Claymation pioneers Bob Gardiner and Will Vinton.
Courtesy of Will Vinton
Animator Will Vinton has died. His family announced on Facebook Thursday that he died after a 12-year battle with blood cancer. He was 70.
Vinton played a key role in shaping Oregon's thriving animation scene. His work in claymation, seen in short films and commercials, won him several Oscar nominations and a win for his 1975 short film "Closed Mondays."
In recent years, Vinton continued to offer young artists advice on their work, and turned his energy to developing a musical with composer David Pomerantz.
The family says a celebration of Vinton’s life is scheduled at the No Vacancy Lounge in downtown Portland on Sunday, Oct. 21.
Watch: Learn more about Will Vinton's DIY clay experiment that changed animation forever. For more on Oregon animation, click here.