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It has been 100 years since a young animator sold his first film series called Alice comedies to a distributor. Without knowing, he was starting what became one of the world鈥檚 biggest media empires, the company took his family name, Disney.

The studio has led and shaped the animation industry for generations and it鈥檚 now in the very heart of global culture. In this episode of The Cultural Frontline we speak to leading animators responsible for some of Disney and Pixar鈥檚 most successful films, who have been in the room when the magic was being conjured up.

We also explore the creative, technological and cultural challenges Disney, and the wider animation industry are facing today.

Veteran animator Floyd Norman has worked with Disney since the 1950s, on films like Sleeping Beauty, and The Jungle Book. His colleague Tony Bancroft was the co-director of Mulan and the creator of one of the most beloved Disney characters; Pumbaa, the warthog in The Lion King. They come together to talk about the milestones of Disney history.

From Snow White to Brave, Oscar winning director Brenda Chapman reflects on the role of women on screen and in production and tells what was the inspiration for Merida, the iconic Brave鈥檚 anti-princess.

Plus, the creator of the first programme for children that has openly shown LGBTQ+ characters and stories, Rebecca Sugar and Frank Abney, who has worked on Disney and Pixar titles such Coco and Soul, discuss how the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and the Black Lives Matter movement are changing the animation industry.

Presenter: Brian Sibley
Producer: Constanza Hola