Remembering Kelly Asbury: Animation Legend & Courageous Artist

Remembering Kelly Asbury

• 💔 The animation community mourns the loss of Kelly Asbury, who passed away from abdominal cancer at age 60.
• 🌟 Asbury was a significant figure in animation, starting at Disney in 1983 and contributing to seminal films like The Little Mermaid, Toy Story, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
• 🎨 He was instrumental in developing films such as Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron and Gnomeo & Juliet, often overcoming significant story challenges.
• 😔 Despite facing stage four cancer while working on Ugly Dolls and Smurfs: The Lost Village, Asbury demonstrated remarkable grace and courage.
• ✍️ He bravely shared his experiences working on films that underperformed at the box office in a poignant essay for Cartoon Brew, highlighting the importance of handling failure.

Animation Industry News & Updates

• 📺 Robot Chicken is noted for its longevity, entering its tenth season.
• 🚀 Star Trek: Lower Decks, a new animated comedy, is set to premiere, offering a comedic take on the Star Trek universe.
• 🎬 Candace Against the Universe, a long-awaited Phineas and Ferb movie, is scheduled for release on Disney+.
• 💥 Beavis and Butt-Head is being revived by Mike Judge for Comedy Central, signaling a shift in Viacom's brand strategy.
• 🤔 The return of Clone High is announced, sparking discussion about which historical figures will be included in the new iteration.
• 🏞️ Zootopia unexpectedly returned to the number one spot at the box office, amidst discussions about a potential sequel and the thematic relevance of police characters in the current climate.

Personal Reflections and Anecdotes

• 🎆 Drew Taylor shares his experience with disruptive Fourth of July fireworks, affecting his sleep and his dog.
• 🍽️ Jim Hill recounts a unique dining experience involving self-sanitizing tables due to COVID-19 protocols.
• 🎬 Brad Bird's role as host of Turner Classic Movies' "The Essentials" is highlighted, with his insights on the filmmaking process and pitching ideas.
• 🎤 The podcast also mentions upcoming episodes of "Light the Fuse" featuring Gary Rystrom and other related podcasts like "Disney Dish" and "Looking at Lucas Film."