Xavier Atencio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francis Xavier Atencio
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X Atencio at Disneyland's Haunted Mansion in 2008 with Carrie Vines of the Haunted Mansion Collectibles blog.
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| Born | September 4, 1919 Walsenburg, Colorado, U.S.
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| Died | September 10, 2017 (aged 98) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Imagineer, writer, lyricist, animator, voice actor |
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Notable work
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Pirates of the Caribbean The Haunted Mansion |
Francis Xavier Atencio, known to many as X Atencio, was an amazing American artist and storyteller. Born on September 4, 1919, he became a key part of The Walt Disney Company. He was an animator and later an "Imagineer." Imagineers are the creative people who design and build Disney theme parks and attractions. X Atencio is famous for writing the stories and songs for two very popular Disney rides: Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion. He passed away on September 10, 2017, at the age of 98.
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Who Was X Atencio?
X Atencio was born in Walsenburg, Colorado. He started working for Disney in 1938 as an animator. This means he helped create the moving drawings for Disney cartoons and films. He worked on many classic Disney movies.
Becoming a Disney Imagineer
In 1965, X Atencio joined a special team called Imagineering. These are the people who dream up and build all the rides and shows at Disney parks. His first big project as an Imagineer was helping to design the "Primeval World" part of the Disneyland Railroad. This section takes riders back to a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
Creating Famous Disney Rides
X Atencio helped create many popular Disney attractions. He wrote the stories for rides like Adventure Thru Inner Space. But he is most famous for his work on two spooky and exciting rides.
- Pirates of the Caribbean: X Atencio wrote the entire story for this classic pirate adventure ride. He also wrote the lyrics for its famous song, "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)." You can even hear his voice on the ride! He was the talking skull that warns riders before they drop into the main part of the attraction. He also voiced the funny, drunken pirate on the bridge.
- The Haunted Mansion: He also wrote the spooky story for The Haunted Mansion. And he wrote the words for its catchy theme song, "Grim Grinning Ghosts (The Screaming Song)." If you've ever heard a voice coming from the coffin in the Mansion's conservatory, that's X Atencio! At Disneyland, his voice is also used for the emergency message if the ride ever stops.
X Atencio also provided a voice for the "Submarine Voyage Thru Liquid Space" ride. He was the voice that was called "Bridge." He also wrote song lyrics for other attractions, like "If You Had Wings" at Magic Kingdom.
X Atencio's Military Service
Before his Imagineering days, X Atencio served his country. From 1941 to 1945, during World War II, he was in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He reached the rank of captain. He worked as a photo interpreter in England. This means he helped analyze pictures taken from airplanes to understand what was happening on the ground.
Later Years and Legacy
X Atencio retired from The Walt Disney Company in 1984. His amazing contributions to Disney were recognized in 1996. He was named a Disney Legend, which is a very special honor. He passed away in Los Angeles, California, just six days after his 98th birthday. His creative work continues to entertain millions of people around the world every day at Disney parks.
Images for kids
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X Atencio at Disneyland's Haunted Mansion in 2008 with Carrie Vines of the Haunted Mansion Collectibles blog.
