WALT DISNEY STUDIOS ORIENTATION - 1988

This is the day it all began for me with Disney, March 28, 1988. I was hired as a production assistant in Walt Disney Television Animation and was to work on a series called "Magic Kingdom," in which Disney's classic characters would board a Disney park attraction, such as "Pirates of the Caribbean" or "Haunted Mansion," and they would be transported into real-life adventures. While that show never got off the drawing board, so to speak, I ended up working on the second season of "DuckTales."

Also in this photo is TV Animation producer Bob Taylor. One of my favorite memories of Bob is that we both had heard about this "Disney Morgue," which housed all the original artwork from Disney's animated features. Bob and I took a trip over to the Morgue and were greeted by Leroy Anderson, the man who ran it. Leroy was a kind gentleman and I think he enjoyed our enthusiasm. He pulled out entire sequences of pencil drawing animation from classic films, and even original backgrounds from "Lady and the Tramp." I remember Bob pointing out to me how they were all designed from the perspective of a dog, low to the ground.

Also in our orientation group was Tom Schumacher who went on to head up Disney Feature Animation and later Disney Theatrical Productions.

For me, this day began a life's journey that I am so happy to be on.