Xavier Atencio

Xavier Atencio

  • Birthday: 1919-09-04
  • Place of birth: Trinidad, Colorado, USA
  • Also know as: X. Atencio

Biography

He was a Disney artist from 1938 until 1965, when he became an Imagineer to help design the Disneyland Railroad's Primeval World diorama segment. He then contributed to various Disney attractions. He wrote the script for both Adventure Thru Inner Space and Pirates of the Caribbean, for which he also penned the lyrics to the theme song, "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" and provided the voice of the talking skull early on in the attraction. He also wrote the script for the Haunted Mansion, including the lyrics to that attraction's theme song, "Grim Grinning Ghosts (The Screaming Song)." His voice can also be heard emanating from the coffin in the Haunted Mansion's conservatory ("Hey! Let me out of here!") and, in the Disneylandmansion, when the attraction comes to a temporary halt it is his voice which announces, "Playful spooks have interrupted our tour. Please remain seated in your Doom Buggy" as well as other emergency spiels. Another brief voice-over he provided was for the Submarine Voyage Thru Liquid Space where he is addressed as "Bridge." "Bridge: Aye, aye, all ahead one third. Stand by the mooring lines." He also wrote the lyrics to Buddy Baker's catchy music for the retired Walt Disney World attraction If You Had Wings. Atencio served as a photo interpreter in the U.S. Army Air Forces from 1941 to 1945 during World War II, reaching the rank of captain in the 2nd Photo Tech Squadron. Stationed in England, he was part of team that would analyze aerial surveillance for military intelligence. He retired from The Walt Disney Company in 1984 and was named a Disney Legend in 1996. -Wikipedia Entry

Filmography

Production

A Cowboy Needs a Horse

1956

As Layout

Noah's Ark

1959

As Animation

Jack and Old Mac

1956

As Characters

A Symposium on Popular Songs

1962

As Production Design

Cri Cri el Grillito Cantor

1963

As Animation

The Parent Trap

1961

As Title Graphics

Back Stage Party

1961

As Animation

Babes in Toyland

1961

As Visual Effects

The Shaggy Dog

1959

As Title Designer

Back Stage Party

1961

As Special Effects

The Truth About Mother Goose

1957

As Layout Supervisor

keyboard_arrow_up