Doc Soup Sundays: Floyd Norman: An Animated Life

Doc Soup Sundays: A Sunday morning Doc Soup spin-off featuring the world's best art, culture and design docs.

Pick an influential era of American animation within the last 60 years, and there is a good chance Floyd Norman was there. In 1956, he was the first African American hired at Disney, starting a career that also took him to Hanna-Barbera and Pixar. He was forcibly retired at 65, but his creativity is matched only by his tenacity, so he continues to work out of a vacant cubicle at Disney publishing. "I miss being around the action,” says Norman. “I found an empty office and I moved in. I was probably in violation of some rule or law or whatever, but there I was." Whether facing racism or ageism, this self-avowed troublemaker never backs down.

Filmmaker Michael Fiore will be in attendance for a Skype Q&A with Floyd Norman.

Co-presented with The Beguiling Books & Art and Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI).

Critical praise:

• LA Times - “Norman is a genuine pioneer.”
• The Hollywood Reporter - “An entertaining salute.”
• New York Times - “He’s a tireless and upbeat presence.”