Kelly Asbury, an animator and filmmaker who has worked on multiple generations of fantastic animated films has sadly passed away at the age of 60, after a long fought battle with cancer.
“This was one of the most admired and beloved people in the industry,” Asbury’s representative Nancy Newhouse Porter said, after confirming his passing.
Asbury began his journey with Disney in 1985, as an inbetween artist on the Black Cauldron, then became a Visual development artist on The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, and Beauty and the Beast, a film he helped write. He also would work on Toy Story, Nightmare Before Christmas, and James and the Giant Peach.
In 1998, Asbury made the move to Dreamworks working on their high-profile animated features, and would soon make his directorial debut with Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron and then, what I believe to be the “best” Shrek film, Shrek 2, he also directed 2019’s Ugly Dolls. Asbury would return to Disney in the 2010’s to work on Wreck-It Ralph and Frozen.
Asbury is survived by his wife, Jacquie; stepsons Andrew and Connor; sister Gwen; and niece Leslie. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Kelly Asbury.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter