Canadian animator and director Robert Verrall has died at the age of 97.
The National Film Board of Canada says the Oscar-nominated filmmaker died Monday in Montreal.
The Toronto-born Verrall was considered a pioneer at the NFB, having worked at the agency for more than 40 years after being hired by acclaimed Canadian animator Norman McLaren in 1945.
Verrall held several high-ranking positions at the NFB, from director of English production to executive producer of special projects, and helped establish Studio D, the agency’s renowned women’s filmmaking unit.
His legacy includes multiple Oscar nominations and more than 50 films in which he served as either director or producer, including Ryan Larkin’s Oscar-nominated 1968 short “Walking,” Barrie Nelson’s 1974 comedy “Propaganda Message” and his own 1968 science-based film “Cosmic Zoom.”
Verrall’s son David followed in his footsteps, establishing himself as a producer in the animation industry and joining the NFB in the ‘70s.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2024.
