Xavier Atencio

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.https://d23.com/x-atencio/
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.Interview with X Atencio (starting from 43:19): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJFW7SY7YtQ&t=3466s
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)
1944 	Commando Duck 	Background artistLayout artist (uncredited)
1947 	Mickey's Delayed Date 	Layout artist (uncredited)
1952 	Susie the Little Blue Coupe 	Layout artist (uncredited)
1952 	Pluto's Party 	Layout artist (uncredited)
1952 	Pluto's Christmas Tree 	Layout artist (uncredited)
1953 	Ben and Me 	Layout artist (uncredited)
1953 	How to Sleep 	Layout artist (uncredited)
1953 	Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom 	Animator
1954 	Casey Bats Again 	Layout artist (uncredited)
1954 	Grin and Bear It 	Layout artist (uncredited)
1955 	The Mickey Mouse Club 	"Circus Day" - Layout
1956 	I'm No Fool with a Bicycle 	Animatorlayout artist (uncredited)
1956 	A Cowboy Needs a Horse 	Layout Styling
1956 	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 ArtistWriterHimself
1959 	The Shaggy Dog 	Title Designer
1959 	How to Have an Accident at Work 	Layout artist (uncredited)
1960 	Goliath II 	Layout artist (uncredited)
1961 	The Parent Trap 	Title Animation
1961 	Donald and the Wheel 	Art stylist
1961 	The Litterbug 	Layout artist (uncredited)
1961 	Babes in Toyland 	Toy Sequence animator
1962 	A Symposium on Popular Songs 	StoryProduction Designer
1962 	Bon Voyage 	Title Designer
1964 	The Misadventures of Merlin Jones 	Title Animation
1964 	Mary Poppins 	Designer: nursery sequence
1977 	The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh	Story: "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree"
==Role==
Talking Skull.jpg|Talking Skull(1967-2012)
==Gallery==
X. Atencio and Carrie try to hitch a ride.jpg
WEDCrew.0.jpg|A 1965 group photograph of Disney artists in the WED parking lot in Glendale, California, from left to right: Herbert Ryman, Ken O'Brien, Collin Campbell, Marc Davis, Al Bertino, Wathel Rogers, Mary Blair, T. Hee, Blaine Gibson, X. Atencio, Claude Coats, and Yale Gracey.
[[File:X Atencio and the parrot.jpg|Atencio with the Barker Bird.
X atencio interview.JPG|Atencio in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Story Behind the Masterpiece.
==References==
==External links==
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Category:Males
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Category:Deceased
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