Create Your Own Disney Character Art! Guests can learn how in the "Animation Academy" in Disney's California Adventure

ANAHEIM, Calif., November 18, 2005 – Visitors to the Disneyland Resort often leave with photos, toys or artwork depicting the famous Disney characters. Now, fans of the art of Disney animation can create their own drawings of Disney characters at the newly opened “Animation Academy” in the Disney Animation Building, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, Disney’s California Adventure.

In less than 15 minutes, the Animation Academy “Professor” provides behind-the-scenes expertise and step-by-step instructions so that even those with no artistic background can learn to draw Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy or Winnie the Pooh. The hands-on experience provides a very special glimpse into the magic behind classic Disney animated films enjoyed by audiences around the globe.

Guests are provided with drawing pencils and pads and taught a series of simple steps that enable them to create their own character drawings. At the conclusion of the session, the drawings may be taken away as souvenirs.

The Animation Academy is open throughout the day in the Disney Animation building at Disney’s California Adventure, and some guests may choose to attend more than once so that they can learn to draw several different characters.

Disney Animation and the Animation Academy are just part of the fun at Disney’s California Adventure during the Disneyland Resort’s “Happiest Homecoming

on Earth” 50th Anniversary celebration. Other highlights include Pixar Film Pals in the “Block Party Bash,” a high-energy street extravaganza presented daily along the Disney’s California Adventure performance route.

November and December also continue the daily holiday celebrations at the Disneyland Resort, with special holiday attractions like new “bug-size” holiday decorations in “a bug’s land” in Disney’s California Adventure, “it’s a small world” Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday in Disneyland; plus entertainment in both parks, including “Santa’s Beach Blast” in Disney’s California Adventure, “A Christmas Fantasy” parade in Disneyland and nightly snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A.