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192. Morgan Lee Richardson on Avengers Campus and the Power of Conservation Art

02.20.2023 by Dan Heaton // Leave a Comment

Morgan Lee Richardson joins the Tomorrow Society Podcast to talk about his art and work for Walt Disney Imagineering.


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There’s so much potential in themed entertainment to change minds and influence our world. A perfect example is Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which encourages conservation while also providing great entertainment. The art of Morgan Lee Richardson takes a similar approach and gives a positive view of wildlife and the natural environment. His work for Walt Disney Imagineering and beyond has brought the same approach to projects around the world. Morgan is my guest on this episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast to talk about his diverse career and artwork.

Morgan has worked on major projects like Avengers Campus, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, and Pandora: The World of Avatar.
Photo by Morgan Lee Richardson

Morgan worked as a Supervisor of Entertainment Production for Cedar Fair on projects for Nickelodeon, Peanuts, and other brands. He also was an art teacher before joining Imagineering in 2014. We talk about Morgan’s excitement to create art for the Disney Conservation Fund and personal interest in their mission. This leads into background on his role on Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We also cover his work on the Rivers of America project that led into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Next up is Morgan’s experience as the Field Art Director at Avengers Campus for Disney California Adventure. His Marvel fandom began while reading comics when he was younger and made this a stronger experience. Morgan honored his late father by including some of his materials within the land. We also cover his work on upcoming expansions like Zootopia in Shanghai and Frozen in Hong Kong, where he designed the Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs coaster. Finally, we talk about the exciting new zoological park planned for Elk Grove, California near Sacramento.

Morgan Lee Richardson's artwork goes beyond his projects for Disney.
Photo by Morgan Lee Richardson

Show Notes: Morgan Lee Richardson

Check out Morgan’s art and learn more about his career on his official website.

Learn more about “The father-son story behind the extremely personal Easter Eggs inside Avengers Campus” in this Los Angeles Times article from Todd Martens (June 15, 2021).

Discover the proposed designs for the zoo in Elk Grove, California in this ABC10 story (November 17, 2022).

Support the Tomorrow Society Podcast with a one-time donation and buy me a Dole Whip!

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Categories // Tomorrow Society Podcast Tags // Disney California Adventure, Disneyland, Galaxy's Edge, Hong Kong Disneyland, Interviews, Marvel, Pandora: The World of Avatar, Podcasts, Shanghai Disneyland

About Dan Heaton

Dan’s first theme-park memory was a vacation at the Polynesian Resort in 1980 as a four-year-old. He’s a lifelong fan who has written and podcasted regularly about the industry. Dan loves both massive Disney and Universal theme parks plus regional attractions near his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. His favorite all-time attraction is Horizons at EPCOT Center.

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