A new documentary about the first Black animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios is set to debut on PBS SoCal tonight. Called Huz: Drawn to Life, the new film is directed by Disney Legend Don Hahn and is focused on Ron Husband. It is part of the lineup on PBS for Black History Month. The film follows the career of Disney animator Ron Husband. It also shares why he holds the title of first Black Disney animator and not Floyd Norman. It will air on PBS SoCal at 9:00 PST tonight (February 12th). It will then be available until March 1st on the PBS App. It will also be airing other times throughout the month on PBS SoCal. Check the PBS SoCal schedule for exact times.

Don Hahn shared the following about this documentary on his social media:

My new doc is about persistence, faith and mentorship and an amazing guy who rose from humble beginnings to become the first Black Animator at Disney. See it this Thursday 9pm on PBS SoCal, or free on the PBS app.

Don Hahn

PBS SoCal also released a trailer for this documentary. Check it out here:

Huz: Drawn to Life Official Description

An intimate portrait of artist Ron Husband, who broke barriers as the first Black animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Husband entered Disney’s rigorous training program in the 1970s, navigating high-pressure reviews, a life-threatening brain tumor, and vital contribution to animated classics. HUZ: Drawn to Life is a celebration of perseverance, faith, and the enduring power of mentorship.

Ron Husband joined The Walt Disney Company in 1975. His first project there was working with Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston on The Rescuers. He was then promoted to assistant animator for Pete’s Dragon. His first project as an animator was for The Small One. He would go to work on other projects throughout his career, like The Fox and the Hound, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Hercules, Treasure Planet, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Firebird Suite – 1919 Version Segment of Fantasia 2000, and Atlantis: The Lost Empire. He was an instrumental part of the Disney animation “renaissance.”

Husband has also been active as a mentor for new and upcoming animators. He teaches classes and workshops and is known for being generous with his time and knowledge within the animation community. He also wrote a book called Quick Sketching with Ron Husband. This goes into the fundamentals of quick sketching and the benefits it has for animators.

What do you think about the debut of Huz: Drawn to Life on PBS SoCal? Are you excited to watch it? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!