A Nostalgic Milestone: When 60 Disney Animation Characters Celebrated the Opening of "The Magic of Disney Animation"

Step back in time to an era when theme park magic, cinematic history, and pure nostalgia collided in the most epic way possible. To mark the official opening day of The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (then known as Disney-MGM Studios), the resort pulled off a photo-op of historic proportions. Disney shared an iconic, unforgettable photograph featuring 60 beloved Disney Animation characters gathered together to celebrate the landmark attraction. For Disney parks fans and animation historians alike, this snapshot remains the ultimate crossover event. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and look back at why this moment—and the attraction that inspired it—holds such a special place in Disney history. The Ultimate Cast Photo: 60 Characters Assemble Imagine looking out into a sea of your favorite animated personalities. That was the reality on opening day when Disney managed to wrangle 60 of its most famous animated heroes, heroines, sidekicks, and villains into one frame. From timeless classics to the Renaissance era stars that revitalized the studio in the late '80s and '90s, the lineup was a literal who's who of animation royalty. While Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse naturally took center stage, they were joined by: The Classics: Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, and Cinderella. The Renaissance Icons: Ariel, Belle, Aladdin, Jasmine, and Pocahontas. Fan-Favorite Sidekicks: Timon, Pumbaa, Genie, and the Seven Dwarfs. Seeing all these characters standing shoulder-to-shoulder wasn’t just a great marketing stunt; it was a visual testament to the rich, decades-long legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios. It reminded park guests of the sheer volume of stories and magic that had been brought to life on the silver screen. Inside "The Magic of Disney Animation" While the photo op generated massive buzz, the attraction itself was the real star of the show. Opened on May 1, 1989 (alongside the rest of the Disney-MGM Studios theme park), The Magic of Disney Animation was designed to give guests a behind-the-scenes look at how animated films were actually made. Unlike traditional dark rides or thrill coasters, this walk-through and tour experience offered an authentic peek behind the drawing board. Key Highlights of the Attraction: "Back to Never Land": A charming pre-show film starring Robin Williams and Walter Cronkite that humorously (and magically) demonstrated the animation process by digitally placing Williams into an animated scene. The Working Studio: Guests could walk along elevated viewing walkways and watch real Disney animators at work on upcoming feature films. In fact, entire films and featurettes—such as Mulan and Lilo & Stitch—had major production work done right inside the Florida theme park! The Animation Academy: A fan-favorite interactive experience where guests could sit down at a real animator's desk and learn how to draw a classic Disney character under the guidance of a professional artist. For a generation of moviegoers, visiting this attraction sparked dreams of working in the animation industry, bridging the gap between the finished product on screen and the human artistry required to make it. The Evolution of Hollywood Studios Though The Magic of Disney Animation officially closed its doors in July 2015 to make way for new park expansions (like the beloved Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land), the legacy of that era lives on. Disney's Hollywood Studios has transformed from a working production studio into a place where guests step into their favorite stories. However, the spirit of that iconic 60-character photo remains a touchstone for classic Disney fans. It represents a golden era of the park when celebrating the actual art and artists of animation was front and center. Reliving the Magic Today While you can no longer watch real animators sketching the next Disney masterpiece at Hollywood Studios, the tradition of learning to draw your favorite characters lives on. Today, guests can still experience the magic of drawing at Animation Experience at Conservation Station over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, proving that the desire to create Disney art never truly goes out of style. That legendary photo of 60 characters celebrating opening day isn't just a piece of corporate archive history—it’s a celebration of imagination, storytelling, and the enduring magic that happens when artists put pencil to paper.