If the arts community had been blossoming in north Omaha when Adrienne Brown-Norman was growing up there in the 1960s and ’70s, she may never have moved to California and become a senior illustrator for Disney Publishing Worldwide.
“If places like the Union (for Contemporary Art) were around I may never have left,” she said of the center founded in 2011 to create an arts-based bridge between north Omaha and the larger community. “That’s such a great, creative place to find out what to do as an actor, an artist or a writer. Of course, though, I would not ever have met Floyd.”
That would be her husband, Floyd Norman, the now-legendary first African-American artist at Walt Disney Studios.
Floyd Norman, 82, began working for Disney in 1956 and was named a Disney Legend in 2007. In 2016 Norman was appointed to the education and outreach committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
In Omaha for Native Omaha Days, the Normans talked about their work and lives Sunday over breakfast at Big Mama’s Kitchen. It’s a favorite location for Brown-Norman, who grew up in the Higgins family and graduated from Central High in 1974.
The Normans recently collaborated with legendary songwriter Richard Sherman (“Mary Poppins”) on a picture book called “A Kiss Goodnight.”
The book tells the story of how the young Walt Disney was enchanted by fireworks and subsequently chose to send all of his Magic Kingdom guests home with a special kiss goodnight of skyrockets bursting overhead.
Topics over the nearly two-hour interview included the recent showing of “Floyd Norman: An Animated Life” at Film Streams. The 94-minute documentary was produced by Michael Fiore Films and is available on Netflix and on Blu-ray at FloydNormanMovie.com. It features his animation work on classics such as “Sleeping Beauty” and “101 Dalmatians.”
Walt Disney later picked Norman to join the team writing the script for “The Jungle Book.” Disney had seen Norman’s gags posted around the office and recognized a talented storyteller.
“I didn’t think I was a writer, but the old man did,” Norman said. “Then I realized that maybe I am good at this.”
Norman named “The Jungle Book” as his favorite project, because he worked alongside Disney. It also proved to be Norman’s last feature at Disney for several years because he left to found his own production company.
“What I learned from the old man was the technique of storytelling and what made a movie work,” Norman said.
“I had an amazing opportunity to learn from the master. If you were in the room with Walt, it was for a reason. There are a lot of people who wanted to be in that room but didn’t get an invitation.”
The Normans, married 24 years, met at Walt Disney Studios. She was attracted by his humor and gift for voices, especially his Darth Vader imitation.
“Although I almost broke up with him when I found out he was also working on (TV cartoon) ‘Scooby-Doo,’ ” she said. “I couldn’t stand that show.”
Working at Disney presented its own challenges.
When Norman turned 65, the studio pushed him to retire. Instead, he began freelancing, and eventually worked his way back to Disney.
“To have a real tour of the Disney studios, you have to go with Floyd,” his wife said. “He gets into offices and other places that I can’t even go, and I still work there.”
Brown-Norman primarily paints children’s storybooks based on Disney and Pixar animated features. Some of her work has included such classic Disney characters as Mickey Mouse, and Pixar stars Buzz and Woody from “Toy Story.”
“In the beginning I did a lot of princesses, which I liked,” she said. “But my favorite subjects to paint are fairies, like Tinker Bell.”
One day at the studio the Normans recall pausing to watch the filming of “Saving Mr. Banks,” the story of Disney’s quest to acquire the rights to film “Mary Poppins.” Norman had worked on the movie and was interested in seeing Tom Hanks’ portrayal of his old boss.
“Tom Hanks rushed from his trailer in full costume to meet Floyd, shouting, ‘Where is that famous animator?’ ” Brown-Norman said. “You don’t expect a man like Tom Hanks to come running up. Then Tom wouldn’t let us leave. He wanted to know more about Walt, and if he was getting it right.”
Norman said he’s always a little surprised when people recognize him on the street. With his sharp, dry wit, he doesn’t think of himself as a legend.
“What I enjoy is the love of Disney that made so many people happy,” he said. “Maybe they were poor. Maybe they were in a bad home, but they tell me Disney stories gave them an escape. They gave them happiness, and that’s what I like.”
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