Pixar animator Ralph Eggleston passes away at just 56 years of age from pancreatic cancer

The animation community is in mourning with beloved Pixar animator Ralph Eggleston passing away.

Eggleston succumbed to pancreatic cancer after a lengthy battle with the disease, according to Variety. 

Pixar shared a touching tribute to Eggleston on Twitter, while The Book of Life filmmaker Jorge R. Gutierrez remembered him in a tweet as well.

The Pixar tweet shared an image of Eggleston while he was working as a production designer on the beloved 2015 film Inside Out.

‘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 tweet stated.

Gutierrez shared photos of Eggleston pointing out certain frames on Inside Out, along with a heartfelt message.

Tribute: The Pixar tweet shared an image of Eggleston while he was working as a production designer on the beloved 2015 film Inside Out

‘Adios Maestro Ralph Eggleston. A true titan of our art form. He reached out to me after Book of Life and I will forever cherish our conversations,’ Gutierrez began. 

‘Before many knew he was sick he was trying to donate his spectacular art book collection to a Mexican animation school. That’s Ralph,’ he concluded.

Before he started working at Pixar in 1992, Eggleston started his career as a title designer on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

Titan: ‘Adios Maestro Ralph Eggleston. A true titan of our art form. He reached out to me after Book of Life and I will forever cherish our conversations,’ Gutierrez began

He also worked as a character designer on The Pound Puppies and a storyboard artist on The Simpsons.

Eggleston often wore many hats on a production, serving as an art director and storyboard artist on 1992’s FernGully: The Last Rainforest, and an art director on Disney hits such as Aladdin, The Lion King and Pocahontas.

He won his first Annie Award for Best Art Direction on Pixar’s debut film Toy Story, and he would serve as art director on other Pixar films such as A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, The Incredibles and Cars.

Many hats: Eggleston often wore many hats on a production, serving as an art director and storyboard artist on 1992’s FernGully: The Last Rainforest, and an art director on Disney hits such as Aladdin, The Lion King and Pocahontas

Eggleston won his first Oscar for Best Animated Short for his film For the Birds, which was released theatrically alongside Monsters Inc.

He was also credited as coming up with the original story for Monsters Inc. with Pete Docter, Jill Culton and Jeff Pidgeon, along with working on the film’s visual development.

He also served as the production designer on Finding Nemo, WALL-E and Incredibles 2, along with the upcoming The Spider and the Fly: The Movie. 

Oscar: Eggleston won his first Oscar for Best Animated Short for his film For the Birds, which was released theatrically alongside Monsters Inc

Designer: He also served as the production designer on Finding Nemo, WALL-E and Incredibles 2, along with the upcoming The Spider and the Fly: The Movie