The Animation Building

Erected in 1939, the Animation Building served as the architectural and functional centerpiece of the studio. Designed in the Art Moderne style by architect Kent Weber, it housed the animators and story staffs on the lot. Its eight wings gave each work area natural sunlight, and its windows featured mechanized awnings adjustable in each room to control natural light, one of the many requirements mandated by Walt Disney. The building also included distinctive designs for earthquake protection and climate control, with expansion joints in each wing and a roller system on which all pipes are mounted. Its heating, electrical, and air-conditioning systems were designed for efficiency, flexibility, and long-term use and remain fully functional in their original configurations today. Many classic Disney animated features, including Dumbo, Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Lady & The Tramp, were created and drawn there. It also housed the studio offices of Walt and Roy Disney, and today it is home to the company’s talent and administration and is considered the jewel of the original Studio Buildings.

Burbank, California · United States