Alan Dewhurst, Passion Pictures Co-Founder And ‘Peter & The Wolf’ Producer, Dies At 63
Dewhurst started out as a runner at Richard Williams’ studio before finding success producing both commercial and narrative animation.
RIP
Per Åhlin, Director Of Sweden’s First Animated Feature, Dies At 91
Primarily known for his work in children’s animation, Åhlin also directed one of the first examples of erotic animation in Europe.
Ken Mundie, Adventurous Artist Who Pushed Graphic Boundaries In Hollywood Animation, Dies At 97
A one-of-a-kid artist, Mundie’s definitive works include the tv special ‘Hey, Hey, Hey, It’s Fat Albert,’ and ‘The Door,’ which is arguably the oddest short ever released by Warner Bros.
Roger Chouinard, Duck Soup Produckions Co-Founder, Dies At 81
Duck Soup was one of L.A.’s top commercial houses for decades.
Leo Sullivan, Co-Founder Of Hollywood’s First Black-Owned Animation Studio, Dies At 82
Sullivan was a trailblazing Black animation artist who worked as both an animator and producer over a six-decade career.
Belgian Animation Master Raoul Servais, Director Of Palme d’Or Winner ‘Harpya,’ Dies At 94
Servais, who used an exciting variety of styles and techniques, was a humanist whose work warned of intolerance and authoritarian ideologies.
Rolly Crump, Animation Artist-Turned-Designer Who Developed Key Disneyland Attractions, Dies At 93
Crump’s classic theme park designs can still be found at Disney parks, including the iconic It’s a Small World glockenspiel.
Burny Mattinson, Disney Legend And The Company’s Longest-Employed Worker, Dies At 87
Beginning his career as a messenger boy at Disney, Mattinson became an integral member of Disney Animation’s creative team for the better part of 70 years.
Leiji Matsumoto, Legendary Manga And Anime Creator, Dies At 85
Matsumoto created numerous iconic anime titles including ‘Space Battleship Yamato,’ ‘Galaxy Express 999,’ and ‘Space Pirate Captain Harlock.’
Osamu Tezuka, Toei Company President And CEO, Dies At 62
Toei managing director and chairman Noriyuki Tada is taking over as president following Tezuka’s passing.
William Ruzicka, Board Artist And Director Of The Most Iconic Scene In ‘Invincible,’ Dies At 45
Ruzicka contributed to numerous series including ‘The Legend of Korra,’ ‘Ben 10: Omniverse,’ and ‘Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight.’
RIP, Bill Dennis, Disney And Hanna-Barbera Executive Who Helped Develop Southeast Asia Animation Industry
Dennis played an important role in the development of the contemporary animation industries in the Philippines and India.
Todd Brian, TV Writer And Wildbrain Animation Executive, Dies At 59
Brian also worked in senior creative and writing positions at Corus Entertainment, Marblemedia, EOne, and the CBC.
Chris Ledesma, Music Editor On ‘The Simpsons’ Who Worked On Over 730 Episodes, Dies At 64
Ledesma was a prolific music editor, and worked on other animated shows including “The Critic” and “Mission Hill.”
Yuji Nunokawa, Founder Of ‘Naruto’ Studio Pierrot, Dies At 75
Starting his career as an artist, Nunokawa went on to launch one of Japan’s best known animation studios.
Russian Animation Director Andrei Svislotski, Key Figure At Klasky Csupo, Dies At 62
Svislotski worked for numerous studios including Russia’s first non-state-run outfit Pilot Studio, and on American series such as “Duckman” and “Rugrats.”
In Memoriam: Remembering The Animation Figures Who Died In 2022
A tribute to the talents the community lost this year including animators, illustrators, writers, directors, and studio founders.
George Newall, Last Surviving ‘Schoolhouse Rock!’ Co-Creator, Dies At 88
Newall and longtime partner Tom Yohe also produced the Emmy-winning NBC animated series “Drawing Power.”
Jonathan Gales, BAFTA-Winning Factory Fifteen Co-Founder, Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver In L.A.
Gales was a principal in Factory Fifteen, which has done work for Formula 1, Samsung, Tokyo Olympics, and The British Film Institute.
Thilo Kuther, Founder Of Oscar-Winning VFX Company Pixomondo, Dies At 58
The German-born Kuther grew Pixomondo into a global brand, eventually winning a special effects Oscar for its work on “Hugo.”
