkerbell flew away, the men found themselves shrunken, and in the presence of books of different genres. Walter then explained that this is where Disney animation began, with stories. He then went on to disclose that the next step in the processes was to create a storyboard.
Cronkite then disclosed that in Robin's story, he was going to be a lost boy in Neverland. The duo was then transported to a sound studio, where Robin would record his voice for the film. An animator was then shown, drawing Robin's character. Next, Robin's character was colored on a computer. Neverland was then shown being drawn by the layout artists, who drew a boat that Robin was going to act upon. The background was then sent to the computer also, so that animators could create the final scene. Walter then explained that music and sound effects completed the scene.
===Second Incarnation (2004-2015)===
The second version of the Magic of Disney Animation began with a presentation hosted by Mushu (from Disney's Mulan) and a Disney animator who explained to guests how Disney decided what characters they use in their films. The example that the animator used was from the Disney movie Pocahontas. Originally, Disney was deciding between a hummingbird, a turkey and a raccoon named Meeko for the role of Pocahontas' sidekick. After initially deciding to go with the turkey and the hummingbird, Disney realized that Meeko the raccoon was a much better option than the turkey. The animator then explained to Mushu that the original guardians for Mulan were going to be a Gryphon and a Phoenix, before deciding that he (Mushu) should be a dragon. Mushu took exception to the inference that he was not always a dragon, and he proceeded to show guests pictures of him with his cousin Elliot the Dragon, with his baseball team the Chunichi Dragons, playing his favorite game Dungeons and Dragons, and finally a picture of him and Cher (which has nothing to do with him being a dragon).
In order to explain Mushu's past to him, a film was then shown on the screen across from the dragon. The first person to appear was Chris Sanders who did early sketches of Mushu and was also the Head of Story Development for Mulan. Chris explained that originally there were going to be two guardians for Mulan, but then it was then decided that was too much. Next, Mushu was changed to a dragon with two heads. Mushu's supervising animator Tom Bancroft then appeared on screen. He explained that Mushu was made up of the body of snake, the horns of an elk, the claws an eagle and the face of camel. Tom then went on to say that in order to travel with Mulan, Mushu had to be downsized. After Tom leaves the screen, the other animators in charge of creating Mushu appeared. As Mushu was getting "reacquainted" with them, a short film was shown which showcased the newest Disney animated characters. After the clip, Mushu and the animator said goodbye to guests ending the presentation.
* Lilo and Stitch, Mulan, Brother Bear, ink and paint for the Little Mermaid and two Roger Rabbit spin-off cartoons (Roller Coaster Rabbit and Trail Mix-Up) were produced within the Magic of Disney Animation’s studios.
* Several original cels from Disney films and various Academy Awards won by Disney films are were on display within the attraction.
* 50 guests can could be seated in the Animation Academy.
* If you want to see the closing montage shown at the end of the original The Magic of Disney Animation click [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpX5nScW-KY here]
