You all know Floyd Norman, right ? The animation legend who regularly contributes columns to this website?
Well, over the past few days, Floyd received a very special invite from the Walt Disney Company. They asked this veteran storyman to come by the lot on October 10th. More importantly, to bring his family with him.
Why For? Because Mr. Norman has just been singled out for the highest honor that the Mouse House can bestow upon one of its employees. Floyd has been named a Disney Legend.
Established in 1987, the Disney Legends award program was created (I'm quoting from the history portion of the official webpage now) to ...
" ... acknowledge and honor the many individuals whose imagination, talents and dreams have created the Disney magic ... Since its inception, (this) program has honored many gifted animators, Imagineers, songwriters, actors and business leaders as having made a significant impact on the Disney legacy." Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
" ... acknowledge and honor the many individuals whose imagination, talents and dreams have created the Disney magic ... Since its inception, (this) program has honored many gifted animators, Imagineers, songwriters, actors and business leaders as having made a significant impact on the Disney legacy."
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
And Mr. Norman is in some pretty esteemed company, let me tell you. Among the other 2007 Disney Legend honorees are:
When I contacted Floyd this past weekend to offer my congratulations, he responded with this typically humble e-mail:
Well, no one could have been more shocked than myself. I'm still trying to let this whole thing sink in. Plus, knowing who was on the board that selected this year's Disney Legends, I'm even more amazed. Guys like Marty Sklar, Roy Disney, Dick Cook and others. Wow!
Anywho ... Though the Walt Disney Company has yet to officially announce this year's Disney Legend honorees (Look for the Mouse to issue an official press release on this subject sometime next week), I just thought that JHM readers will appreciate a somewhat early "heads up" about this amazing honor that Mr. Norman is about to receive.
Adrienne & Floyd Norman
So let's hear it for Floyd Norman ! Already an animation industry legend, soon to become a Disney Legend.
Your thoughts?
Congrats, Floyd! :¬)
We're very lucky to have a wonderful guy like Floyd here to provide his firsthand reminiscences of the glory days at Disney, back when Walt was still there at the helm. I love reading his aticles on JHM, especially those he did on my favourite film, "The Jungle Book". It's great to see that Disney is officially recognizing him as the "Disney Legend" we've always considered him to be. Congratulations Floyd, you well deserve the honour!
Congratulation, Mr. Norman!!!
I share your freakedoutedness, empoor.
MICHAEL EISNER A DISNEY LEGEND?!?!?!?!!!!
My first question on that is: Is Frank Wells a Disney Legend?
My second question is: Are they honoring Michael I or Michael II?
Michael I is the Michael Eisner who, paired with Frank Wells, led the company through a critical transformation.
Michael II is the stubbon and imperious executive who made any number of woeful mistakes while browbeating subordinates and antagonizing Disney's partners--finally resulting in a shareholders revolt. I don't think an executive who had a majority of employee shareholders vote against him for Chairman has earned the title of Disney Legend.
Michael II does not deserve to be recognized this way.
Michael I deserves the honor only if it has already been awarded to his irreplacable partner, Frank Wells.
Frank Wells was inducted the same year he unfortunately died. (That would be 1994 of course.)
Congratulations Floyd ... it's a very impressive list of inductees over the years and I'm glad to see you invited into the club.
Does anyone know how many black legends are there? I suspect it's a pretty small group, but is it a group of 1?
Congratulations, Floyd! You're a legend here on JHM, and now Disney too.
Jim knows that your fees are going up now that you're a Disney Legend, right? ;-)
Congratulations to Floyd and family for this esteemed honor.
YAY!! What a great honour for you! And for us too, as we know you because of your wonderful articles every week! A part of my heart feels like I do know you, even though we dont speak to eachother, but you speak to me through your articles, and I respond back with my bits. So this is also great news to me, one of your fans! Good for you!
.. are they doing this because you write us articles and they want you on their good side? hahahhaa jokes. :D
xoxox Adele www.funkyspice.4t.com
"Are they honoring Michael I or Michael II?
Michael I is the Michael Eisner who, paired with Frank Wells, led the company through a critical transformation."
Michael I (1984-94), apparently. For that, he _would_ deserve an award.
Congradulations, Mr. Fun! Your Disney stories whimsical insight on art and animation has given many of us aspiring artists something to hope for.
:)
Richard Mercer said:
Congratulations, Floyd! A well-deserved honor!!
Terrific News!! Congratulations, Floyd!
Allow me to just chime in with the rest of the masses to say...Congratulations, Floyd!
Congrats to you Mr. Norman!! We are all thrilled for you.
You deserve it.
Thanks for everything you've contributed. Your work has touched us all.
Congratulations, Mr. Norman! Your credits read like a list of some of my favorite movies. I also have enjoyed every article you have written here as well.
Thanks for sharing your great talent with the world!