Portrait by Drew Struzan.

One of the most awesome experiences I ever had at San Diego Comic-Con was attending the premiere screening of Erik Sharkey’s documentary DREW: THE MAN BEHIND THE POSTER, a phenomenal doc about famed movie poster artist Drew Struzan. This year Erik and Michael Fiore bring what looks to be another great-looking film, this time turning the spotlight on legendary animator Floyd Norman, who created an incredible legacy and never let the color of his skin get in the way. Norman is an inspiration to many, regardless of race, and shows what dedication to your craft really means. The documentary FLOYD NORMAN: AN ANIMATED LIFE will have a star-studded panel on Thursday, July 9th from 9:00pm to 10:30pm in Room 9 at the San Diego Convention Center. Panelists will include director Sharkey, producer Michael Fiore, BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES writer/producer Paul Dini, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST co-director Gary Trousdale, cartoonist/historian Scott Shaw, and many more. If you’re even casually into animation, this will be one panel not to miss. Check out a trailer for the doc below, and look for more information here after the event. Oh, and try not to drool looking at the awesome portrait above by none other than Drew Struzan.

Floyd Norman Documentary — “Floyd Norman: An Animated Life”

Filmmakers Michael Fiore (producer, “Home Invasion” starring Bella Thorne) and Erik Sharkey (director, “Drew: The Man Behind the Poster”) will debut clips from their feature-length documentary following the life and career of legendary animator and story artist Floyd Norman:

San Diego Comic Con – Thursday July 9th – 9pm to 10:30pm
San Diego Convention Center – Room 9

Mr. Norman, 80, and his wife Adrienne (Disney Publishing artist) will be on the Comic Con panel, along with notables featured in the documentary: Paul Dini (writer/producer, “Batman: The Animated Series), Gary Trousdale (co-director, Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”), Scott Shaw (cartoonist, humorist, and historian), Leo Sullivan (animator and producer), Ken Mitchroney (writer/director and Pixar story artist), Tom Sito (animator and historian). Additionally, the filmmakers will moderate a Q&A session and celebrate Mr. Norman’s 80th birthday.

The documentary features interviews with Whoopi Goldberg (actress), Sergio Aragones (cartoonist), Richard Sherman (Disney music composer), Don Hahn (producer, “Maleficent”), Ralph Guggenheim (former Pixar VP of animation), and Leonard Maltin (film critic and historian).

Mr. Norman is the undisputed “Forrest Gump” of the animation world. Hired as the first African-American at Disney in 1956, he would later be hand-picked by Walt Disney to join the story team on the “Jungle Book”. After Walt’s death, Mr. Norman left Disney to start his own company to produce black history films for high schools. He and his partners would later work with Hanna Barbera, animate the original “Fat Albert Special”, as well as the titles to “Soul Train”.

Mr. Norman returned to Disney in the 1980s to work in their Publishing department. And in 1998, he returned to Disney Animation to work in the story department on “Mulan”. But an invite to the Bay area in the late 90s became a career highlight. Mr. Norman was now working with another emerging great: Pixar and Steve Jobs, on “Toy Story 2” and “Monsters Inc.”

Life as an animator is a nomadic one, but Mr. Norman spent the majority of his career at Disney. He views it as his “home”. Retired by Disney at age 65 in 2000, the documentary focuses on Mr. Norman’s difficulty with a retirement he was not ready for. Not one to quit, Mr. Norman chose to occupy an empty cubicle at Disney Publishing for the last 15 years. As he puts it, “[He] just won’t leave”. A term has been coined by Disney employees — “Floydering”. While not on staff, his proximity to other Disney personnel has led him to pick up freelance work. He continues to have an impact on animation as both an artist and mentor. As Mr. Norman says, “[He] [plans] to die at the drawing board.”

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