Very tragic news coming out this morning that stop-motion animation legend, Mark Gustafson, who recently won an Oscar alongside Guillermo del Toro for their work on the Netflix stop-motion animated film, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, has died from a heart attack at the young age of 64.
Gustafson has been working in the stop-motion animation space since the mid-’80s, having worked in animation, leading up to having written and been lead animator on the Meet the Raisins! television special.
He would continue to work on various animation projects in a number of capacities, including being animation director on Wes Anderson‘s Fantastic Mr. Fox, which was nominated for two Oscars.
Gustafson left behind his wife, Jennifer.
Del Toro took to social media shortly after the news was reported to pay his own tribute to his friend and co-creator.
He leaves behind a Titanic legacy of animation that goes back to the very origins of Claymation and that shaped the career and craft of countless animators. He leaves friends and colleagues and a historic filmography. Prayers and thoughts go to his beloved wife, Jennifer.
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) February 2, 2024
