Floyd Norman, Disney’s first African-American animator, spoke recently at the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business about his pioneering work and experience in the world of animation. Norman was hired as the first African-American at Disney in 1956, and he would later be hand-picked by Walt Disney to join the story team on the “Jungle Book.” After Walt Disney’s death, Norman left Disney to start his own company – Vignette Films, Inc. – 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.”
