Francis Xavier "X" Atencio was an American former Imagineer, writer, lyricist, and animator.
He joined Disney in 1938 as an animator. In 1941, he left the studio to serve in World War II with the United States Army Air Forces, returning to The company after the war ended.[1]
In 1965, Atencio became an Imagineer. He wrote the scripts for several Disney theme park attractions, most notably Adventure Thru Inner Space, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Haunted Mansion, as well as the lyrics to the theme songs of the latter two, "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" and "Grim Grinning Ghosts", respectively. He also wrote the lyrics of "Bear Band Serenade" for Country Bear Jamboree, "It's Fun to Be Free" for World of Motion, and "Here's to the Future" for Space Mountain. Another brief voice-over Atencio provided was for the Submarine Voyage Thru Liquid Space, where he is addressed as "Bridge." He also wrote the lyrics to Buddy Baker's music for the retired Magic Kingdom attraction If You Had Wings.
His voice can be heard as the Talking Skull at the beginning of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, as well as the drunken pirate on the bridge heckling the auctioneer. In the Haunted Mansion, his voice emanates from the coffin in the conservatory and in the emergency safety spiel when the ride comes to a halt.[2]
He was referenced in the Goofy short How to Dance as a dance school bears his name.
He was recognized as a Disney Legend in 1996. In Disneyland's Main Street, U.S.A., he bares a window in his honor above the Opera House reading, "The Musical Quill - Lyrics and Librettos by X. Atencio".
Atencio died on September 10, 2017, six days after his 98th birthday.
Animation filmography[]
Filmography[]
| Year | Film | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Fantasia | Assistant Animator - uncredited |
| 1941 | Dumbo | Assistant Animator - uncredited |
| 1942 | Symphony Hour | Layout artist (uncredited) |
| 1944 | Contrary Condor | Layout artist (uncredited) |
| Commando Duck | Background artist Layout artist (uncredited) | |
| 1947 | Mickey's Delayed Date | Layout artist (uncredited) |
| 1952 | Susie the Little Blue Coupe | Layout artist (uncredited) |
| Pluto's Party | Layout artist (uncredited) | |
| Pluto's Christmas Tree | Layout artist (uncredited) | |
| 1953 | Ben and Me | Layout artist (uncredited) |
| How to Sleep | Layout artist (uncredited) | |
| Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom | Animator | |
| 1954 | Casey Bats Again | Layout artist (uncredited) |
| Grin and Bear It | Layout artist (uncredited) | |
| 1955 | The Mickey Mouse Club | "Circus Day" - Layout |
| 1956 | I'm No Fool with a Bicycle | Animator layout artist (uncredited) |
| A Cowboy Needs a Horse | Layout Styling | |
| Jack and Old Mac | Character Styling | |
| 1957 | The Truth About Mother Goose | Layout |
| 1959 | Noah's Ark | Character Movement/Styling |
| 1959-1968 | The Magical World of Disney | Layout Artist Writer Himself |
| 1959 | The Shaggy Dog | Title Designer |
| How to Have an Accident at Work | Layout artist (uncredited) | |
| 1960 | Goliath II | Layout artist (uncredited) |
| 1961 | The Parent Trap | Title Animation |
| Donald and the Wheel | Art stylist | |
| The Litterbug | Layout artist (uncredited) | |
| Babes in Toyland | Toy Sequence animator | |
| 1962 | A Symposium on Popular Songs | Story Production Designer |
| Bon Voyage | Title Designer | |
| 1964 | The Misadventures of Merlin Jones | Title Animation |
| Mary Poppins | Designer: nursery sequence | |
| 1977 | The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh | Story: "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree" |
Role[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ https://d23.com/x-atencio/
- ↑ Interview with X Atencio (starting from 43:19): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJFW7SY7YtQ&t=3466s
