Animation Academy

Animation Academy
Disney Animation building at Disney California Adventure in 2008.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
NameOlaf Draws! (2026–present)
AreaAnimation Courtyard (The Magic of Disney Animation) (1989–2015)
Walt Disney Studios (The Magic of Disney Animation) (2026–present)
StatusOperating
Soft opening dateSeptember 9, 2026 (Olaf Draws!)
Opening dateMay 1, 1989 (Original)
September 14, 2026 (Olaf Draws!)
Closing dateJuly 12, 2015 (Original)
ReplacedStar Wars Launch Bay
(Animation Courtyard)
Replaced byStar Wars Launch Bay
(Animation Courtyard)
Tokyo Disneyland
NameDisney Drawing Class
AreaWorld Bazzar (The Disney Gallery)
StatusClosed
Opening date1994
Closing dateSeptember 30, 2016
Replaced byBibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
DisneyQuest
StatusClosed
Opening dateJune 9, 1998
Closing dateJuly 3, 2017
Disney California Adventure
AreaHollywood Land (Disney Animation)
StatusOperating
Opening dateFebruary 8, 2001
Disney Adventure World
AreaToon Studio (2002–2025)
World Premiere Plaza (2025–present)
StatusOperating
Opening dateMarch 16, 2002
Hong Kong Disneyland
AreaMain Street, U.S.A.
StatusOperating
Opening dateJuly 14, 2007
Shanghai Disneyland
NameMarvel Comic Academy
AreaGardens of Imagination
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 16, 2016
Disney's Animal Kingdom
NameThe Animation Experience at Conservation Station
AreaRafiki's Planet Watch
StatusRemoved
Opening dateJuly 11, 2019
Closing dateFebruary 23, 2026
ReplacedPortion of Conversation Station
Replaced byBluey's Wild World
Ride statistics
Attraction typeDrawing class
ThemeDisney Animation
Marvel Comics (Shanghai)
Duration25–30 minutes
Attraction hostOlaf (Orlando: 2026–present)
Audio-Animatronics1 (Olaf Draws!)

Animation Academy is an attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney California Adventure, Disney Adventure World, and Hong Kong Disneyland. In Shanghai Disneyland, the attraction is called Marvel Comic Academy, which features drawing Marvel Comics characters instead of Disney characters. The Animation Academy is also offered aboard all Disney Cruise Line ships, as part of their daily activities, as well as during Epcot's Festival of the Arts.

At Walt Disney World, the attraction formerly existed in DisneyQuest, located at Disney Springs which closed in 2017, and a similar attraction called The Animation Experience operated at Disney's Animal Kingdom's Conservation Station, which closed in 2026. Tokyo Disneyland also featured an almost identical attraction within The Disney Gallery in World Bazaar, named Disney Drawing Class, which closed on September 30, 2016.

History

Disney's Animal Kingdom

At Disney's Animal Kingdom, The Animation Experience at Conservation Station (the second iteration of the attraction at the park) was being reopened within Rafiki's Planet Watch on July 11, 2019, and its drawing classes feature popular Disney animal characters, since it was announced that the first renovations of the attraction was being temporarily closed on October 21, 2018. On February 3, 2026, it was announced that the attraction was permanently closed on February 23, 2026 to make way for a new Bluey experience as Bluey's Wild World at Disney's Animal Kingdom on May 26, 2026 and move to the Magic of Disney Animation at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Disneyland Paris

In 2025, Animation Celebration was located in Toon Studio, but was re-designated to World Premiere Plaza on March 29, 2026, which is the date on which Walt Disney Studios Park will be renamed Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris. On February 17, 2026, it was announced the final performance of the show as Frozen: A Musical Invitation in the Animation Celebration theater, will permanently closed on April 1, 2026, which is the date after Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris, since it was announced that the first renovations of the ride as Art of Disney Animation was being temporarily closed on January 7, 2019 until the second renovations of the attraction was reopened on November 17, 2019 as Animation Celebration, including the interactive show and meet and greets, for over six years ago.[citation needed]

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Attraction logo of Olaf Draws! at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

In February 2026, it was announced that the Animation Academy will be renamed Olaf Draws! featuring an Audio-Animatronic figure of Olaf in The Magic of Disney Animation, which was opened on September 14, 2026.

Summary

The attraction opened together with DisneyQuest at Walt Disney World in 1998. It was also added[when?] to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney California Adventure. It can be found within Art of Disney Animation at Walt Disney Studios Park. The attraction opened at Hong Kong Disneyland on July 14, 2007, and is located adjacent to the Opera House in Main Street, U.S.A.

The attraction itself is a drawing session with a Disney Cast Member who teaches guests to draw a character from Disney's animated films. Guests may take their own artwork home if they want after the drawing session.

References

  1. ↑ "Hollywood Studios: Magic of Disney Animation closing next month". Sun Sentinel. June 29, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  2. ↑ Walters, Catherine (July 23, 2025). "Hollywood Studios to Bring Animation Magic Back to Life in 2026".
  3. ↑ "animation%2Bacademy"%2Bdisney "Indulge in sensory overload at DisneyQuest". Gannett News Service. August 22, 1999. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  4. ↑ "東京ディズニーランド内に 「ビビディ・バビディ・ブティック」が2017年春オープン".
  5. ↑ "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Opening in Spring 2017 at Tokyo Disneyland Park".
  6. ↑ "CONFIRMED: Rafiki's Planet Watch at Disney's Animal Kingdom Closing on October 20, 2018". WDW News Today. September 25, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  7. ↑ "BREAKING: Rafiki's Planet Watch at Disney's Animal Kingdom to Close in October". WDW News Today. September 21, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  8. ↑ "UPDATE: Rafiki's Planet Watch at Disney's Animal Kingdom Will Reopen Spring 2019". WDW News Today. September 28, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  9. ↑ "The Animation Experience at Conservation Station begins July 11". Archived from the original on June 11, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Wildlife Express Train & Rafiki's Planet Watch Closing Date Announced for Bluey Takeover". WDW News Today. February 3, 2026. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  11. ↑ Writer, Staff (December 10, 2018). "Armageddon and The Art of Disney Animation to Close Soon at Walt Disney Studios Park - WDWNT". WDW News Today. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  12. ↑ Figueroa, Jessica (November 17, 2019). "PHOTOS, VIDEO: New "Frozen: A Musical Invitation" Interactive Show and Olaf Meet & Greet Debuts at Animation Celebration in Walt Disney Studios Park - WDWNT". WDW News Today. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  13. ↑ Kennedy, Alice (February 23, 2026). "New Animation Academy Experience Hosted by Audio-Animatronic Olaf at Hollywood Studios".