20 February – 13 July 2025
Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre
Every Disney character starts with a drawing. Discover how they are brought to the screen at ‘Disney: The Magic of Animation | Ngā Tāoreore Tūmatarau’. See the internationally acclaimed exhibition at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The exhibition features artworks from classic stories and films spanning 100 years of Walt Disney Animation Studios. See more than 600 art pieces up close, from original sketches of timeless characters to modern, computer-generated wonders. Go behind the scenes to witness the artistry that goes into creating beloved on-screen characters.
ʻTangledʻ (2010) Dan Cooper, Concept art, Digital paper, © Disney.
Disney: The Magic of Animation is curated by the team at the Walt Disney Animation Research Library. It offers a rare glimpse at the development of characters and animation techniques. See works from classics like Mickey Mouse’s first talkie ‘Steamboat Willieʻ (1928) and ‘Fantasia’ (1940). Don’t miss modern favourites like ‘Frozen’ (2013) and ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ (2021). Artwork from Disney’s latest release, ‘Moana 2’, is also included in the exhibition.
The exhibition features interactive animation stations for kids of all ages. Practice your colouring magic or enjoy costumes for the little ones. Take a spin with Belle and the Beast in the ballroom, and watch Alice forever falling through an immersive projection experience.
Kristen McCormick, Art Exhibitions & Conservation Manager of the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, helped curate the exhibition. Kristen and her team hand-selected the artworks on display from a collection of over 65 million.
This is the first time Disney: The Magic of Animation has come to New Zealand and is exclusive to Wellington.
Guests will have a rare opportunity to see how the film makers and artists develop our stories and work through different ideas and concepts as they create the films we know so well.
Be among the first to see this New Zealand-exclusive exhibition at the VIP opening of Disney: The Magic of Animation. From timeless sketches to computer-generated wonders – you’ll see it all at Tākina before the public does. There’ll be a DJ playing well-known Disney tunes all night, as well as a selection of food and drink. If cosplay is your thing you may get a spot prizes for the best Disney-inspired costume.
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