RIP Sam Simon (1955 - 2015)

Sam Simon

The Sam Simon Foundation announced earlier today via its facebook page that Sam Simon, best known for having developed The Simpsons and recipient of nine Emmy Awards passed away. He was 59.

Diane Disney Miller, Daughter of Walt Disney, Passes Away at 79

Diane Disney Miller, daughter of Walt Disney, has sadly passed away. The last living child of Walt, Diane devoted her life to preserving and sharing personal artefacts from her father's rich history, as well as her philanthropy. She sadly died yesterday, at age 79, following complications from a fall in September.

Watch: Siskel & Ebert Review Toy Story -- RIP, Roger Ebert

A113Animation is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the world's finest, best-known and most respected movie reviewer, the irreplaceable Roger Ebert. Known and celebrated as a champion of the great and a sardonic derider of the mediocre, Ebert had been reviewing movies for The Chicago Sun-Times for 46 years.

He was also well known for his reviewing partnership with Gene Siskel. From said partnership, check out Siskel & Ebert's TV review of Toy Story, from way-back-when in 1995. It speaks to how knowing both men were, that they correctly predicted that this rather groundbreaking CG flick would change everything for animation.

In a sadly ironic manner, the critic announced a "leave of presence" only two days ago, due to the re-emergence of his cancer and latent health problems. Today, The Chicago Sun-Times announced his passing, at the age of 70 - alas, cancer takes another great human being. Rest in peace, Mr. Ebert, in the knowledge that, for us here at least, you've forever changed how we watch a movie.

Our thoughts and condolences to the Ebert family, as we leave you with this apt quote from the Sun-Times:

"Roger Ebert loved movies.

Except for those he hated."

RIP Gerry Anderson (1929 - 2012)

Sad news emerged yesterday, that Gerry Anderson, best known as the creator of hit puppet sci-fi show Thunderbirds, has passed away at the age of 83. His son Jamie announced the death yesterday, saying he "died peacefully in his sleep"; Anderson also created Captain Scarlet, Joe 90 and Space 1999 - to name just a few.

One Year On: iMiss Steve

One year ago today, the world lost a truly special man. The man who helped create two of the biggest and most revered companies on the planet, the man without whom we wouldn't have Toy Story or the iPod, Steve Jobs truly was a genius.

Pixar existed (as the Lucasfilm Graphics Group) before Steve, but without his immense faith and funds, the studio would've gone under long before a deal was reached with Disney, in 1991, to make Toy Story. A man who saw what few else could, a visionary, and a man we all owe so much to. It's been a year since he tragically lost his battle to cancer at the unjustly young age of 56, but we're far from forgetting Steve Jobs. With two films about his life in the works, we're not done celebrating his achievements yet.

I'll leave you with Pixar CCO John Lasseter's comments from the tragic time last year:

"Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined. Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply 'make it great.' He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. He will forever be a part of Pixar’s DNA. Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time."

RIP Steve, we still miss you, and we always will.

Brave to be Dedicated to Steve Jobs

The Wall Street Journal's blog Speakeasy tells us that "One of the most emotional moments in the coming Pixar computer-animated film “Brave” happens during the end credits."

The reason for the emotional end-credits is that they sport a tribute to former Pixar owner and longtime friend and mentor of the studio, former Apple CEO, the late Steve Jobs. Jobs bought into the company in 1986, where he financed a spin-off of the Lucasfilm Graphics Group on 3rd February, to be called Pixar. Jobs mentored the studio and its financial well being until Disney purchased it for $7.4 billion in 2006, where he became the largest individual shareholder in the world's largest media conglomerate.

Alas, Jobs passed away, at the age of 56, on 5th October last year, after losing a battle to pancreatic cancer. Brave will be the first Pixar films since Jobs' passing and the first to pay tribute to him.

It's a fitting and very respectful tribute.

Via The Huffington Post.

RIP Steve Jobs (1955 - 2011): Visionary, Genius and The Apple of our i

Today, the tragic news broke that Pixar and Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs passed away at the age of 56.

Steve added so much to the world, in terms of electronics, home computers and, due to his financing of Pixar from 1986 until the Disney merger, animation. But, alas, Steve, who had been ill for a while, after recently stepping down as Apple CEO, passed away late last night.

The world has been abuzz with condolences and well wishes to the family of Steve and messages remembering the visionary. The Apple website features a tribute to the late, great Steve Jobs, as well as a message on the Disney/Pixar Facebook page, from CCO of Disney and Pixar Animation, John Lasseter:

"Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined. Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply 'make it great.' He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. He will forever be a part of Pixar’s DNA. Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time."

In addition, the CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger, said the following of Jobs:

"Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined. 

"Steve was such an 'original,' with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started. With his passing the world has lost a rare original."

The world truly has lost a true visionary and our deep condolences and thoughts go out to all of Steve's family and friends and everyone whose lives were enriched by him.