Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1542912
JOE HALE 1/29/25 Animator, Layout Artist, and Writer Joe Hale worked on many classic Walt Disney feature films. His credits include Sleeping Beauty, The Aristocats, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Black Cauldron, and The Great Mouse Detective. He was 99. SHIRLEY CARLSTROM HANSEN 3/5/2025 Working in Cel Service for Hanna-Barbera, Walt Disney Pictures, and Filmation, Shirley Carlstrom Hansen's credits include BraveStarr and BraveStarr: The Legend. She was 89. RICHARD "RICK" HOPPE 5/31/2025 As a Key Assistant Animator, Layout Artist, and Character Animator at Walt Disney Feature, Bagdasarian Productions, and Film Roman, Rick Hoppe's credits include The Great Mouse Detective, Aladdin, The Lion King, and The Simpsons Movie. He was 74. CHRISTINE SMITH ISHIMINE 12/10/2025 Timing Director Christine Smith Ishimine worked for studios including Fox TVA. Her wide range of credits includes Family Guy, American Dad!, Futurama, Horrible Histories, Dilbert, and Independent Lens. She was 52. TODD JACOBSEN 8/22/2025 Todd Jacobsen was an Inbetweener, Animator, and Storyboard Artist at studios including Hanna-Barbera, DreamWorks, and Walt Disney Feature. His TV credits range from The Simpsons to The Ren & Stimpy Show, and film credits include Space Jam: A New Legacy and The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. He was 61. IAN JENKINS 9/11/2025 A Technical Director at ImageMovers Digital and DreamWorks, Ian Jenkins's credits include Open Season, Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss in Boots, The Croods, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. He was 48. KARENIA KAMINSKI 10/7/2025 As a Layout and Storyboard Artist, Animator, and Model Designer, Karenia Kaminski worked at Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, and Warner Bros. Film credits include Space Jam and The Iron Giant, and TV credits range from She-Ra: Princess of Power to The Simpsons. She was 76. CHRISTINE KINGSLAND 1/1/2025 Christine Kingsland was an Ink and Paint Artist, Painter, and Color Model Painter at Hanna-Barbera and Rich Entertainment. Her credits include The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and The California Raisin Show. She was 92. ROMEO LOPEZ 1/21/2025 As a Layout and Storyboard Artist, Romeo Lopez worked at Filmation, Marvel, and Graz Entertainment. Among his credits are X-Men, G.I. Joe, Super Mario World, and BraveStarr. He was 87. ALEXANDER MORANO 9/26/2025 Working as a Technical Director and Pipeline Engineer and Supervisor at Disney TVA and DreamWorks, Alexander Morano's credits include Fanboy & Chum Chum, The Legend of Korra, and Sanjay and Craig. He was 52. JAMES "J.R." RUSSELL 2/4/2025 James Russell worked as a Supervisor Assistant and Compositing Supervisor at Walt Disney Pictures. Among his many credits are The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Mulan, and Lilo & Stitch. He was 63. MICHELLE BOCHNER SPITZ 1/10/2025 Writer Michelle Spitz worked at Walt Disney Pictures and Disney TVA on feature films including Chicken Little and Meet the Robinsons and series such as Monsters at Work. She was 57. JIM SMITH 5/2/2025 Co-founder of the indie animation studio Spümcø, Character Designer and Storyboard and Layout Artist Jim Smith co-developed The Ren & Stimpy Show. Additional TV and film credits include Cool World, Samurai Jack, and The Mighty B! He was 70. ALISSA MEYERSON SOLOMON 5/9/2025 Alissa Solomon worked as an Assistant Animator at studios including Walt Disney Feature, Chuck Jones Entertainment, Ziggy Productions, and Marvel. Her credits range from Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure to Muppet Babies. She was 68. JOE SUGGS 3/5/2025 Joe Suggs was a Layout, Storyboard, and Cleanup Artist at Nickelodeon, Disney TVA, and Warner Bros. Among his TV credits are Rugrats, Futurama, and Invader Zim. Film credits include Space Jam and Cool World. He was 59. SPRING 2026 33 T R I B U T E