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.
RIP
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.”
Kevin Conroy, Longtime Batman Voice Actor, Dies At 66
Described by many as the definitive voice of Batman, Conroy voiced the Caped Crusader in series, films, and games for three decades.
Jan Rabson, Voice Actor For ‘Akira,’ Leisure Suit Larry, And A Pixar Regular, Dies At 68
Rabson was a versatile actor whose voice can be heard on some of the most popular animated features of all time, often for only a few seconds.
Jules Bass, Rankin/Bass Co-Founder, Dies At 87
For nearly three decades, Rankin/Bass produced animated specials, series, and films that still endure today.
Claudio Biern Boyd, Creator Of ‘David The Gnome,’ ‘Dogtanian,’ Dies At 81
Biern’s popular creations earned him the title of the ‘Spanish Walt Disney.’
U.S. Army Reveals ‘Yu-Gi-Oh!’ Creator Kazuki Takahashi Died Trying To Help Drowning Swimmers
When three snorkelers got caught in a rip current on July 4, Takahashi jumped in to aid the rescue efforts of U.S. soldiers on the scene.
