Ralph Eggleston, a longtime Pixar animator, passes away at 56. Eggleston was first hired at Pixar in 1992 during the production of Toy Story, the studio’s first computer-animated feature. Eggleston worked as an art director on the film, which was met with universal acclaim. In his 30-year tenure at Pixar, he worked as an art director for The Incredibles, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story, and Cars. Eggleston also worked in character and production design for Ratatouille, WALL-E, Up, and more. An indispensable part of the Pixar team, he was known affectionately by his colleagues as “Eggman.”
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In addition to his feature film work, Eggleston wrote and directed the Pixar short film For the Birds, which screened ahead of Monsters, Inc. in theaters back in 2001. The project captivated audiences with its humor and heart. For the Birds won the Academy Award for best animated short in 2002. Eggleston was the recipient of several other awards honoring his work over the course of his career. He won three Annie Awards for WALL-E, Toy Story, and Inside Out. In 2019, he won a Winsor McKay Award for his lifetime career achievements.
Per Deadline, Eggleston died on August 28. He passed away in Lake Charles, LA, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 56. Pixar then took to social media to honor Eggleston's memory with a striking behind the scenes image. The Pixar account writes that “Pixar and the world will be forever grateful” for his incomparable contributions to the movies he worked on. See the studio's tweet down below:
Many of Eggleston’s industry colleagues took to social media to grieve his loss. Angus MacLane, director of Pixar’s latest feature, Lightyear, wrote, “RIP Raph [sic] Eggleston. Truly one of a kind. His massive talent was matched only by his kindness.” Chris Burrows, a shading artist and technical director at Pixar, shared, “RIP Eggman. The animation world is a lot darker today…You liking me is one of my proudest achievements.” Eggleston's impact across all of Pixar cannot be overstated, as the tributes to his memory all speak to his impressive work.
Eggleston’s loss will be deeply felt by his loved ones, by the animation community, and by the countless fans of his movies. He was a crucial force behind some of the most beloved movies of all time, and his work at Pixar greatly influenced what people think of as the look and feel of the studio’s films. Now, his work will live on in his memory, and Ralph Eggleston's legacy will be honored for generations to come.