Transporting visitors of all ages to a fantastical land with a quirky cast of characters, Animationland is an exhibition where inspiration is everywhere. Developed by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, it’s the newest special exhibition at the Orange County Regional History Center in downtown Orlando.
Animationland Activities
Visitors to the museum step into a colorful, whimsical environment where Tracey the pencil dog and friends lead them through activities in sketching, sound, storyboarding, and stop-motion filmmaking. The exhibition highlights the playful partnership of imagination, drawing, science and storytelling at the heart of animation.
In addition to nationally touring components of the exhibition, the History Center’s exhibition staff have curated a special section celebrating a remarkable chapter in Central Florida’s animation history. Titled “Drawing Magic: Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida,” this portion of Animationland will explore how the Orlando-based studio contributed to iconic films such as Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Mulan, and Lilo & Stitch, and how its artists helped shape Disney’s animation renaissance.
Through studio artifacts, photographs, and artwork, visitors will get to know this special creative community, which began with Disney in 1989 and continues to flourish today more than two decades after the studio’s closing.
“So many of us grew up with animated films that shaped how we imagine, dream, and tell stories,” said Katie Kelley, curator of exhibitions for the History Center. “Animationland gives visitors the chance to explore that creative spark for themselves — and also to discover how a part of that story was made right here in Central Florida. It’s a wonderful reminder of how creativity connects us.”
Special Events
While the exhibition is on view through May 3, the History Center will offer related programming. On February 15, the museum’s Sensory Sunday program will celebrate Black animators and storytellers. Sensory Sundays are scheduled quarterly and provide a welcoming experience for guests with autism spectrum disorder and sensory processing sensitivity.
Then on March 8, the History Center will present a panel of animators who worked at Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida, the groundbreaking studio that operated at Disney-MGM Studios from 1989 to 2004. Other events will be listed on the museum’s website.
Get Your Tickets
Admission to the Orange County Regional History Center is $10 for adults and $6 for children. On March 8, visitors can enjoy free admission to the museum on Free Access Day. For more information, visit TheHistoryCenter.org.
