This morning, Oscar and Emmy winning clay animator Will Vinton passed away surrounded by family. This news was announced by his children, Billy, Jesse & Alex, on Facebook. “Will had endured a 12 year battle with Multiple Myeloma, although you never would have known of this fight. For the vast majority of that time he continued forward in his life with strength, positivity, and humor, enjoying tropical get-aways, shepherding new creative ventures, and caring for his two sons, daughter and wife.”

Vinton became an overnight success when his first film (co-directed by Bob Gardiner) Closed Mondays won an Oscar in 1974. He established Vinton Studios in Portland to continue making shorts, features and numerous Clio Award winning TV commercials.

His feature-length movie, The Adventures of Mark Twain was theatrically released in 1985 – the same year the studio provided animation effects for Disney’s Return to Oz. In the late 1980s the studio achieved nationwide success via a series of commercials featuring the California Raisins, the Domino’s Pizza “Noid”, and the original M&M’s Red, Yellow, and Blue characters.

In the 1990s, Vinton Studios produced the animated series The PJs for FOX – and another animated series for UPN, Gary and Mike. Nike founder Phil Knight invested in the studio around this time and by 2005, Knight assumed complete control (still in business today as Laika Studios). Vinton himself left the studio he founded and formed another – Freewill Entertainment – which produced several short films.

A celebration of Vinton’s life will take place at No Vacancy Lounge in Portland, OR from 3:00 on Sunday October 21st.