The Art of the Ancients


The majestic Tree of Life stands at the center of Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park. It also happens to be the central element in the story of the area in which it's found - Discovery Island.

Discovery Island is populated by a village of people who share a love for all forms of animal life on Earth. As the story goes, these people are the modern descendants of an ancient, nomadic tribe. For centuries, the tribe moved from one place to the next, until one day they came upon this Tree. They were awed by the sheer magnitude of the Tree, but as they moved closer, they found inspiration in the forms they discovered among its gnarled trunk and branches.


The Tree had an almost magical quality to it. It seemed to radiate with life. The tribe knew instinctively that they had come home. They settled on this island, around the base of the Tree, and built a community in harmony with nature.

Inspired by the forms on the Tree and the diversity of wildlife around them, the ancient settlers began creating their own works of art, stylized interpretations of the animals they had come to love. This tradition continues today, as the entire village on Discovery Island has become an artistic treasure. The modern-day residents here clearly favor color and whimsy in their art. Look around the island, though, and you can still find examples created by their ancient relatives.




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