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Floyd Norman: An Animated Life Photos

View All Photos (15)

Movie Info

Animator Floyd Norman became the first Disney African-American animator in 1956. After Walt's death, Mr. Norman left Disney to start his own company to produce black history films for high schools.

Genre:

documentary
Original Language:

English
Director:

Michael Fiore, Erik Sharkey
Producer:

Michael Fiore
Release Date (Theaters):

Aug 26, 2016 limited
Release Date (Streaming):

Aug 26, 2016
Runtime:

1h 28m

Cast & Crew

Floyd Norman
Self

Whoopi Goldberg
Self

Leonard Maltin
Self

Gary Trousdale
Self

Sergio Aragonés
Self

Paul Dini
Self

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Floyd Norman: An Animated Life

All Critics (16) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (1)

Directors Erik Sharkey and Michael Fiore have caught Norman's whimsical charm and his upbeat attitude.

September 21, 2016 | Full Review…

Jana Monji
RogerEbert.com
It serves as an entertaining salute to an unsung figure whose considerable accomplishments well deserve recognition.

August 31, 2016 | Full Review…

Frank Scheck
Hollywood Reporter
Floyd Norman doesn't think he's special. Many others know differently, and for those who need more proof, "Floyd Norman: An Animated Life" is delighted to supply it.

August 25, 2016 | Full Review…

Ken Jaworowski
New York Times
Like the man himself, "Floyd Norman: An Animated Life" is genial on the surface but lets us go a little deeper into an unusual life than we might have expected.

August 25, 2016 | Full Review…

Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
This delightful documentary is a must-see for fans of animation, movie history, and stories of lives filled with creativity, courage, and a sense of adventure.

August 25, 2016 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

Nell Minow
Movie Mom
Michael Fiore and Erik Sharkey's film is most revealing and involving when Norman, now 80, talks and sketches, his pen and mind both lively.

August 24, 2016 | Full Review…

Alan Scherstuhl
Village Voice
[N]ot only do we look inside the life of Floyd Norman, but the history and world of animation, and the early inner workings of Disney.

October 31, 2019 | Full Review…

Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
It's easy to find much to appreciate in the way Norman's life is presented without too much interference by the filmmakers.

October 21, 2019 | Rating: A | Full Review…

Leslie Combemale
Cinema Siren
... it's really worth the watch.

December 20, 2017 | Full Review…

Kayla Cobb
Decider
Floyd Norman: An Animitated Life is a heartwarming tribute to an underappreciated, unassuming man who broke boundaries and impacted many lives for the better.

September 21, 2016 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Shane Slater
AwardsCircuit.com
Heartily recommended to every artist who might have lost their way and are looking for some inspiration.

September 1, 2016 | Rating: A- | Full Review…

Oktay Ege Kozak
The Playlist
... I felt like I was learning about the legend of Floyd Norman, not the man himself.

August 31, 2016 | Rating: 6/10 | Full Review…

Nathanael Hood
The Young Folks

View All Critic Reviews (16)

Audience Reviews for Floyd Norman: An Animated Life

Sep 24, 2016

This is a lively documentary about the life of a great animator. It is a tribute to Floyd Norman that so many animators agreed to be interviewed to help tell his story often accompanied by classic Disney style animations to illustrate what life was like in the animators' offices. So many great snapshots of his time working for Disney and behind the scenes anecdotes. It is centered around Norman's 80th birthday celebration and he still has a sharp tongue and a sharp pen. It hurt when the company forced him to retire at 65, but he kept hanging around the offices and never really retired. He continues to inspire the younger generation.

Byron B Super Reviewer