R.I.P. Dave Borthwick

Word has reached us that stop-motion animator Dave Borthwick, one of the founders of The Bolex Brothers (with partner Dave Alex Riddett), passed away this past week in Bristol England. His health had been failing for a while and he finally succumbed to pneumonia.

He was the creator and director of The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb (pictured above, with actor Nick Upton) and was currently in production on a feature-length clay-animated adaptation of Gilbert Shelton’s underground comix classic The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers (as Grass Roots – see clip below). Borthwick animated many commercials in the U.K. and co-directed the feature Sprung! The Magic Roundabout (AKA in the US, Doogal).

(Thanks, Tom Gasek)