RIP Larkin.

February 17, 2007 9:41 AM

Ryan Larkin [1943-2007]
posted by docgonzo (32 comments total)

Helpful links on Larkin's life and death:

"Renowned animator Ryan Larkin, once a rising star with the National Film Board who fell on hard times in recent years, has died at age 63." [CP]

"I had difficulty handling my ego when I was famous. I've made a fool of myself, Larkin once told an interviewer. It was a psychological problem I had to deal with, and my first choice was to use drugs... I had sexual proclivities, too - I was doing coke and getting hard-ons instead of what I should have been doing, which was making interesting, comical, beautiful animation films." [MtlGaz]

NFB site for Oscar-winning Ryan [NFB]

Larkin's website [RyanBango]

"Canada has lost a great artist and a true innovator who inspired and influenced generations. Ryan Larkin will be missed." [NFB]

"When brought back to the attention of the public, after Canadian filmmaker Chris Landreth portrayed the artist in his film Ryan, a strikingly inventive work of animation worthy of the subject, Larkin refused to lament his years as a panhandler. (His favourite spot was the sidewalk outside Schwartz's Deli on Saint-Laurent Boulevard.)" [Star]

Larkin's last work was for MTV Canada [mtv]

"Last exit on St. Laurent street: The wonderfully fucked up world of Ryan Larkin." [AWN]

"Ryan Larkin: Luck of the draw" [MtlMirror]

Previously on Metafilter [1] [2] [3]

posted by docgonzo at 9:41 AM on February 17, 2007

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posted by fleetmouse at 9:45 AM on February 17, 2007

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posted by Isosceles at 9:54 AM on February 17, 2007

I saw Ryan and a short making-of documentary at a SIGGRAPH conference two years ago. I wish I knew more about him.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:56 AM on February 17, 2007

That is sad, about a year or so back my wife and I where in Toronto and spent some time at the free NFB viewing rooms, ran across the Ryan film and fell in love with it.
posted by edgeways at 10:01 AM on February 17, 2007

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What a loss! Thanks for a list of great links in the post.
posted by rmm at 10:11 AM on February 17, 2007

. (and thanks to Landreth for that movie about him)
posted by amberglow at 10:22 AM on February 17, 2007

|::|.:|:.|.:|:.|::|:.|..|. |
posted by hal9k at 10:43 AM on February 17, 2007

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posted by bru at 11:00 AM on February 17, 2007

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posted by bobloblaw at 11:03 AM on February 17, 2007

:-(
posted by otherthings_ at 11:27 AM on February 17, 2007

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posted by roll truck roll at 12:13 PM on February 17, 2007

this is very sad.
moreso, i think because his cartoons have been ripped off of youtube. certainly, now that he's dead someone will make money off of his work. shameful.
posted by es_de_bah at 12:17 PM on February 17, 2007

░
posted by Smart Dalek at 12:19 PM on February 17, 2007

Aaaaaah SHIT.

Loved his work and gone too soon.
posted by alicesshoe at 12:50 PM on February 17, 2007

Here's a 40 oz. outside the Copa.
posted by zadcat at 12:52 PM on February 17, 2007

This is a sad turn of events.
posted by y2karl at 1:01 PM on February 17, 2007

moreso, i think because his cartoons have been ripped off of youtube.

This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by National Film Board of Canada.

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posted by soundofsuburbia at 1:06 PM on February 17, 2007

Last I heard he was starting work with the NFB on a new film. I wonder how much they finished.
posted by Popular Ethics at 1:17 PM on February 17, 2007

. indeed.
posted by Samizdata at 1:32 PM on February 17, 2007

Very sad. An agonizing life.
posted by facetious at 1:50 PM on February 17, 2007

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posted by blastrid at 2:38 PM on February 17, 2007

:(
posted by batmonkey at 2:49 PM on February 17, 2007

Thanks for all the additional links, docgonzo.

Very sad news.

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posted by maryh at 3:36 PM on February 17, 2007

I had finally gotten around to seeing Ryan (the movie) a few weeks ago after reading that he had been hired to do some spots for MTV. I was moved by the thought that maybe the recent publicity had re-opened some doors for him and perhaps his luck was turning around. I didn't know he had cancer.

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posted by itchylick at 3:44 PM on February 17, 2007

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posted by May Kasahara at 5:22 PM on February 17, 2007

:'(
posted by zarah at 5:52 PM on February 17, 2007

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posted by stevil at 6:34 PM on February 17, 2007

.

I saw Cityscape at the Toronto NFB Mediatheque last week. His style was so beautifully fluid.
posted by scruss at 7:35 PM on February 17, 2007

This was one of those so-lucky people who got started so young (19) at such a wonderful place, a dream job, the NFB. And wasted end on the street with stupid cocaine. Very sad.
posted by Listener at 11:41 PM on February 17, 2007

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posted by juv3nal at 2:26 AM on February 18, 2007

wow, sorry to hear this - I had thought there was more promising news about him lately. Thanks for putting such a great tribute together, docgonzo - you set the bar high for an obit post.
posted by madamjujujive at 10:45 AM on February 19, 2007