Ryan Larkin, a talented teenager, studied at the Art School of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts under the guidance of Arthur Lismer, showcasing exceptional skill in character and figure drawing.
In the early 1960s, he was employed by the National Film Board of Canada, where he was immediately recognized by NFB's Norman McLaren as one of the most promising new artists in the organization.
Norman McLaren personally took Ryan under his wing, providing him with the resources to create two animated short films: Citérama (1966) and Syrinx (1965).
Syrinx, released in 1964, garnered worldwide recognition, propelling Ryan to more ambitious projects.
Ryan's subsequent film, Walking (1968),earned him recognition and celebrity, with a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
He was featured in Time Magazine and hailed as the "Frank Zappa or George Harrison of Animation" by the Montreal Gazette.
Ryan's next film, Street Musique (1972),solidified his status as a star at the NFB.
However, his career began to decline, and he resigned from the NFB in 1978, struggling with cocaine addiction and heavy drinking.
For over a decade, Ryan lost all his artwork, sculptures, animation materials, and money, living homeless on the streets of Montreal for a year.
He eventually found a home in the Old Port and begged for spare change from passersby in front of Schwartz's Restaurant on Montreal's Boulevard St. Laurent.
After the release of Ryan (2004),he attempted to revive his career, quitting drinking and cocaine use, and producing a few short bumpers for MTV.
Unfortunately, it was too late, and Ryan Larkin passed away on February 14th, 2007, due to lung cancer that had spread to his brain, bringing an end to one of animation's most fascinating personalities.
