AW: Disney Set to Close Animation Studio

[Cord Wiljes]

Continuing Walt's Legacy

ORLANDO, FLORIDA (January 8, 2004) -- Legacy Animation Studios, a new
animation production studio in Orlando, Florida, opens its doors in
Winter Garden, Florida, close to Orlando later this month. The studio
will offer a full-range of traditional hand drawn (or 2D) animation
services for film, television and commercials. Legacy was established by
a group of animators and artists formerly employed by Walt Disney
Feature Animation Florida. Legacy will also be dedicated to developing
original properties for television and film. In time the studio hopes to
produce its first feature film project.

"We believe that traditionally animated films are still a viable form of
entertainment," says Legacy Animation Studios Directing Manager, Eddie
Pittman. "Our goal is to create quality animated films with compelling
stories and strong characters and to continue Walt Disney's legacy of
hand drawn animation."

The Legacy team has the talent to back up their claim, with the combined
experience of over 25 animated films including The Little Mermaid,
Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Mulan, and Lilo and Stitch.

Pittman has worked on such animated features as Mulan, Tarzan, and Lilo
and Stitch. He has taught for the renowned Computer Animation program at
Ringling School of Art and Design, and his popular drawing classes
taught around Central Florida have been recommended to aspiring
animators by Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida. Recently, he
produced and directed Legends of the Night Sky: Orion, the world's first
full dome (360°) traditionally animated movie.

Also joining the management team as Creative Director is veteran
assistant animator David Nethery. Nethery has nearly 20 years of
experience as an animation artist, most of those years at Walt Disney
Feature Animation. His credits include such characters as "Meeko" the
raccoon from Pocahontas, "Mushu" from Mulan, "Cobra Bubbles" from Lilo
and Stitch, and most recently "Tug" and "Koda's Mom" from Brother Bear.

Legacy currently has three projects in development, including a short
film that will begin production in late January 2004.

For more information, visit http://www.legacyanimation.net/

Cord