Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty
LongtimePixaranimator Ralph Eggleston — the Oscar-winning director behind the 2000 short filmFor the Birdswho also worked in the art departments of films likeToy Story,Finding NemoandThe Incredibles— has died.
Eggleston died in San Rafael, Calif., on Monday of pancreatic cancer at the age of 56, according toVariety.
Pixar Animation Studios confirmed Eggleston’s death in a statement released on Twitter Monday. “In memory of Ralph Eggleston — animator, director, art director, storyboard artist, writer, production designer, and our dear friend. Pixar and the world will be forever grateful,” the studiotweeted.
Among his colleagues, Jorge R. Gutierrez, director ofThe Book of Life, also honored the moviemaker with a tribute.
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“Adios Maestro Ralph Eggleston. A true titan of our art form. He reached out to me afterBook of Lifeand I will forever cherish our conversations. Before many knew he was sick he was trying to donate his spectacular art book collection to a Mexican animation school. That’s Ralph,” Gutierrezwrote.
He stayed with Pixar for three decades, beginning in 1993, according to theCartoon Brewblog. He’s also credited for helping come up with the original story of 2001’sMonsters, Inc.
When Andrew Stanton struggled to find a production designer for 1995’sToy Story, due to the fact that the industry at the time was transitioning to computer-generated imagery or CGI, he shared his relief when Eggleston accepted his job offer, according to Cartoon Brew.
“The only person out of all those people I called that said yes right away was Ralph Eggleston, who came in to be our production designer,” Stanton said. “And thank goodness, because he really became a cornerstone of the look of our films.”
source: people.com
