Walt Disney Animation Studios‘ new short film Once Upon a Studio honors a century of storytelling with a magical group portrait of beloved characters. Directed by Dan Abraham and Trent Correy, it debuted as part of Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration. Featuring all-new animation, the short combines over 500 characters, with about 80% animated in traditional hand-drawn style.
Meet the Hand-Drawn Animation Team
Led by Disney Legend Eric Goldberg, the hand-drawn animation team included veterans like Randy Haycock, Mark Henn, Bert Klein, and Alex Kuperschmidt. Guest animators Ruben Aquino, Tony Bancroft, James Baxter, Will Finn, and Nik Ranieri returned to animate legacy characters. For the first time in over a decade, Disney hired new hand-drawn apprentices—Robert Cox, Courtney DiPaola, Ella Louise Khan, Tyler Pacana, and Austin Traylor—chosen from over 2,000 applicants.
A Dream Apprenticeship
Austin Traylor and Tyler Pacana described the apprenticeship as a dream come true. Austin, inspired by The Lion King, transitioned from working at Disney parks to animating iconic characters. Tyler, stunned that the opportunity even existed, joined with a deep appreciation for Disney animation history.
Their training involved exercises with classic Disney characters. When Goldberg saw their talent, he assigned them actual shots for the short. Courtney animated Merlin, while Austin and Tyler tackled characters like Mickey, Minnie, Sebastian, and Robin Hood.
Behind the Scenes of Animation
The apprentices praised the supportive mentorship from Eric Goldberg and veterans like Mark and Randy. They learned the importance of showing work early and often, and how to navigate Disney’s complex production pipeline. Working on Once Upon a Studio introduced them to departments across the studio and allowed them to understand the technical and creative collaboration needed to complete such a short.
Iconic Character Assignments
Tyler animated scenes with Robin Hood, Scrooge McDuck, Elliott from Pete’s Dragon, and Sebastian from The Little Mermaid. Austin animated Mickey and Minnie’s entrance from the picture frame, channeling Disney Legend Fred Moore’s classic character style.
Hand-Drawn Animation Lives On
Goldberg emphasized the joy of mentoring young animators and seeing hand-drawn animation flourish at Disney again. The apprentices now work as full-time animators at the studio, continuing the tradition and inspiring a new generation.
A Legacy Reignited
Once Upon a Studio is not only a celebration of Disney’s past—it’s a statement about its future. The inclusion of young talent and mixed mediums reaffirms Disney’s commitment to innovation and tradition. The short marks a high point of Disney’s 100th celebration and renews excitement for hand-drawn storytelling.
