Beloved Disney Animator, Randy Fullmer, Dead at 73

For 100 years, The Walt Disney Company has been the number-one name in animated films. Walt Disney animators changed the film game when they created Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. From there, things only went up, and Disney has created some of the most memorable animated films of all time. Out of the top ten highest-grossing animated films, Disney has seven of them — Frozen, Frozen II, Incredibles 2, Toy Story 3, Toy Story 4, Finding Dory, and Zootopia. 

For more than 20 years, there was one name behind a number of beloved films from Walt Disney Animation Studios. That name was Randy Fullmer. Mr. Fullmer was a producer on hit Disney films like The Emperor’s New Groove, and was also a Disney animator. In his nearly two decades with Disney, Fullmer worked on Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Oliver & Company, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers, The Lion King, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Fullmer was not only an animator and producer, but also an effects supervisor, a visual effects supervisor, and an artistic coordinator.

Sadly, on July 25, it was reported that Mr. Fullmer had passed away at the age of 73. According to a statement from his family, Mr. Fullmer passed away on July 10 at his home in Woodland Hills, California. Mr. Fullmer died following a long battle with cancer.

Following the news of Fullmer’s death, fellow Disney animator and Disneynature Executive Producer, Don Hahn, released a statement to The Wrap:

“Randy was a rare artist that already had proven himself as a visual effx artist on productions like Mermaid and Lion King.  He was one of the forces behind the Renaissance at Disney animation.   He made the leap into producing with cult hits like Emperors new groove and still had more to give creatively so unbelievably turned to making exquisite, one-of-a-kind bass guitars for the last decades of his life.  The instruments, made by hand, by himself, were sought after by recording artists everywhere, and his love of arts and crafts antiques, plein aire painting and making things with head, hand and heart inspired and affected all of us who knew him. “

Mr. Fullmer was not only a very talented animator, but also a gifted musician. After retiring from animation, Fullmer founded Wyn Guitars, where he hand-crafted hundreds of custom guitars for a number of artists, including Abraham Laboriel, James LoMenzo, Jimmy Haslip, Isaias Elpes, Robin Zielhorst, Maurice Fitzgerald, Adam Johnson, and Jermaine Jackson.

Fullmer’s business was such a success that, in 2014, he stepped in front of the camera when a documentary was made about him. Restrung told the story of Fullmer’s life and the impact that his Wyn Guitars had on the music industry.

Mr. Fullmer leaves behind his Diana, his stepchildren Becky and Nick, his sister Cathy, and his stepbrother Scott. His family wishes that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the charitable foundation, Doctors Without Borders.