Fatal train accident at Annecy festival claims animator's life
Animator Luis de la Rosa, aged 34, died on Wednesday evening after being struck by a train while walking along tracks near Avenue Aristide-Briand during the Annecy Animation Festival in France. The Mexican illustrator, known for his work on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Space Jam: A New Legacy, and My Little Pony: The Movie, was killed instantly, according to local reports.
Details of the incident
The collision occurred at around 8pm, reported by the conductor of the Léman Express train. The driver had sounded the horn in an attempt to alert de la Rosa, but the impact was fatal. Emergency services pronounced him dead at the scene. He was identified by his accreditation lanyard for the Annecy Film Festival. The area has been fenced off, and a police investigation is ongoing.
Tributes and festival response
The Annecy Animation Festival confirmed his 'tragic' death and is expected to pay tribute during its closing ceremony this weekend. Artistic Director Marcel Jean will remember de la Rosa, who was often credited as Luis de la Rosa Obregón. Social media has been flooded with condolences celebrating his growing animation career.
Career and background
Born and raised in Mexico, de la Rosa was based in Vancouver at the time of his death. He graduated with honors from Vancouver Film School in 2015. His LinkedIn profile lists credits with gaming studios including Titmouse Inc., Petty Karma, and Deluxe Animation. In his bio, he wrote: 'I was told animation wasn’t a viable career, but an existential crisis during college led me to drop out and pursue my true passion. Every success in animation is a testament to that choice. Now, I focus on action projects, always pushing my skills further. Each step reminds me of how far I’ve come and how worth it it was to follow my dream.'
