Animation Academy

The Baseline: For a theme park attraction, a quality experiences must be provided, the attraction must be fun and engaging, an immersive environment must be established, the queue line must be themed, and safety must be a top priority. Attraction: This is probably one of my favorite activities at Disney California Adventure. The experience is to sit down and be taught how to do a rough sketch of popular Disney characters which alternate with the season and the day on what you can draw. The characters are listed on a scheduling board so you can make sure to be there when they are drawing your favorite. Look for the artist’s choice times because those can be surprisingly fun. Queue: Air-conditioned in the summer, heated in the winter. Comfortable line wait to get in to draw. Disney animations play in the hub area where we play guess the next IP in then rotation. Great queue to wait in. Staff: The artists are awesome and engaging for this experience. Super nice and no one ever gets a bad comment no matter their personal artistic capabilities.

This place sucks. I was in line for the 7:00 drawing for Zero, and when I got in I sat down and not even 3 seconds later I was kicked out because there was “not enough room” even though the here were 10 free seats right in front of me. I told them there was enough room and they told me to leave or they would get security. THEN I was in line for the 7:30 drawing for Kaa and yet again, I was one of the first people in line and 3 minutes later I had to leave because some kid was having a melt down about not being able to draw. I then told them this is my second time being kicked out for not enough felon. They kicked me out and I waited by the exit to see how their drawings turned out, and 3 minutes after I was kicked out the at same little boy came walking out because he didn’t want to draw a snake. I then told a cast member about this and they said, “sorry there is no proof of you actually being in line” so yeah, a trip to hell and the most un happiest place on earth and all I left with was a call to 988 and a sob call to my mom. Thanks Mickey Mouse! I really enjoyed my stay in Hell!

Awesome place to cool down in the middle of Hollywood Studios. Many a time my wife and I have just rested / napped here in the middle of our California Adventure “adventure”. Iconic animation scenes and music flash on the screen in the main area, which is flanked by a variety of activities. Huge bonus: mostly-unused outlets in the Turtle Talk With Crush waiting area.

I was so excited to take part in a rough animation drawing of a Disney character. My daughter who was not with me is a graphic designer and I know she would have loved this workshop. The sessions are in half hour segments and the board normally tells you what character you will be drawing during your chosen time. This way if there is a certain character you would like to learn to draw then you could come back at that time. My husband and I decided to go with whatever was next in session. As we were waiting I looked around the changing animation in the main foyer and I recognized some of the art of Mary Blair who was responsible for doing much artwork in both the Disney movies and theme parks. Her rendition of Alice in Wonderland just blew me away! We were then ushered into a pre queue area where each of us was given a large piece of paper to draw with. Shortly after we went into the classroom, took seats and attached our paper to a large board that had a pencil without an eraser. Our instuctor Tom explained to us we would be drawing Miguel from Coco. Up on the center table are models of the various characters, a big screen where we could follow along and also watch him as he sat at the big drawing board off to the left. He gave us pretty simple instructions but I just didn't have the talent. Nevertheless my sketch looked just "ok." My daughter told me when I got home that rough animators must learn to draw without erasers so that they could better improve their ability to draw. The session lasted about an half hour and then he would be on hand to help us for a few minutes and answer any questions. The sketch we had drawn was ours to keep or dispose. Believe me I would have kept that but I thought of having to drag that thing all folded around the park with me would be insane. I did manage to spend a few minutes chatting with Tom as we left and told him about our daughter. He then signed and gave me his sketch to give her!! That sketch was on standard paper and much easier to take home. Imagine her joy when I gave it to her! She was thrilled beyond all reason and plans on getting it framed. Animation Academy has other attractions here including Turtle talk with Crush. Never got the opportunity to check that one out. This is a great free attraction to bring out your Disney drawing skills.

I and my daughter ended up visiting this again and again, for three drawings during the two days at California Adventure. This was simply the best experience at Disneyland to me.

Well worth the experience. Let's face it, lines are long for rides and food and it's hot, so this is a great way to get out of the sun and into a room with ac and comfy chairs. I went to the course that was teaching how to draw Stitch as Stitch is my favorite Disney character. The instructor made the 15 minute course fun and I was surprised how well I drew Stitch even though I have absolutely no drawing skills at all. And it's free, so you get to keep and take home your masterpiece if you like. If you're looking to do something different while at Disney California Adventure, check out the Animation Academy. They do have a schedule on when certain character courses will be taught and at what time.

Wow I didn’t expect to be this fun! Drawing a Disney character in the old way and most of us did very well and learn a lot about the character! Quite interactive and it’s special compare to the rides. Kids love it!

Animation Academy at Disney California Adventure is such a hidden gem and an absolute treat for anyone who loves Disney animation! 🎨✨ It's located inside the Disney Animation Building, and the atmosphere here is super creative and relaxing. The whole place is filled with art from classic Disney films, and you can feel the creative energy as soon as you walk in. The best part? You actually get to learn how to draw your favorite Disney characters from real Disney animators! 🖌️🖼️ The instructors are patient and really good at breaking down the drawing process step-by-step, so even if you’re not naturally artistic, you’ll still end up with a drawing that looks pretty good. Each session focuses on a different character — I got to draw Mickey Mouse, which was so fun and surprisingly easy to follow! The room is set up with drawing boards and big screens so you can see every detail clearly. The pace is just right — not too fast, not too slow — and the whole experience is super interactive. It’s a great way to take a break from the rides and do something creative. Plus, you get to keep your drawing as a free souvenir! 🖼️ If you’re visiting Disney California Adventure, don’t miss Animation Academy. It’s a unique experience that gives you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the art of Disney animation, and you’ll walk away with both a cool memory and a piece of art you created yourself. Highly recommend for both kids and adults! 🌟🎨🐭

One of my favorite non-ride activities at California Adventure. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and educated. The only thing I'd change is the mic volume. I can hear well but struggled to hear our artist. My husband who is hard of hearing really struggled to hear.

How the heck have I never written a review of this place when this is one of my must do's every time I go to Disney California Adventure. I'm no artist at all (I can't even draw a straight line) but this place allows people like me to be able to draw a Disney character every time you come. You go in with a class full of people and fill a small auditorium. There are drawing boards and pencils and you pop i a piece of paper on it and you start by lightly drawing a circle and dissecting it with a cross. From there you follow the instructions so you end up with a Disney character by the end of class. I'm terrible and often I laugh at how bad I am, but in the end I always end up with something that looks like the character. This is one of the best things to do at DCA because you get to rest a little, get out of the heat or cold, and instead of just consuming other people's creativity, you get to play with the creative part of your brain. Plus you have a cool souvenir that cost you nothing (I will some day frame all of the drawing's I've done over the years because why not).

The Baseline: For a theme park attraction, a quality experiences must be provided, the attraction must be fun and engaging, an immersive environment must be established, the queue line must be themed, and safety must be a top priority. Attraction: This is probably one of my favorite activities at Disney California Adventure. The experience is to sit down and be taught how to do a rough sketch of popular Disney characters which alternate with the season and the day on what you can draw. The characters are listed on a scheduling board so you can make sure to be there when they are drawing your favorite. Look for the artist's choice times because those can be surprisingly fun. Queue: Air-conditioned in the summer, heated in the winter. Comfortable line wait to get in to draw. Disney animations play in the hub area where we play guess the next IP in then rotation. Great queue to wait in. Staff: The artists are awesome and engaging for this experience. Super nice and no one ever gets a bad comment no matter their personal artistic capabilities.

A nice place to take a break and get inside for some fun and down time with AC/Heat - and cool shows and characters! We saw Elsa & Anna - learns to draw characters, had a Turtle Talk and had some MAGICAL FUN! Don't miss the opportunity to stop by and enjoy!!!!

For anyone interested in drawing or just having a fun time, this is a great show to check out. Outside there are rotating images from different Disney animated movies. The audience gets to learn from an animation artist on how to draw a Disney character. There is no pressure and you get simple instructions and leave with your own drawing. This time around we drew Wade from Pixar's Elemental. A lot of fun and I highly recommend it!

The Animation Academy is one of my favorite activities inside Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure Park. Each show time is every 30 minutes. The Animation Academy is located inside the Animation Building. The Animation Building also has Anna & Elsa's Royal Welcome, Turtle Talk with Crush and the Sorcerer's Workshop. My husband and I were visiting during the Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon. We sat in on a animation academy session and ended up getting Cruella de Vil. During the session, you get to draw the Disney character. We received step-by-step instruction on how to illustrate Cruella de Vil. It's such a fun experience and is unique every time! I'm not good at drawing, but I try my best! This is a must visit if you're inside Disneyland's California Adventure Park! You also get to keep your drawing!

It's not really a "hidden gem" because this is a very popular attraction, but I feel like it's not always on everyone's go-to list, but it SHOULD be! They offer classes usually every 30 mins from morning to evening (last one 930pm I believe), and you get to learn how to draw various Disney characters within 20 mins. Real Disney illustrators teach you and it's very easy to follow. The instructors are also very funny and entertaining. I recommend lining up ~15 mins before in the line area before your intended character time. I've done Mickey, Tigger, and Wall-E and all of them were very easy to follow, and it's a really cute souvenir you get to take home for yourself! A GREAT place to cool down on a hot day since it's indoor with air conditioning. If you have a character you really want to do, you can check the schedule list posted at the front and take a photo of it. Even if you're not that into drawing, just coming in to the lobby area and sitting on the cushions watching the videos is nice.

Fun spot to learn how to draw your favorite Disney cartoon characters! You wait inside for some time (I waited around 20-30 minutes before the next group were able to go in). You will be handed some paper while in line before going in and the fun begins once you're seated inside and pick up your drawing boards! The young lady teaching is also super helpful and is interactive with everyone, and the drawing lesson isn't too difficult. A good time here, always!

Experiencing **Animation Academy** for the first time was an absolute delight! We got to draw **Pluto**, and it was such a fun and engaging session. The instructor was incredibly outgoing, cracking jokes and making the whole process enjoyable while guiding us step-by-step through the drawing. I wasn't sure how my sketch would turn out, but to my surprise--it actually came out pretty good! I left feeling so happy that I decided to try this. If you love Disney, creativity, or just want a unique experience, **Animation Academy is definitely worth checking out!**

I've always LOVED coming to Animation Academy when I wanted to take a lil break from walking all day at Disneyland/ DCA! This is a cute little drawing class that anyone can take inside of California Adventure :) Animation Academy usually offers classes every 30 minutes (we took the 5PM class). You can check what the class is teaching on a sign right outside the class & we took a class that was the artists choice -- which was Stitch from Lilo & Stitch :') This was such a cute fun experience & any time I come to Disney I HAVE to take this ! It's great for all ages & you don't need reservations.

After all these years of being an annual pass holder, I had never done animation academy. So, my son and I went for the first time this past Friday. We had a magical time. My son is a huge Oswald fan, he was wearing his Oswald shirt and lanyard with pins, so when we saw the Oswald lesson was at 11:30, we knew that's the one we wanted to check out We say front row, and the animator/ cast member asked if there anyone knew Oswald. A few people raised hands, and the cast member spotted my son right away and recognized him for wearing all the Oswald stuff. We completed the lesson which was fun. Once the 'class' was over, the animator asked everyone to turn their drawings around, he said kind words all around. Then he turned to my son and said I'm going to give my drawing to the biggest Oswald fan here, and gave him his signed rough draft. Needless to say my son was extremely excited and thanked the cast member. He wanted to go home straight away after so we could frame the drawing. As we were waking out of the park, we spotted none other than Oswald himself! We were able to get him to sign the drawing, adding to the magic. Overall a fantastic experience. So much fun, we went back again today and drew Donald.

**Disney's Animation Academy: A Hidden Gem for Aspiring Everyone** I've been meaning to share this Disney experience that's perfect for all ages. Whether you consider yourself a talented artist or, like me, struggle to draw anything more than stick figures, this is a must-try! At the Animation Academy in Hollywood Land (DCA), you don't need to worry about having any drawing skills. The instructor on stage guides everyone through the drawing process, step by step, making it easy to create your very own Disney character sketch. And here's the best part--You'll be amazed at what you can actually draw anything without needing to make corrections by erasers. **Location:** Hollywood Land **Who Can Join:** There are no age or height restrictions (just note that strollers need to be parked outside the entrance before you head in). ** Schedule:** The experience runs daily from 9:00 AM to 9:30 PM, with 26 sessions in total, each session is 30 minutes and features a different character, but the app doesn't specify which character will be drawn in each session. I snapped a picture of the current schedule for reference--you may check it out to pick your favorite character's session. **Character & Timeline Guide:** - 9:00 AM: Mickey Mouse - 9:30 AM: Goofy - 10:00 AM: Donald Duck - 10:30 AM: Nemo - 11:00 AM: Little Green Men - 11:30 AM: Lightning McQueen - 12:00 PM: Remy - 12:30 PM: Joy - 1:00 PM: Anger - 1:30 PM: Mike - 2:00 PM: Sulley - 2:30 PM: Anxiety - 3:00 PM: Dory - 3:30 PM: Sadness - 4:00 PM: Ember - 4:30 PM: Wade - 5:00 PM: Miguel - 5:30 PM: Russell - 6:00 PM: Remy - 6:30 PM: Wall-E - 7:00 PM: Baymax - 7:30 PM: Daisy Duck - 8:00 PM: Pluto - 8:30 PM: Oswald - 9:00 PM: Minnie Mouse - 9:30 PM: Forky (*Note: Above schedule is accurate as of June 29, 2024. Be sure to check for any updates when you arrive.) June 29, 2024, also happened to be the 17th anniversary of the release of *Ratatouille,* so we were lucky enough to catch the 6:00 PM session drawing Remy. The instructor that day was super speedy in process I have never experienced but don't worry-- we still can follow along with the projected screen up front. Whether your drawing ends up looking exactly like the character or not, the real joy is in experiencing how Disney characters are brought to life through simple sketching. Once you're done, you can take your drawing home as a keepsake or, if you prefer, leave it in the recycling bin near the exit. And here's a little secret: if you're visiting on a super hot day, this place is a cool retreat! Even if you're not interested in drawing, you can pop in to watch some Disney animation clips on the large projection screens and take a break. It's a great free resting spot inside the park that not everyone knows about. **P.S.** If you're visiting Disney World in Orlando, it has a similar experience at Animal Kingdom called "The Animation Experience at Conservation Station." Here's the schedule: 10:00 AM, 10:45 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:45 PM, 2:30 PM, 3:15 PM, 4:00 PM, 4:45 PM. From June 10 to September 6, they're celebrating the 30th anniversary of *The Lion King* with special sessions focused on characters from the movie.

No Reservations needed! They do animation "trainings" every 30 minutes. Like clockwork pretty much. You don't have to have any drawing talent to participate. I can't draw for crap and I was able to go in lol I tried my best... It wasn't great. Lolol But it was my first time. And he did say it was a harder character. That's probably not even true lol I bet he says that after every showing to make everyone feel better haha You go into the Disney Animation Building where you can line up and wait. Then they bring you in to a big room with chairs. You sit down and grab a clipboard. Then follow the instructions. This is tons of fun!!

Mostly for kiddos but we were in a very HAPPY PLACE...We were feeling our inner child you might say ..the colors were spectacular..so beautiful ..as if we stepped into another world...once again..very magical

First time here but this is one of Doc's favorites at DCA. You get to use a large white clip board and pencil plus help yourself to a sheet of paper. You follow along with the woman below who goes step by step to show you how to draw a Disney character. Just so happened our session was learning to draw a llama. Good place to sit back in AC and learn something new. Try calming activity plus you get to escape the crowd and heat outside. Held in the Animation building by Hollywood on the Main Street. Let the artist in you shine.

Haiku: Animation Academy This place is a gem Draw like a Disney artist Many characters. --- Located inside the Animation Building in Hollywood Land, the Animation Academy is my absolute favorite spot in Disney California Adventure. I come with my sketchbook in hand and am always excited to learn from Disney artists how to draw Disney and Pixar characters. Character Drawing Sessions are every 30 minutes. There's a class schedule of characters propped outside of the entrance. A large sketch paper, board, and pencil are provided to create your beautiful drawing. Tip: If you come often enough, you should invest in a sketchbook. That way you have your wonderful drawings all in one place.

Sketching is not my forte! That's why in all my years of coming to Disneyland California Adventure, I've avoided actually trying my hand at it! I knew my Magic Key Pass was expiring and I didn't know when I'd be back again, so I decided to go to the Animation Academy and give it a go! The line is almost always long, but the auditorium holds many people, so your chances of nabbing a seat are really good! I was in the middle of the pack and still got to choose where I wanted to sit! There are steps to navigate, so be prepared. As you are in line, they hand you the large sheet of paper you will draw on. It's cool! It has a framed border with the words "Disney Animation Academy" and "Disney California Adventure" and makes for a neat keepsake! At your seat, there is a board for you to clip your paper on to and a pencil. Tip: Erasing is not allowed! The pencils provided do not have erasers. In order to fix what you don't like, you just sketch a little more boldly over the lines you want to stand out more! The instructor was great! For me, the class was a tad bit rushed, but then again, I am a perfectionist and it was difficult for me to ignore the lines I drew and didn't want! The class goes by quickly! You can see the instructor drawing in front of you. There's also a screen where you can watch in closer detail. I loved trying my hand at sketching! I don't think it turned out too bad for a first attempt! I am a bit regretful that I waited so long, especially not knowing when my next Disney Day will be!

I've always bypassed the Animation Academy while visiting Disney California Adventure, but it is such a hidden gem! As you enter, head towards the left of the room. There will be a schedule that indicates the time and what you will be drawing. No reservations are needed. You'll receive a large piece of paper and get to learn step by step how to sketch a particular character. It's a great way to get a complimentary souvenir from the park. This also a great option when it's raining at the park!

Definitely one of my favorite attractions of Disney California Adventure Park! Located inside the Animation Building in Hollywoodland, this free drawing class is so fun! It's a little rushed, but you can always take your drawing home to finish and put on the fridge! There's a character schedule posted inside the building in the queue area. They are scheduled for 30 minute sessions including getting the groups in and out of the space, so the actual class is about 15-20 minutes per character. The auditorium set up is easy to get people in and out, and it can fit quite a lot of people. As you are waiting in line, they provide you a large drawing sheet. After you are inside the auditorium, there is a pencil and drawing board at your seat. Then the magic happens! The instructor will introduce themselves and the character we will be drawing. They will have a large projection screen so you can follow along. They give great step by step instructions, but can be a bit rushed. However, it is always fun! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the queue space!! It's a big open area that houses 4 attractions - Turtle Talk with Crush, Animation Academy, Anna & Elsa's Royal Welcome and Sorcerer's Workshop. There are huge screens in 360° introducing Disney movies from past to current movies of character development to finished movies, videos and all our favorite songs on loop. My favorite is the Tangled lantern boat ride scene, you feel your in the middle of the action! Great for when you need some quiet AC time! They have a few sofas to relax too! Definitely recommended!

A hidden gem that not all Disney park goers are aware of. This is my get away whenever it's either too hot or too cold/windy. It's a scenic place to sit if you just want to remain in the lobby, or you can check out the various attractions. The animation studio is fun to learn how to draw characters, and if you do the Disney100 Guided Tour you can have Q&A with an animator! Also within the Animation Academy, there is Crush Talk and an Anna & Elsa Meet and Greet. Definitely worth checking out if you are in Hollywood area of Disney California Adventure!

I was so excited to take part in a rough animation drawing of a Disney character. My daughter who was not with me is a graphic designer and I know she would have loved this workshop. The sessions are in half hour segments and the board normally tells you what character you will be drawing during your chosen time. This way if there is a certain character you would like to learn to draw then you could come back at that time. My husband and I decided to go with whatever was next in session. As we were waiting I looked around the changing animation in the main foyer and I recognized some of the art of Mary Blair who was responsible for doing much artwork in both the Disney movies and theme parks. Her rendition of Alice in Wonderland just blew me away! We were then ushered into a pre queue area where each of us was given a large piece of paper to draw with. Shortly after we went into the classroom, took seats and attached our paper to a large board that had a pencil without an eraser. Our instuctor Tom explained to us we would be drawing Miguel from Coco. Up on the center table are models of the various characters, a big screen where we could follow along and also watch him as he sat at the big drawing board off to the left. He gave us pretty simple instructions but I just didn't have the talent. Nevertheless my sketch looked just "ok." My daughter told me when I got home that rough animators must learn to draw without erasers so that they could better improve their ability to draw. The session lasted about an half hour and then he would be on hand to help us for a few minutes and answer any questions. The sketch we had drawn was ours to keep or dispose. Believe me I would have kept that but I thought of having to drag that thing all folded around the park with me would be insane. I did manage to spend a few minutes chatting with Tom as we left and told him about our daughter. He then signed and gave me his sketch to give her!! That sketch was on standard paper and much easier to take home. Imagine her joy when I gave it to her! She was thrilled beyond all reason and plans on getting it framed. Animation Academy has other attractions here including Turtle talk with Crush but I got involved with the Off the page gift shop (reviewed separately) that I really never got to see the rest of it. This is a great free attraction to bring out your Disney drawing skills. Located in Hollywood land in CA Adventure.

Hidden gem at CAA. If you want to get away from the lines and rides of CAA, Animation Academy is the perfect spot. Every 30 minutes, they do a new drawing. You can show up with a minute left and get seated fine. It is a 30 minute session that shows you a quick tutorial of how to draw a character in the Disney library. After the drawing, you get to keep your page. Kiddos love it. Fun for adults!

The Animation Academy is one of my go to and must do activities whenever I visit DCA. I'm terrible at drawing but have always been a huge fan of Disney animation. They do such a great job walking you step by step how to draw the beloved characters. During the pandemic, I would watch some of the videos they posted online and follow along and draw at home. But doing it live in person has been a real treat. They have a schedule of who the animators are drawing on a big time board outside the actual room. Each class is staggered every 30 minutes, once at the top of the hour and then once at the half hour. Some people aim to draw specific characters and they'll return back but usually if I'm already there I'll draw anything. There's a waiting area outside of the room and sometimes during busier times they'll have a queue set up so the folks exiting don't get in your way. Once you enter you grab a blank piece of paper and then you find a seat in the auditorium that's spaced out by a giant board. All the boards will have pencils without erasers on them already. Going through the tutorial is really fun and at the end of it all, you'll have a fantastic rendition of a Disney character. It's a great fun activity to do and I'm sure when it's really hot outside is a great place to get some air-conditioning and get out of the sun. Thank you to all the cast members for making it such a fun activity!

I still enjoy coming here. It's a good respite from the heat during the summer. It also sharpens your drawing abilities and also builds your confidence. What I love is when they ask you in the middle of the class "how are you doing, so far?". The groans and snickers coming from the audience is funny! What i would like to see is more options. They seem to repeat a lot of characters throughout the day. They do offer a Master's Class where they offer characters that they typically don't draw. These are a little more difficult to draw. The last one we went to was where we drew Princess Tiana. Not gonna lie, it was a little difficult and I didn't finish her- she's still missing an eyebrow! The cool thing is, you can keep your paper and they joke about it being the only free thing in Disneyland. Hopefully they offer more than just one Master's Class each day.

This hidden gem often gets overlooked when you're at DCA. I guess because it's situated in an area that's primarily for little kids, you would not think much of it but think again! There is usually a wait, but I recommend coming here right on time. No need to be early. The doors open about 1-2 minutes after the scheduled time. You get a pencil with no eraser and a blank piece of sketching paper to draw on. The instructor goes pretty fast because they only have about a 20-25 minute window to teach you how to draw a particular character. You'll mess up, but it's okay. The whole point is to test your artistic abilities and have fun! Once you are done, you get to keep your artwork as a souvenir. It's not often that you get to get free things from Disney.

This is my favorite thing to do in DCA, hands down. I enjoy staying in the a/c watching all the Disney/Pixar movie clips and art on the huge screen while waiting for class to start. It's a unique and fun experience, and in the end you get to take a free souvenir home that you drew!

Learn to draw Disney characters! This is located by Off The Page Shop in the Hollywood Backlot. A board is posted outside to show the schedule of drawings for the day. Since Turning Red was released, they have a MeiMei as Red Panda drawing time. There are really good varieties of characters offered. From the classic to tv characters to new movie characters. We were able to go into couple sessions (beat the heat and crowd) and drew Mickey, Pluto, Jack, and Sally. Bonus: No need of materials when you go! In the academy, they provide clipboard, blank paper and pencil. The sketch artist will guide you step by step and in 20 mins later, you will have a created a disney character masterpiece.

Located in Disney California Adventure. I never had the chance to do this, I never knew you learn to draw characters. Upon entering you are handed a paper to draw once inside at your seat there is a clip board with a pencil that you put your paper on. The instructor then shows you how to draw the character as simple as possible. We drew Piglet from Winnie the Pooh. Overall it was fun to draw although I'm no artist nor can draw but it was cool learning. I would definitely do this again.

Well worth the experience. Let's face it, lines are long for rides and food and it's hot, so this is a great way to get out of the sun and into a room with ac and comfy chairs. I went to the course that was teaching how to draw Stitch as Stitch is my favorite Disney character. The instructor made the 15 minute course fun and I was surprised how well I drew Stitch even though I have absolutely no drawing skills at all. And it's free, so you get to keep and take home your masterpiece if you like. If you're looking to do something different while at Disney California Adventure, check out the Animation Academy. They do have a schedule on when certain character courses will be taught and at what time.

Love love love Animation Academy. Some instructors are better than others but it's always an interesting and fun experience.

Super fun, short activity you can do while waiting for your Fast Pass time frame or just to cool down from being outside! Check the drawing schedules to see when you can learn to draw your favorite characters! You line up in front, then you file in, grab a sheet of paper, and on your seat is a clipboard and a pencil. The key is the pencil has NO ERASER. Animators at Disney use a rough, light sketch technique, so you only trace over darkly on the lines you want to keep! The drawing session is short and simple and the directions are clear to follow because the steps are likened to shapes and motions, so regardless of artistic ability, this is something everyone can enjoy. I also like that the artist also gives the audience tidbits of information about the character, the movie the character was in, etc! PRO TIP: Grab extra paper to act like a "folder" for your drawing if you don't want the graphite from the pencil to smear!

COME HERE IF YOU NEED A BREAK! :) It's extremely climate controlled and quiet compared to the rest of the parks. Don't be scared away if there's a long line, as you'd be surprised at how many seats are inside the drawing room. Classes start every 30 min. and they start prepping the line for the next class every 15 min. or so. There's a different character taught in every class. There's a sign posted daily across from the line that shows which characters are in what classes for that day. During the holidays, the animators give some of the characters a little holiday pizazz! Example - last Halloween month, we drew Donald in a cape and mask. I truly suck at art, but always leave this class feeling like I don't! Idk how the animators do it, but they make the characters easy for all ages and skill levels to draw. You get to keep the giant papers you draw on when you're done! We always hang them on our apt windows for the world to see haha, then next class we take, we replace the ones in the windows with the new ones. This attraction really is a hidden gem at the parks!

I drew that. (Picture) Anything that enables (I know, bad word) me to draw/sketch out ANYTHING is worth 5 stars. This "class" was an extremely helpful lesson that even I can sketch out a Pluto. That's saying a lot. I mean a ton. Big ol' auditorium with another huge screen showing what the instructor was drawing. She made it easy enough for the masses. Even left with my own souvenir sketch!

A cute little find in the building right next to Off the Page. It's an exceptional place especially when the days got hot and you need to escape if only for the air conditioning. Animation academy is a cool 15 min lesson on drawing various characters from Disney movies. they have a schedule posted either outside or right be the entrance of the line inside. Some of the characters I have drawn in the past include piglet, Olaf, chip, minnie mouse, & jack skellington just to name a few. They provide the paper, pencil (without the eraser, which is key) and a sketch lap desk. It's a lot of fun. Even my 18 month old nephew had a good time "drawing" I suck at drawing but my sister loves going here to learn how to draw a new character and beat the heat on our Disney days.

Disneyland's First Official Day of Halloween!!! We'll be drawing Villains for this season. It's always a great place to take a rest and get off your feet.

One of the benefits of being a passholder is that you get a chance to try all the attractions that you normally wouldn't have time for if you were only coming for a day. I had guests out of town wanting to wait in long lines so instead I waited for them at the Animation Academy, located in The Disney Animation Building. Each class was about 20 minutes long and you learn step by step by a professional Disney artist on how to a character. You are given a pencil with no eraser, a drawing pad and a large piece of paper with Disney's watermark. At the end of the class, you exit the room and have to fall back in line for the next class. I must have done this three times in a row because it was so much fun! I'm an artist myself but I immediately felt like I was 5 years old, picking up a pencil for the first time and being reminded why I love drawing so much. Some tips: 1.) Let go of any doubt and anxiety! The instructor has been training for years so you are not expected to be at their level in one sitting! I saw a few kids stuck because they weren't sure of themselves so make sure you pump up the kids and people you are with. 2.) Use the entire paper. Make sure you are using your full range of motion. Draw big! 3.) OMG, have fun!!

Love this class. Been here multiple times. Feel like I got a real educational experience when attending it. We were here at night on a Saturday and the line was a good half hour wait. We stood in line surrounded by the large overhead screens of various film clips of Disney characters. Entering the auditorium, you pick up large pieces of paper and sit down on the row bench that have clipboards regularly interspersed. The auditorium felt like a theater as the stage in front was elevated and had a live action performance as any play. For the next 20 minutes, we got a chance to draw Eyeore. The artist guided us step by step through drawing a character. No prior experience necessary and every seat is a good view of the artist's rendition. Since the artist instructor has his drawing projected on the screen, you can not pay attention to what he's doing and still catch up on your own artwork. After you complete your drawing, feel free to take it home or dump it into the large bin outside the auditorium. Worth attending! Pros good artist instructors Cons longer than expected wait in line

This workshop is the best! One day I want to come to California Adventure and just stay doing workshop after workshop. There is a new character sketch every 30 mins starting at the top of the hour. Pros: -Fun for the whole family. This is one of the attractions my parents and I love doing. -The illustrators do a great job with each step so even if you think you're not an artist, somehow after this workshop you come out with a great keepsake. -Speaking of keepsake, you keep your drawing! Cons: -I wish there was a place you could keep your drawing and pick it up later. It always bothered me that I always have to roll up or fold my drawing and carry it throughout the park for the rest of the day.

Come take a break from the busy crowds outside and the extensive ride lines! Love coming here to take a break and exercise my sketching skills: A full schedule is up and ready everyday for you to see what characters will be drawn for the day. Sketch artists do a great job of walking you through the process within the 30 mins. During holidays, you can draw special characters: -Holiday Mickey -Miguel from Coco -Valentines day couples Etc. Nice break area and you get to sharpen those drawing skills.

This was our first time visiting Animation Academy and kinda wish we had done this earlier in our annual pass days instead of on our last day! We sat in the front row of the Steam Boat Willie Minnie Mouse drawing and it was so much fun and easy to learn! Can't wait to come back in the future to learn more characters! We'll be back!

For me: This is easily the best place in both parks. I love to draw and so does my son, so this place is great!!! We've done this twice now and we've had the same artist, which I think is Sami... but she super nice and funny. On our visit we drew The Mayor of Halloween Town. She was super cool with my son and he got as good as he did for a 5 year old. Because my son is super talkative (wonder where he gets that from) she interacted with him a lot and gave him her drawing at the end. She was also super nice to take a picture with him. Simply the BEST. Teaching kids and adults to draw their favorite characters is awesome!

Easily one of my favorite things to do when I have some downtime at Disney California Adventure. In my younger years, I would doodle to my hearts content. Although the drawings would amount to random scribblings, I imagined that I conjured up images of fantastic creatures including Disney characters in epic sceneries and landscapes. While Animation Academy will only help you draw the head of beloved Disney characters, at least it let you feel like you were on your way to Disney animator status! After you sit down in your seat, the animator will go over the general step by steps on how to draw a Disney character. NO ERASERS! Basically what you will have is a rough sketch on a Disney sheet of paper that you can take home! For those who would like to draw specific characters should check out the schedule. If you have any questions, there is someone in front who can answer any general questions. Overall, I would highly recommend a trip to Animation Academy especially if you have some free time at Disney California Adventure.

I am NOT an artist. When I draw birds, they're long "m"s. When I draw trees, they're two sticks with a cloud on top. When I draw people, they're stick figures. I can't even draw a straight line with a ruler. So when I told my husband that I wanted to take part in the Animation Academy session, I think he must have thought I was crazy. But, he played along and we settled into our seats, boards on our laps, pencils in hand. I was right. Even with a step-by-step, demonstrated walk-through, I'm still not an artist. Our drawing that day was Minnie Mouse. The animator made it look and sound so easy. He drew light circles and ovals, then connected everything together to create a beautiful representation of that lovely she-mouse. Me? My "light guide lines" were way too heavy to ignore. My ovals were circles, my circles were ovals. On my page, poor Minnie looked like she'd been served a vicious right hook to the face, forever altering the direction of her nose. And one of her eyes. And making her bow lopsided. Alas. None of this has to do with the academy, or the animator. The problem is ME. Despite my shortcomings as an artist, I had a blast in this workshop. It was fun to look around and see how *everybody* else created a better Minnie Mouse than I did. Even that 2 year old kid! He couldn't even write his name, but he drew a better mouse than I did! It can feel a bit rushed, especially if you were waiting outside for a while, but it's worth it.

94/100 sketchtastic reviews challenge for 2017 5 Stars all day! Who wouldn't love to draw and create a drawing like the animators at Walt Disney and pixar studios. Child like dreams and creating worlds of wonder is what the artist at walt disney studios have been doing for than a 100yrs. Remember "We must never lose sight that, it all started with a mouse".. Walt Disney If you love drawing and have always wanted to draw one of your favorite disney character, then come to the animation academy and sketch till your hearts content! Theres plenty of seating and they supply you with a drawing board, paper, an a pencil. Once you sit down the artist or animator will show you step by step on how to create the drawing by simplifying ths shapes so everyone understands. Once your done you can take it home and frame it! Its all pretty quick, it dosnt last more than 10 min....Come try it out and have some fun... This is located in california adventure in downtown Hollywood.

The Disney Animation Building has several attractions including the Sorcerer's Workshop, Turtle Talk with Crush, Anna and Elsa's Royal Welcome, The Art of Animation Gallery and Animation Academy. Until last night, the only exhibit we had visited was the Sorcerer's Workshop, but with some time to kill, we decided to visit the Animation Academy ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/animation-academy-anaheim-2?select=ut9FZCZP59CxMBNQdFv8IQ ) for a lesson in drawing Disney characters. The demonstrations are at half an hour intervals ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/animation-academy-anaheim-2?select=vcfrG3fShd_aNVApQoZalA ) and each time has a specific character you will learning to draw. We had pretty good timing showing up a few minutes before the attraction opened and once the doors opened the better half and I found seating and grabbed some paper at the beginning of the aisle to put on our drawing easels which are located on each seat. Sarah ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/animation-academy-anaheim-2?select=oSfW1ph89WBLg_LkC9MjdQ ) was our instructor for the class and she had a cheerful personality and positive attitude. One of the first things she pointed out to us aspiring artists is there is no mistakes in Animation Academy and thus no erasures on our pencils. The class began with an introduction to the character we would be attempting to draw ... Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Who?! Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was the first animated character to get their own series with 26 one reel cartoons being produced during the 1920s and 1930s. Disney left the project sometime later, leaving the rights to Oswald in the hands of Universal Studios, so Walt Disney Studios could start working on cartoons about a certain mouse who would become the face of an empire. After Buena Vista Games pitched a video game idea to Disney President and C.O.O. Bob Iger in 2003, Disney started negotiations to reacquire the rights to Oswald and the catalog of Disney-produced films. In 2006, Disney traded sports announcer Al Michaels to NBC/Universal for Oswald in one of the oddest transactions ever in business. Sarah walked us through the process of drawing Oswald ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/animation-academy-anaheim-2?select=5gF6OR9x40op74I66MaWlQ ) while she was drawing her own picture which everyone could see on a projection screen ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/animation-academy-anaheim-2?select_video=btF2JKzKO4-RekQD8UgkVA ) in the center of the room. The class goes fairly quickly and you are encouraged to take your finished product home with you ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/animation-academy-anaheim-2?select=9z20AQ_7M75lrIQorMd3hw ), no matter how bad it looks. Rohlinism: If you have created something so lousy you don't want to keep it, trust me no one else wants it either! The class starts out by drawing a circle for his head. Next we drew one horizontal and one vertical curved line turning the circle into a sphere. From here we added a nose, mouth, bottom lip, tongue and a dimple. Finally, we were instructed to draw to oval eyes, eyebrows and finally ears. My growing list of occupation I have no aptitude for now includes animation artist! I hope my drawing wasn't the worst in the class, but it was no where near the best, At the end of the class, the cast members allowed me to loiter and take some pictures of the drawings and sketches inside and outside of the attraction: ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/animation-academy-anaheim-2?select=-tXMztwzBYU4IIcLAbIuOg ) ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/animation-academy-anaheim-2?select=Ia3MpnP2iObIN_LPGAtLhA ) ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/animation-academy-anaheim-2?select=54JkYRGCdCAhEBClLN2QaQ ) I also was about to get a good look at the desk ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/animation-academy-anaheim-2?select=6S76EtJ8RtwOr1Xq5JMIyw ) Sarah using during the demonstration and the desk had plenty of objects on it which would inspire any truly interested in animation art. I am not sure the attraction could hold the attention of younger children and I could see children under the age of 9 becoming easily flustered / distracted when they are not able to draw at the same level as the cast member providing the demonstration. However, any child that is interested in drawing cartoons or animated characters should take the time to sit in on a class or two here. Who knows? In time, your child could be drawing and animating the "Fab Five" for Walt Disney Animation Studio. Overall, as a passholder I will probably return in the future at a time when one of the characters I am interested in is scheduled to be drawn and the attraction time is 15 minutes and that is not much time out of your busy day for one of the more unique experiences in the park.

This is one of my favorite hidden jewels at California Adventures. I really love the fact that you get to sit in a nice air conditioned room and get to learn how to draw one of many characters that they offer in the sessions throughout the day. It's located in a building next to Off the Page branching off from Vista Street towards the Hyperion Theater. When you go inside the building, go to your left and you'll see the sign and list of characters they will be doing for the day. You will be let into a room up a slight ramp that is filled with drawing boards, pencils, and paper with a big screen that will project what the artist is doing. Each drawing session takes about 15 minutes to do and the instructor demonstrates and explains step by step how to draw the character. You may get a talker or you may get one that s super fast, but I always seem to have a good time. You even get to choose to keep your drawing or recycle it. For me, I sometimes take multiple classes in a row, so it's cool collecting all the drawings in a day and just waiting in line while the big screens play scenes and music from the various Disney movies.

Love this! If you have some time to kill, you should do this. Even if you're not very artistic, it will most likely turn out just fine. They have sessions throughout the day.

They are adding more Pixar characters to their sessions. The group ahead of me drew Edna Mode from the Incredibles, and my session featured Bing Bong from Inside Out.

My favorite place to stop by and cool down on a hot summer day. Sometimes I even stop by the main gallery to just take in and watch the clips of some of my Disney favorite movies. It's so nice in here. The Animation Courtyard has still images, video clips and music that illustrates the creative process (from pencil to pixel). They also have the music playing in the background for each of the movie clips they're showing. My favorite is the animation academy where they have Disney artists teaching you how to draw some of your favorite Disney characters. They usually have a schedule of the day at the front of the animation academy. They also happen every 30 minutes. It goes by fast and it's so much fun to learn to draw. At the Sorcerer's Workshop you can create simple animation in the Magic Mirror Realm... and uncover your "inner Disney self" in The Beast's Library! They also have Turtle Talk with Crush which is a live chat with Crush and you can meet his new pals from Finding Dory!