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Category: In Passing

In-Passing Headline News

Longtime Animator and Producer Jane Baer Dies at 91

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 10:12am

The Baer Animation studio founder whose more than 50 years of work spanned numerous well-known animated shows, commercials, and projects, including the Toontown scenes in ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit,’ passed away on February 16.

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‘The Lion King’ Co-Director Roger Allers Passes at 76

The longtime Disney writer and director, nominated for an Oscar for his 2006 animated short, ‘The Little Matchgirl,’ passed away at his home in Santa Monica following a short illness.

In-Passing Headline News

Con Pederson, Visual Effects and Computer Graphics Pioneer, Dies at 91

By Dan Sarto | Monday, January 5, 2026 at 5:54pm

The trailblazing VFX artist, who co-founded Robert Abel and Associates, helped usher in modern effects with his seminal work on Stanley Kubrick’s ‘2001: A Space Odyssey.’

In-Passing Headline News

French Animation Director Philippe Vidal-Dumas Passes at 59

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 3:38pm

The industry veteran was known for his work on series such as ‘The Garfield Show,’ ‘Bobby & Bill,’ and the recent ‘Belfort & Lupin,’ which won a Pulcinella Award this spring.

In-Passing Headline News

Phil Mulloy, British Animator Known for Dark, Satiric Work, Dies at 76

By Dan Sarto | Monday, July 14, 2025 at 10:31am

Revered for his unflinching films that skewered politics, religion, and human nature with cutting humor and minimalist style, the filmmaker died last Thursday at the age of 76.

In Passing Headline News

‘King of the Hill’ Actor Jonathan Joss Killed in Shooting

By Dan Sarto | Monday, June 2, 2025 at 9:29am

Updated: Joss' husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales posted a lengthy Facebook message that a neighbor, after yelling homophobic slurs at the couple who were checking mail at their burned down house, pulled a gun and shot the actor, known for his longtime role as John Redcorn.

In-Passing Headline News

Master Stop-Motion Animator Co Hoedeman Dies at 84

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 2:17pm

The distinguished director known for his films at the NFB, including 1977 Oscar-winning ‘The Sand Castle’ and 1972 BAFTA-winning ‘Tchou-tchou,’ passed away on May 26 in Montreal.  

In Passing Headline News

‘Ren & Stimpy’ Co-Developer, Character Designer Jim Smith Passes at 70

Best known for co-founding Spümcø and co-developing the ‘The Ren & Stimpy Show,’ the veteran animator also contributed to ‘Tiny Toon Adventures,’ Batman: The Animated Series,’ ‘Ice Age,’ ‘The Oblongs,’ ‘Over the Garden Wall,’ and many others.

In Passing Headline News

Publicity Executive Fumi Kitahara Passes at 56

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 3:18pm

The longtime publicist and awards consultant for Disney, DreamWorks, Aardman, Netflix, Google Spotlight Stories and countless indie filmmakers, as well as WIA’s publicity chair, died after a long battle with a rare blood cancer.  

In Passing Headline News

Veteran Animator, Director, and Producer Robert Verrall Passes at 97

The artist, celebrated for his distinguished career, from 1945-1987, as a filmmaker and later as the head of the animation department at the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), is credited with works such as the Oscar-nominated 'The Romance of Transportation in Canada,' Ryan Larkin’s ‘Walking,’ and many others.

Animated Shorts of the Month ANIMATIONWorld

Binocular Briefs – A Tribute to Emma Calder

AWN’s latest survey of under-the-radar animated shorts currently making their way through the festival circuit or newly available for online viewing pays tribute to the talented British artist and collage master who passed away September 26 at age 65 from cancer.

In Passing Headline News

Legendary Actor James Earl Jones Passes at 93

The prolific thespian and famed voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa passed away at his New York home on Monday; with a prolific career in film, television, and stage career, he was one of only a handful of actors to earn EGOT status.

In Passing Headline News

Legendary Producer Jon Landau Passes at 63

The Oscar-winning producer of  the hugely successful 'Titanic' and the 'Avatar' film franchise and longtime producing partner to James Cameron at Lightstorm Entertainment passed away on Friday after a battle with cancer. 

In Passing Headline News

Disney Imagineering Consultant and Artist Dan Goozee Passes at 80

The creative, also known for his movie poster art and production illustrations on shows like ‘Battle for the Planet of the Apes’ and ‘Battlestar Galactica’ died of an age-related condition on April 7.

In-Passing Headline News

Henson Creature Shop Innovator David Barrington Holt Passes at 79

By Dan Sarto | Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 8:59am

The long-time leader of The Jim Henson Company’s first Creature Shop in Los Angeles, whose pioneering work included development of the ground-breaking Henson Performance Control System that revolutionized computer-driven puppetry, died of cancer on March 13.

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