Animation Academy
Attraction type at Disney theme parks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Animation Academy is an attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios[1] (to return in 2026),[2] Disney California Adventure, Walt Disney Studios Park (which will be rename as Disney Adventure World), and Hong Kong Disneyland. The same attraction formerly existed in DisneyQuest, which closed in 2017,[3] and a similar attraction called The Animation Experience at Conservation Station, which closed in 2026 at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
The Walt Disney Studios Lot (The Magic of Disney Animation)
Summer 2026 (reopening)
| Animation Academy | |
|---|---|
Disney Animation building at Disney California Adventure in 2008. | |
| Disney's Hollywood Studios | |
| Name | Olaf Draws! |
| Area | Animation Courtyard (The Magic of Disney Animation) The Walt Disney Studios Lot (The Magic of Disney Animation) |
| Status | Under construction |
| Opening date | May 1, 1989 Summer 2026 (reopening) |
| Closing date | July 12, 2015 |
| Replaced | Star Wars Launch Bay (Animation Courtyard) |
| Replaced by | Star Wars Launch Bay (Animation Courtyard) |
| Tokyo Disneyland | |
| Name | Disney Drawing Class |
| Area | World Bazzar (The Disney Gallery) |
| Status | Closed |
| Opening date | 1994 |
| Closing date | September 30, 2016 |
| Replaced by | Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique |
| DisneyQuest | |
| Status | Closed |
| Opening date | June 9, 1998 |
| Closing date | July 3, 2017 |
| Disney California Adventure | |
| Area | Hollywood Land (Disney Animation) |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | February 8, 2001 |
| Walt Disney Studios Park | |
| Area | Toon Studio (2002–2025) World Premiere Plaza |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | March 16, 2002 |
| Hong Kong Disneyland | |
| Area | Main Street, U.S.A. (Art of Animation) |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | July 14, 2007 |
| Shanghai Disneyland | |
| Name | Marvel Comic Academy |
| Area | Gardens of Imagination |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | June 16, 2016 |
| Disney's Animal Kingdom | |
| Name | The Animation Experience at Conservation Station |
| Area | Rafiki's Planet Watch |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | July 11, 2019 |
| Closing date | February 23, 2026 |
| Replaced | Portion of Conversation Station |
| Replaced by | Bluey's Wild World |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Animation class |
| Theme | Disney Animation |
| Duration | 25–30 minutes |
Tokyo Disneyland also features an almost identical attraction, named simply Disney Drawing Class, within The Disney Gallery in World Bazaar. The attraction was closed permanently on September 30, 2016, to make way for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.[4][5]
In Shanghai Disneyland's Marvel Universe, a similar attraction called Marvel Comic Academy is operating. This attraction features Marvel Comic's characters instead of Disney movies characters.
History
Disney's Animal Kingdom
At Disney's Animal Kingdom, The Animation Experience at Conservation Station (as being the second renovations of the attraction) was being reopened within Rafiki's Planet Watch on July 11, 2019, and its drawing classes feature popular Disney animals, since it was announced that the first renovations of the attraction was being temporarily closed on October 21, 2018.[6][7][8][9] On February 3, 2026, it was announced that the attraction was permanently closed on February 23, 2026 to make way for a new Bluey experience as Bluey's Wild World at Disney's Animal Kingdom on May 26, 2026 and move to the Magic of Disney Animation at Disney's Hollywood Studios.[10]
Disneyland Paris
In 2025, Animation Celebration was located in Toon Studio, but was re-designated to World Premiere Plaza on March 29, 2026, which is the date on which Walt Disney Studios Park will be renamed Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris. On February 17, 2026, it was announced the final performance of the show as Frozen: A Musical Invitation in the Animation Celebration theater, will permanently closed on April 1, 2026, which is the date after Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris, since it was announced that the first renovations of the ride as Art of Disney Animation was being temporarily closed on January 7, 2019[11] until the second renovations of the attraction was reopened on November 17, 2019 as Animation Celebration, including the interactive show and meet and greets, for over six years ago.[12][citation needed]
Disney's Hollywood Studios
In July 2025, it was announced the attraction will become part of The Magic of Disney Animation in a new area, The Walt Disney Studios Lot.[citation needed] In February 2026, it was announced that the Animation Academy will be renamed Olaf Draws! featuring an Audio-Animatronics figure of Olaf.[citation needed]
Summary
The attraction opened together with DisneyQuest in Walt Disney World in 1998. It was also added[when?] to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney California Adventure. It can be found within Art of Disney Animation at Walt Disney Studios Park. The attraction opened at Hong Kong Disneyland on July 14, 2007, and is located adjacent to the Opera House in Main Street, U.S.A.
The attraction itself is a drawing session with a Disney animator who teaches guests to draw a Disney character. Guests may take their own artwork home if they want after the drawing session.