RIP, Kelly Asbury, Director Of ‘Shrek 2’ and ‘Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron’
Animation director Kelly Asbury passed away in Encino, CA this morning at age 60. The cause of death was cancer.
Asbury directed or co-directed five animated features: Dreamworks Animation’s Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
and Shrek 2, as well as Gnomeo & Juliet, Smurfs: The Lost Village, and Uglydolls.
Throughout his 38-year career in the animation industry, he contributed in various capacities, mostly in hte story department, to over two dozen animated features, including Shrek, Toy Story, Frozen, Chicken Run, The Nightmare before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Kung Fu Panda, and The Prince of Egypt.
For Cartoon Brew, he had written a couple of commentaries about his work in the animation industry, including a candid and insightful piece about how he had dealt emotionally with the box office failure of his last two features.
Asbury was born January 15, 1960 in Beaumont, Texas. He attended Lamar University before transferring to Calarts in 1980. He started working as an inbetweener at Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1983 and stayed there through the mid-1990s, working in various roles including character design, story, art direction, and visual development.
After Disney, he worked as assistant art director on Henry Selick’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, story artist on Pixar’s first feature Toy Story, and co-head of story on Dreamworks Animation’s The Prince of Egypt, before transitioning into direction.
Asbury is survived by his wife, Jacquie Boggs; stepsons Andrew and Connor Boggs; sister Gwen Speed; and niece Leslie McKeller.
Colleagues are sharing their condolences, a few of which are included below. Please share your memories in the comments.
Kelly Asbury has died. A hell of a fun, whipsmart, hilarious and generous guy, my onetime director, colleague, friend-of-friends. He directed 3 movies while dealing with stage 4 cancer. Til we meet and laugh again! pic.twitter.com/cZ0hajYwxe
— Jenny Lerew (@blackwingjenny) June 26, 2020
Just heard that Kelly Asbury, an exceptional person and filmmaker, passed away this morning. I didn’t know him well, but the few conversations we had were fun, inspiring and illuminating. My deepest condolences to those who knew him well. #RIP
— Shannon Tindle (@ShannonTindle_1) June 26, 2020
Heartbreaking news. Kelly was so kind and had a passion for story telling. Working for him was one of the highlights on my first production. Rest in peace, Kelly. https://t.co/Y5rYQLOnRW
— sunflower 🌻 (@Haley_tho) June 26, 2020
I am gutted. I met Kelly on my second day at CalArts and we have been friends ever since. Through thick and thin, no matter how much time had passed, we'd immediately step back into one of the most joyous friendships I have experienced. Goodbye, my friend, I will miss your laugh. https://t.co/4oh0ie2SLa
— Kevin Lima (@GoofyMovieDir) June 26, 2020
Ive got great memories of the incredible Jordan K and #kellyasbury and I'll share them soon. Utterly gutted. Jordan took me in and Kelly fully supported him and then encouraged madness from me… which shows how amazing he was. Such a top guy. He brought a vision to life too. pic.twitter.com/KWseWa4XXo
— Alan Mechem (@AlanMechem) June 26, 2020
Super sad to hear about Kelly Asbury passing away. He was my director on Spirit and Shrek 2. So nice. I loved working for him—humble and talented. 😢 https://t.co/GDolUVsBjN
— James R. Hull 🎬 (@jameshull) June 26, 2020
Extremely saddened to hear that the animation world has lost Kelly Asbury,one of the funniest, smart, creative & kind directors I’ve worked with.Talented & passionate. I learned so much from him about directing & pitching. Thank you, KA. Rest peacefully 💕 https://t.co/pmOZaricrP
— Magdiela Hermida Duhamel🇲🇽🇺🇸 (@EllaDuhamel) June 26, 2020
#RIP Kelly Asbury. I art directed 2 of his movies. A wonderful collaborator and mentor to me. He encouraged me to direct, and was a dear and true friend. I learned so much from Kelly. My heart goes out to Jacquie and the Asbury family. I’m gutted. pic.twitter.com/cjDvLa489O
— andrew woodhouse (@andrewwoodhous4) June 26, 2020
The tweet below is the beginning of a lengthy tribute from story artist David Trumble. We highly recommend clicking through and reading his entire homage:
MEMORIAL THREAD: Today I learned that Kelly Asbury, my director on "Uglydolls", has passed away from cancer. I am shocked and quietened, but here are a few words about the man who made my first ever animated feature gig so much warmer and less stressful than it could have been… pic.twitter.com/GZA6TldKZp
— David Trumble (@Drumble) June 26, 2020
We were so very sad to hear that our Uglydolls movie director Kelly Asbury has passed away… he was a very kind talented artist and the world is much less without him here. We are very proud of the film he made for us, and will think of him always. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/owlfQN0rdF
— DAVID HORVATH (@davidzhorvath) June 27, 2020
Kelly Asbury was extremely generous, unusually honest, wicked, sincere, hilarious, tough as nails, sweet as pie, truly talented, humble and brave. And he was fun. A mentor and friend to so many. Deeply loved, and sorely missed.
We love you Kelly. pic.twitter.com/ejbuFXwZIy
— Sony Pictures Animation (@SonyAnimation) June 27, 2020
My dear friend Kelly Asbury passed away. We met at Disney on The Black Cauldron. Laughed together on The Prince of Egypt. His smile and sense of humor were infectious. He made every day a joy. Here we are in December of 1995 on our trip to Egypt. I will miss you. pic.twitter.com/PPAqX9E5IC
— Steve Hickner (@HicknerSteve) June 26, 2020
