Richard Williams, author of 'The Animator's Survival Kit' has passed away aged 86

[Qexit]

Not too sure if this is the right area of the forums to post this but Richard Williams has passed away aged 86. He was the author of 'The Animator's Survival Kit' which should be a well-read resident on the bookshelf of anyone who ever wanted to animate pretty much anything. He was also famous for his own Oscar and BAFTA winnning animation work. Probably best known for his work as animation director on 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' way back in 1988. The BBC has posted a nice little obituary for him:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-49382175

[Markc]

Very sad news.....
I met him many, many years ago at London effects and animation festival (leaf).
Bought his book, and passed on getting it signed (for free) for some reason.....

[Shabazzy]

OMG! This is awful news.

[TheLexx]

Double thread, exact same same content.

Mod perhaps delete this one, and we all can comment on the other one.

[TheLexx]

I understand he was still animating and working on something big, like some sort of long time project which was a labour of love. His animation book The Animator's Survival Kit is generally well known, but did anyone ever catch up with the video set ? It was amazing.

[Qexit]

Double thread, exact same same content.

Mod perhaps delete this one, and we all can comment on the other one.

The double thread was my fault as I tried to correct a typo in the title. The original says 'author od' instead of the correct version 'author of' in this thread. But you're right, one of them should go

[hrgiger]

That is too bad. His book is such an excellent guide for animators.

[Rayek]

I am gutted by his passing away. RIP Richard Williams.

If you think his book is excellent, check out his video workshop series if you have the chance. It's brilliant, and the man was an inspirational teacher to all animators, including himself. A joy to watch.

[TheLexx]

I am gutted by his passing away. RIP Richard Williams.

If you think his book is excellent, check out his video workshop series if you have the chance. It's brilliant, and the man was an inspirational teacher to all animators, including himself. A joy to watch.

Oh yes the videos are great, and some of the anecdotes are rip-roaring (Vincent Price ). Fascinating the way he seems to actually think in pictures and framerates, often drawing as he speaks, audience completely spellbound, and his total sincerity and humility towards the craft when he finally finishes the set by saying (paraphrasing), "And that's it....That is all I know". A genius.

Walks logo
Lecture snippet

[kopperdrake]

Very sad news.
I met him many, many years ago at London effects and animation festival (leaf), where I bought his book.

You know, I believe I was at the same festival. Was it the mid 90s?

Sad news, but he had a good innings and a great legacy.

[Chuck]

Very sad news!

Threads combined, duplicate posts removed.

[Qexit]

Very sad news!

Threads combined, duplicate posts removed.

Many thanks for combining the threads Chuck

[Qexit]

I understand he was still animating and working on something big, like some sort of long time project which was a labour of love.

He was for a while. The film was called 'The Thief and the Cobbler'. He talked about the project quite a lot in the documentary 'I Drew Roger Rabbit' that came out in 1988 the same year as the Roger Rabbit movie. Unfortunately, it looks like it didn't finish up the way he had intended if the trivia section over on the IMDB.com is correct:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112389...a?ref_=tt_ql_2

I have yet to see any version of the finished film.

[Markc]

You know, I believe I was at the same festival. Was it the mid 90s?

Sad news, but he had a good innings and a great legacy.

Yes it was around then, it was either leaf or digital media world

[kopperdrake]

Yep - the LEAF animation class I attended. He was very inspirational, and so modest, I recall.