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Bud Luckey: The Man Who Designed Woody From ‘Toy Story’ Has Died

Bud Luckey: The Man Who Designed Woody From ‘Toy Story’ Has Died

He was also the man behind characters in 'A Bug's Life', 'Monsters, Inc', 'Finding Nemo', 'Cars', 'Ratatouille', 'WALL-E' and 'Up'

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Many kids grew up with the unlikely but unbreakable friendship between Woody and Buzz Lightyear from the Toy Story franchise. While many know that the voices behind those two incredible characters are Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, few would be aware about the people who actually brought those toys to life.

Bud Luckey was an American animator for decades and was also behind other amazing creations in Pixar projects.

His son has told the Hollywood Reporter that sadly, Bud has died at the age of 83.

Bud got his start as an art director and producer for an advertising agency during the 1960s. He produced advertisements for Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops and Rice Krispies. The following decade he wowed another generation of kids by producing animations for the beloved Sesame Street and also did some of the voice work as well.

While that kept him occupied, today's generation would recognise his work from when he started working for Pixar in 1990.

He joined the animation company as a character designer, storyboard artist and animator with his first project being Woody from Toy Story. The cowboy was originally supposed to be a ventriloquist's dummy but Bud evolved the character to be a talking doll and have a draw string.

Luckey's designs and animations have also been featured in A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Cars, Ratatouille, WALL-E, Up, Toy Story 3, which he also provided the voice work for Chuckles the clown, and Winnie the Pooh, where he was the voice behind Eeyore.

In 2003, he wrote, animated and composed the music for a short film titled Boundin', which was the cartoon that showed before The Incredibles, another movie that Bud provided voice work for. The five-minute short film about a jackalope that comes across a lamb won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short as well as the ASIFA Hollywood Annie Award.

In addition to these projects, Bud designed and illustrated more than 100 children's books.

Fellow animator and friend of Bud's, Jeff Pidgeon, wrote on Twitter: "Farewell to the multi-talented Bud Luckey. By the time I met him at Pixar, he'd had such a full career, he wasn't scared of technology or crazy deadlines. He helped make Woody the toy he is today, and Toy Story won't be the same without his laconic sweetness. So long, my friend."

It's reported that he died from natural causes.

RIP Bud.

Featured Image Credit: Pixar/Toy Story

Topics: Animation, Entertainment, TV and Film, Celebrity, Toy Story