Ryan Larkin, 1943 - 2007.

Ryan Larkin, the acclaimed National Film Board animator whose struggle with drug and alcohol problems was the subject of an Oscar-winning animated short two years ago, has died following a battle with cancer. Larkin, who was himself nominated for an Academy Award in 1969 for his psychedelic animated short Walking, died on Wednesday in St-Hyacinthe, Que. He was 63.

The Toronto Star, via Movie City News, also hosting a clip from Chris Landreth's Ryan.

Amid has a wonderful tribute entry laced with clips at Cartoon Brew; Ray Pride has another pointer.

Related: "Ryan Larkin and the addictive allure of illusions," Chris Robinson, Take One, Sept - Dec 2004, and again, Chris Robinson, Animation World Magazine, November 2000: "Last Exit on St. Laurent Street: The Wonderfully Fucked Up World of Ryan Larkin." And of course, the Wikipedia entry.

Posted by dwhudson at February 19, 2007 5:25 AM