100/5 stars!! We always make sure to stop by first thing to see which characters are on the list for the day (they change day to day). The wait could be long and for favorite characters you may need to come extra early to get a spot in the class. Remember, they can only let in a certain amount so you need to arrive early to ensure entrance. *Pick is from a Disney cruise but similar results. read more

Animation Academy - Art Classes Near Me - Anaheim, California

Animation Academy is a drawing class that happens at the Disney Animation Building at Disney California Adventure Park. It's a kid-friendly activity that is more interactive and you get to keep your drawing after the class. Every 30 minutes they have a different character that is drawn and the class takes about 20 minutes. They post a calendar schedule that details which characters are drawn at what time so you can plan which session you want to do. During our session we drew Donald Duck which was fun. The artist walked us through it at a good pace and I was able to draw a decent drawing. read more

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If you need a spot to relax, cool off, and actually do something intentional with your time at Disney California Adventure Park head straight to the Animation Academy inside the Animation Building. It's air conditioned, there's plenty of seating, and you get step by step instruction on how to draw a Disney character. The best part? The directions are so simple and clear that even if you don't have an artistic bone in your body, you'll walk out with something frame worthy. You won't even realize 30 minutes has passed. It's the perfect reset between rides, calm, creative, and surprisingly magical. read more

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Can't recommend this FREE activity at Disney's California Adventure enough! Some people may not know, but every day, every 30 minutes (for the most part), there is a free drawing class inside the Animation Academy in Hollywoodland. When you go in, you'll see a line on the left, and near the front of line you'll see the day's schedule of every character that will be taught that day. Sometimes there are breaks and some nights go later than others. Be aware that some characters are more popular than others, so be sure to line up early to secure your spot. I would say at least 15 mins early if not more for very popular characters (we were in a very long line for Baby Groot). The class is very fun and approachable for people of all skill levels, even those with no drawing experience like myself. Their instructions are easy to follow and the instructors are all very talented and personable. The class lasts 15-20 mins so they have time to clear people out and check that all supplies are in place. It was so fun that we did it twice that day! read more

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I definitely love this experience in DCA. Although I don't go to California Adventure all of the time, this one is a place that I make an effort to go to when I have the opportunity. It's actually pretty impressive how the animators are able to guide the crowd through drawing your favorite Disney characters. I've actually been quite impressed with myself when I look at my finished product. If you do come here, you probably want to come a little bit earlier to take a look at the schedule so that you know when specific characters are being drawn. To secure your place in line you probably want to come at least 15 to 30 minutes beforehand to secure a spot. It's not really one of those places that you could just be there a couple minutes beforehand although I'm sure not impossible at some points in the day. And I'm sure your feet will love you as well after walking around the park. read more

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How amazing is this place?! Want to learn how to draw a Disney character? Then you've come to the right place. Make line, there will be a Disney employee who will come by and tell you that your chances of getting in are slim to none - DON'T LISTEN. Stay!! By chance, I asked a Disney employee working inside at a booth about this place. She was amazing! I wishni remembered her name to give her Disney compliments! Well, since it was "raining" or wet outside, there was 2 different meet and greet lines, a comedic talking turtle show and ..... learn to draw?! Stitch! They offer drawing every half an hour (30 minutes)... as soon as we made line, it already went out the door and around. Guess what!!! We made it inside!!! We were last of 3 groups allowed. How freaking awesome! The auditorium holds about 150 people, yes perfect for little kids and adults with no drawing skills needed, they teach you! It goes quickly!!! The pencils have no erasers on purpose and it was an amazing experience. Would definitely like to learn to draw more characters! I went home and tried drawing Stitch from memory & the original drawing. The paper they gave you has the Disney California Adventures logo even! Very legit and highly highly recommend. Didn't make the cut, no worries, you become first in line for the next drawing. I highly doubt this line is ever too short as there is a new drawing every 30minutes, waiting takes time but once your inside, it goes quickly! There is a sign that mentions the time for each Disney character for that day. read more

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My daughter loves to draw and this is the place to learn. Today they were teaching one of my favorites: how to draw Wall E. This is on my list of top 25 movies. This is a great place to go and chill while it is hot and crowded at Disneyland California. read more

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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. read more

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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!!!! read more

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I can't believe it took me this long to try Animation Academy! It worked out perfectly on a super cold day, since it's indoors and a great way to stay warm while still enjoying the park. The instructor moves pretty quickly, so keep up if you can, but it's all part of the fun. I'm definitely not the most artistic person, but I tried my best and ended up drawing Donald Duck! Even if your masterpiece doesn't belong in a museum, it's still a fun, interactive experience and you get a cute souvenir to take home. Such a relaxing and creative break from the rides. I'd absolutely do this again, especially on a chilly park day! read more

So much fun. We do a drawing every time we come to California Adventure. The instructors do move quickly so get right in and get drawing. Just don't worry about perfection...it is just sketching so have fun with it. I feel my Pooh looks like he had too much honey and my wife's...well...I think she might be good at drawing scooby doo! read more

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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! read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

Animation Academy - Art Classes Near Me - Anaheim, California

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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. read more

Animation Academy - Wall-E! - Art Classes Near Me - Anaheim, California

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 in 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). read more

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!** read more

Animation Academy - Art Classes Near Me - Anaheim, California

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. read more

Animation Academy - stitch - Art Classes Near Me - Anaheim, California

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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!! read more

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**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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Animation Academy - Animation Academy - Art Classes Near Me - Anaheim, California

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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 read more

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! read more

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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! read more

Animation Academy - Sisu! - Art Classes Near Me - Anaheim, California

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! read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

Animation Academy - Art Classes Near Me - Anaheim, California

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. read more

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! read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

Animation Academy - Artist - Art Classes Near Me - Anaheim, California

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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! read more

Animation Academy - he always thinks his are better!! - Art Classes Near Me - Anaheim, California

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