I just finished reading Dan Lee’s obituary in the paper. I’m kinda freaked.
Dan was in my class and a roommate for a year while we both went through Sheridan College’s Classical Animation program. When he popped open his portfolio the first week of class and showed us his drawings, we all knew he was going to be snatched up by Disney or some big studio. His style was polished even before going through the course. He was always laughing and had a solid comprehension of comedic timing.
He once drew me balancing a dumbell weight on a delicate finger, while wearing a leatherman’s master cap and a tu tu. Very perceptive, indeed.
I am glad he made it to the top of his game by creating work for Pixar. Its where he belonged.
0 thoughts on “Dan Lee, 35”
He wasnt so much a friend as a college buddy. When he worked on Tiny Toons back in ’89, he tried to get me a contract position there but I took a job animating the shadows on Shreddies because it was permanent. That was pretty much the last I saw of him.
I hear you about Brilliant or mediocre. I’m going to be around forever! Ha!
Sorry, Ted. I had a really good friend from HS who was easily one of the most brilliant artists I’ve ever met. He worked for Bally/Midway and was one of the designers on NBA Jams and Mortal Combat. Then he OD’d on heroin in 1999.
Brilliant and dead, or mediocre and alive….hmmm…decisions…
Really, I am sorry. Sucks to lose friends like that.