Paris' Walt Disney Studios - Animation Inauguration and Legend Ceremony
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Much like the attraction in Disney’s California Adventure park, here guests watch a montage of scenes from Disney animated features. Roy E. provided the opening spiel as guests relaxed and watched the clips. On completion, guests were ushered into the final theatre, where two large screens are suspended over a set that resembles part of a working animation studio, with an animator’s lightbox and bookcases & shelves are littered with Disney models, toys, books and collectables. Usually, a cast member, who then explains the animation process with the help of Mushu, would have introduced guests to the theatre, but for the dedication, a lectern had been set up on the stage. A cast member introduced the president of WDFA, Roy E. Disney who began by offering a brief history of his father, Roy O. and his uncle, Walt’s entrance in the animation business. Afterwards, Roy introduced Andreas Deja to the audience and Andreas took his place at the animator’s easel. Together, Roy and Andreas took the children through the history of Disney animation, from the birth of Mickey Mouse through to Dinosaur.

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Andreas then proceeded to explain his inspiration behind Lilo. Andreas explained that Lilo was a “dream come true�? to animate, as he had spent much of the last 15 years working on villains for Disney features. He said that the creation of a hero is considerably harder as the character has to be realistic and human, whilst villains tend to be caricatures, often with non-human features. Andreas wanted to emphasise Lilo’s age and her Hawaiian heritage with a round, warm face with big eyes and few features. Andreas began by drawing a near perfect circle (much like how you draw Mickey, he explained) and then added the features. A camera had been set up above the paper enabling the audience to watch as Andreas sketched out the basic form of Lilo. Andreas concluded by completing Lilo, whilst fleshing out some of the story elements. The second screen played a trailer for the movie before guests left the theatre and preceded to the exit lobby. Roy E. and Andreas posed for photographs with the children as they enjoyed the various interactive exhibits that occupy the lobby.

After the dedication, there was just one more ceremony left that day and that was the Disney Legends. However, the audience to the ceremony had been approved by Roy E. himself and was to only feature select Disney executives, guests of the inductees and some television and media personnel from the Company. Naturally, I was disappointed, but our media host, Christine, suggested that we visit Animagique instead.

On exiting the show, my cell phone rang. It was one of the Disney media hosts, who excitedly explained that we had been asked to attend the Legends ceremony after all and that a glitch had held up the tickets. We rushed to the exit lobby of the Animation attraction where ticketed guests had already taken their seats in the “Mushu�? theatre for the ceremony.