Luis de la Rosa, a talented animator who worked on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, died at the age of 34 on Wednesday, June 24, after being struck by a train while attending the Annecy Animation Festival in France. The accident occurred on the railroad tracks along Avenue de Brognya, an area secured by a fence and off-limits to the public.
Details of the Incident
The train conductor reported the incident at around 8 p.m., according to French regional newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré. De la Rosa had been walking along the tracks when he was hit by a Léman Express train and dragged for several metres. The driver spotted him and sounded the horn to warn him, but he did not move out of the way and was killed instantly. Firefighters and a medical team were dispatched but pronounced him dead at the site. French authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Career and Work
De la Rosa, originally from Mexico, moved to Canada to study at Vancouver Film School. Since 2016, he worked for studios including WildBrain, Titmouse, Atomic Cartoons, Chaos Emporium, and Deluxe Animation. Besides Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, his credits include Space Jam: A New Legacy, My Little Pony: The Movie, and TV series such as Animaniacs, Carmen Sandiego, and My Dad the Bounty Hunter. He also worked on Andrew Chesworth’s short The Brave Locomotive, Jon Densk’s Axolodyssey, and Dana Terrace’s indie pilot Knights of Guenivere.
Festival and Last Post
He was attending the Annecy festival to present his own original project, Ash Raider World. He was wearing an accreditation badge around his neck at the time of the incident. His last social media post featured an image of himself surrounded by his work, captioned: "Find yourself in the things you love."
Tributes
Tributes flooded in after his death. One Facebook user wrote: "He helped bring so much joy to others through his work. Thank you Luis de la Rosa for your wonderful work." Another added: "That is so terribly sad. My film was on the Annecy Festival some years back. An amazing festival, the world’s best animation, storybook town, delicious food; one of my fondest memories. I’m so sorry it has this tragic accident in its story. God bless this brilliant young man." A third said: "One of the most talented artists I've ever met in my life is no longer with us. Luis, you will always be part of the memory of one of the happiest days of my life. Rest in peace, Luis De la Rosa." A fourth shared: "The animation world has lost a rising talent whose creativity brought unforgettable stories to life... Though his life was cut tragically short, his artistry and legacy will continue to inspire generations of animators and storytellers."
