Eric Goldberg will receive the Disney Legends Award in the Animation category on the final day of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa. The Walt Disney Company’s highest honor is part of a ceremony hosted by Ryan Seacrest, placing Goldberg among a 2026 class of 13 honorees whose work spans Disney entertainment, storytelling and experiences. Goldberg felt flattered and humbled by the rare honor.
The class also includes Chris Berman, Jerry Bruckheimer, Susan Egan, Anne Hathaway, Bob Iger, Kim Irvine, Dwayne Johnson, the Jonas Brothers, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Tudyk. Goldberg’s recognition follows work shaping animated characters, directing films and passing hand-drawn techniques to younger artists.
Goldberg’s animation influences
Goldberg traces his interest in animation to Disney animation history on the big screen, beginning with Dumbo. Dumbo remains his favorite. He also remembers seeing Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone and The Jungle Book numerous times.
His artistic touchstones among Disney Legends honorees include Ward Kimball, Freddie Moore and Mary Blair. Goldberg admired Kimball and Moore because their animation appeared to enjoy itself on screen. He gives Blair even higher praise, calling her the greatest animation designer.
It’s a striking bit of craft: Goldberg designed the Genie’s movement in Aladdin around Robin Williams’ performance, including rapid attitude changes and the physical flexibility to mimic whoever the character was imitating. Goldberg says Robin Williams was hysterically funny, warm and sincere.
It would probably be the Genie. Beyond the Genie from Aladdin, Goldberg’s other favorites include Phil, Louis, Mini Maui, the Rhapsody in Blue characters and the flamingo with the yo-yo.
Directing and mentorship
Goldberg doesn’t draw a hard line between animation and directing. He began directing television commercials in the United Kingdom in 1977, and he views supervising animators on a feature as directing a unit toward one cohesive character performance. Directing an entire feature brings more responsibilities, but he sees the core duties as similar. Goldberg co-directed Pocahontas with Mike Gabriel and directed a couple segments for Fantasia/2000.
As head of hand-drawn animation, Goldberg also mentors the next generation. He and his colleagues learned from masters of the craft, and they feel responsible for passing that knowledge forward so the medium stays alive. Animation, in his view, can achieve practically anything, while an exceptional animated performance offers a distinct combination of exuberance and believability. He’s a self-described geek about the medium.
Source: D23
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