Animator Luis de la Rosa, best known for his work on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, has died at the age of 34 after being struck by a train at the Annecy Animation Festival in France. The Mexican illustrator was walking along the tracks near Avenue Aristide-Briand on Wednesday evening when the incident occurred.
Details of the Accident
The driver of the Léman Express train sounded the horn in an attempt to alert de la Rosa, but the collision was fatal. Emergency services were dispatched, but de la Rosa was killed instantly and pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified by the accreditation lanyard for the Annecy Film Festival around his neck. According to French regional newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré, the conductor reported the collision at around 8pm. The area has since been fenced off and is off-limits to the public, with a police investigation ongoing.
Tributes and Career Highlights
The Annecy Animation Festival confirmed de la Rosa's 'tragic' death and is expected to pay tribute during its closing ceremony this weekend. Annecy Artistic Director Marcel Jean is also set to remember de la Rosa, who was often credited as Luis de la Rosa Obregón. Social media has been flooded with condolences celebrating his growing animation career. Born and raised in Mexico, de la Rosa was based in Vancouver at the time of his death. He graduated with honors from Vancouver Film School in 2015. His LinkedIn profile lists numerous animation credits, including work with gaming studios such as Titmouse Inc., Petty Karma, and Deluxe Animation. In his bio, he wrote: 'I was told animation wasn’t a viable career, but an existential crisis during college led me to drop out and pursue my true passion. Every success in animation is a testament to that choice. Now, I focus on action projects, always pushing my skills further. Each step reminds me of how far I’ve come and how worth it it was to follow my dream.'
Impact and Legacy
De la Rosa's contributions to animation include Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Space Jam: A New Legacy, and My Little Pony: The Movie. His sudden death has shocked the animation community, with many colleagues and fans expressing their grief online. The festival's tribute is expected to highlight his creative achievements and the inspiration he provided to aspiring animators.
