Randy Fullmer, a multi-talented effects animator, visual effects supervisor, artistic coordinator, and producer, has passed away at the age of 73. Fullmer made significant contributions to the animation industry, working on films such as “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “The Lion King” at Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Fullmer’s exceptional career in animation began in 1983-84 when he worked for Don Bluth Studios. During this time, he created special effects for the groundbreaking video games “Dragon’s Lair” and “Space Ace,” which were the first to be produced on laserdisc. He then went on to work at John Dykstra’s live-action special effects company, Apogee, and at Filmation, where he handled animation for popular TV shows like “Happily Ever After,” “BraveStarr,” “She-Ra: Princess of Power,” and “Ghostbusters” from 1985-87.
In 1987, Fullmer joined Walt Disney Feature Animation, now known as Walt Disney Animation Studios, for a three-month contract to animate the Toon Town section of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” This job marked the beginning of an 18-year career at Disney, where he worked on various animated films in different roles. He served as an effects animator on “Oliver & Company” and “The Little Mermaid,” effects supervisor on “The Rescuers Down Under,” visual effects supervisor on “Beauty and the Beast,” artistic coordinator on “The Lion King” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” and producer on “The Emperor’s New Groove” and “Chicken Little.”
After retiring from the animation industry, Fullmer pursued his passion for music by launching Wyn Guitars in 2006. As the founder and sole luthier for the company, he crafted hundreds of unique guitars for renowned musicians such as Abraham Laboriel, James LoMenzo, and Jermaine Jackson. The impact of Wyn Guitars was captured in the documentary “Restrung” by Mike Enns in 2014, which showcased the demand for Fullmer’s custom bass guitars.
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Born on April 27, 1950, in Richland, Washington, Randy Fullmer grew up with a creative spirit. He learned to play the trombone at a young age and built his own 12-string guitar when his parents refused to buy him one. Over the years, he developed exceptional woodworking skills and also excelled in plein air painting, stained glass, jewelry making, coppersmithing, and architecture.
Fullmer’s talent and versatility were widely recognized by his peers. Don Hahn, a Disney animation veteran known for his work on “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King,” praised Fullmer’s abilities, saying, “Most people are good at one thing in their lives. Randy was good at a lot of things.” Hahn also highlighted Fullmer’s passion for both animation and guitar making, stating that he brought the same engineer’s mind and artistic soul to both crafts.
Randy Fullmer is survived by his wife, Diana, his stepchildren Becky and Nick, his sister Cathy, and his stepbrother Scott. His family has requested that donations in his memory be made to Doctors Without Borders. They also urge others to use Fullmer’s energy and creativity as inspiration to take their own creative risks and treat others with kindness, compassion, generosity, and good humor.
The animation industry has lost a talented and versatile artist, but Randy Fullmer’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of animators and musicians alike.
