Ryan Larkin - biography and personal life of a Canadian animator, ups and downs, famous works. Where did Ryan Larkin study and where he worked, how his life turned after the creation of successful works.
Ryan Larkin, despite his surname consonant with the Russians, is of Canadian origin. The talented film director-animator gained fame at the end of the 60s of the last century. Thanks to him, the world collection of animated cartoons was replenished with such works as "Walk" and "Street Music".
Ryan Larkin's early life
Ryan Larkin was born on July 31, 1943 in Montreal. Little is known about the family of the future animator. However, he spoke openly about one story. The boy had an older brother Steph, who was a real idol for him, Ryan called him “cool”. As a teenager, Ryan had to endure a terrible tragedy - the boys went boating, Steph fell into the water and began to drown. Ryan, who never learned to swim, was unable to save his brother. Subsequently, the animator said that this event deeply traumatized him. Perhaps the feeling of guilt and the loss of his beloved brother influenced the future life of the cartoonist.
Ryan Larkin's studies and early career
Ryan Larkin was creative and highly receptive. He was attracted by the fine arts, cinema, animation, music. At a young age, he entered the Art School of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, where he studied with the distinguished artist Arthur Lismer.
Already at the age of 19, Ryan got his first job - in the National Film Council of Canada or NFB. It was one of the leading animation centers around the world. At the National Council, Larkin was a student of Norman McLaren, a renowned director, producer and animator. McLaren studied innovative animation techniques with McLaren.
Here Larkin created his first recognized short films. In 1965, the animated film "Syringa", and in 1966 - the animated film "City Landscape". In 1969, Ryan Larkin began creating his "Walk", which a year later was nominated for an Oscar in the category "Best Short Film". Although the work did not win the statuette, losing "It's hard to be a bird, Ward Kimball, but brought worldwide fame to its creator. In 1972, Larkin created another successful project -" Street Music. " …
Ryan Larkin also contributed artistic and animation effects to the work of other authors during his tenure at the NFB. For example, in 1974 Larkin helped director Mort Ransen to work on the film "Running Time".
Ryan Larkin's career decline
Despite a quick and bright start, Ryan Larkin failed to show his full potential, like many creative personalities. After the success, a period of failure began. Having released two successful works, Larkin was unable to create a single author's picture. And in 1978, the animator retired from the Canadian National Animation Council.
In the years that followed, Ryan Larkin was addicted to drugs and alcohol. Left by his parents, Larkin wandered the streets and was homeless. He even worked out his own sleeping regime. Larkin slept at the Old Brewery Mission, set up for homeless shelters, near restaurants, bars, and bookstores.
The world remembered Larkin again in 2004, when Chris Landreth directed the animated documentary Ryan. The audience liked the film so much that it won an Oscar and other awards. In the same year, the film "Alter Egos" by Lawrence Green was released. This film tells the story of the creation of the Ryan animation and includes interviews with Chris Landreth and Ryan Larkin himself.
In 2006, Larkin tried to get back to work. He directed several hand-drawn short films for MTV. At the same time, Larkin admitted that he got rid of bad habits and again wants to devote himself to professional activities. But "Spare Change" did not manage to finish his last work. The painting was completed by Ryan Larkin's friend Laurie Gordon, who was also the film's composer and producer. The picture was released in 2008.
Ryan Larkin's personal life
Ryan Larkin was bisexual throughout his life. The animator had relationships with both women and men. He was not married, had no children.
Ryan Larkin died in Canada on February 14, 2007 at the age of 63. Larkin suffered from lung cancer that spread to the brain.
Filmography of Ryan Larkin
Summing up the results, we present the filmography of the film director-animator. It includes only 5 paintings, but they all deserve special attention. They have their own style and subtle nature, which the author conveyed to them when he created them.
Filmography:
- Syringa - 1965
- City landscape - 1966.
- Walk (in motion) - 1969.
- Street music - 1972.
- Spare Change - 2008.
What Ryan Larkin's work looked like
Ryan Larkin’s particular style can be portrayed more easily with images than words. Bright, but subtle colors, fine lines, evocation of emotions - all this characterizes the work of the cartoonist. Pictures make you stop your gaze and plunge into the wonderful world of animation of the 60-70s of the last century. The world as Ryan Larkin saw him in his youth.
