When The Walt Disney Company is closed the doors on its Orlando animation studio, many saw it as yet another sign that traditional cel animation was doomed. The Orlando studio was responsible for Brother Bear, Lilo and Stitch and other recent Disney films. The closing of the studio put approximately 260 animators out of work.

Now, a number of laid-off animators have formed their own animation studio located in Winter Garden, Florida. The company is called Legacy Animation Studios and they will specialize in traditional cel animation. “We believe that traditionally animated films are still a viable form of entertainment,” said Eddie Pittman Legacy’s directing manager, in a statement on Thursday. “Our goal is to create quality animated films with compelling stories and strong characters and to continue Walt Disney’s legacy of hand drawn animation.”

Audience interest in traditional cel-animation has been waning with the introduction of computer-generated animation. 2003’s biggest grossing film was Finding Nemo which was produced by Pixar and distributed by Disney. Disney has distributed all of Pixar’s feature films, but their contract will expire at the end of 2004.