The internet is constantly buzzing with speculation on the meaning behind Disney characters and storylines but now, thanks to an exhibition opening at ACMI, we can discover the true meaning behind the Disney stories, with our very eyes.
ACMI, Australia’s national museum of screen culture located in Melbourne’s CBD, is bringing Disney’s internationally acclaimed exhibition; Disney: The Magic of Animation to the Southern Hemisphere.
Since their reopening last month, ACMI has continued to deliver up a storm.
The exhibition is an Australian debut and is set to open Thursday 13 May, celebrating almost 100 magical years of Disney animation. It offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of Walt Disney Animation Studios and will give you the opportunity to experience the pure artistry behind all of your favourite characters.
You’ll bear witness to how the characters you love have been brought to life through the generations of Disney, from pencil and paper drawings to tech-generated masterpieces.
Behind every film is a drawing, a concept, an idea, that are beyond detailed, and capture the essence of the characters, their surroundings and explain the meanings behind what we’ve seen on the screen.
The exhibition features over 500 original artworks from the ’20s through to now, including paintings, sketches and concept art that properly capture the creative process behind Disney through the ages.
These works are rarely seen. They provide us with the creative development of our beloved Disney storylines, including dozens of classics from Mickey Mouse’s first talkie Steamboat Willie (1928), to Fantasia (1940), to Frozen (2013). Disney: The Magic of Animation will also debut never-before-exhibited artwork from the studio’s newest critically-acclaimed release Raya and the Last Dragon (2021).
“At The Walt Disney Company, storytelling is at the heart of everything we do to entertain and inspire our local audiences. That’s why we are incredibly excited to share this exhibition, Disney: The Magic of Animation, with the people of Melbourne. We hope that guests will both be inspired and delighted by the artistry showcased, bringing to life our Disney stories and its magic, here in Australia,” said Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company Australia & New Zealand.
Disney: The Magic of Animation opens at ACMI on Thursday 13 May. Tickets can be purchased online at acmi.net.au.
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