Luis de la Rosa, the talented Mexican animator who worked on the Academy Award-winning film “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” has tragically passed away at the age of 34. The artist died on June 24, 2026, after being struck by a train in Annecy, France . He was in the city to attend the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival . The news of his sudden death has left the global animation community in deep shock and mourning.
Fatal Accident Details in Annecy
The incident took place on Wednesday evening around 8:00 PM local time in downtown Annecy . According to reports from the French newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré, de la Rosa was walking along the railroad tracks that run alongside Avenue de Brogny . He was on a part of the tracks that is fenced off and closed to the public.
The train driver of the local Léman Express service spotted de la Rosa near the tracks and sounded the horn as a warning. However, the impact was unavoidable, and de la Rosa was struck by the train and dragged for several meters. Authorities were alerted by the train conductor, and firefighters along with medical personnel from SAMU (Emergency Medical Service) arrived at the scene. Sadly, they could only confirm that de la Rosa had died instantly from his injuries.
At the time of the accident, de la Rosa was wearing his accreditation badge for the film festival . The Annecy International Animation Film Festival confirmed the “tragic” death to Variety and other outlets. The festival’s artistic director, Marcel Jean, is expected to offer his condolences during the closing ceremony on Saturday, June 27 . French authorities have opened a police investigation to understand the exact circumstances leading to this tragic event.
A Career Built on Passion and Talent
Luis de la Rosa, also known professionally as Luis De La Rosa Obregón, was a highly respected animator from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. His journey into animation was not a straightforward one. He initially studied architecture but decided to leave college to follow his true passion for animation. He later moved to Canada and graduated with honors from the Vancouver Film School in 2015.
His career spanned over a decade, during which he collaborated with top studios like Sony Pictures Animation, Warner Bros., and Nickelodeon . His filmography includes work on major Hollywood projects such as:
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse .
- Space Jam: A New Legacy .
- My Little Pony: The Movie .
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: The Series .
- Carmen Sandiego .
- Animaniacs.
Pursuing a Dream and Leaving a Legacy
De la Rosa was in France to promote his most personal project, an original animated series called “Ash Raider World” . He was attending the MIFA market, the industry event at the Annecy festival, with hopes of finding partners for his dream project.
According to his LinkedIn profile, he pursued animation despite being told it wasn’t a viable career. He once 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”. His death has sent shockwaves through the community. Gaby Meza, a well-known film critic, confirmed the news on social media, expressing deep sadness . The social media administrator for “Ash Raider World” also shared a tribute, stating it was a “tragic and all too sudden event” and that de la Rosa “will be missed and remembered through all the friends and art he created” . He was also working on a short film called “Axolodyssey” at the time of his death.
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A Final Gift to His Fans
In the wake of his passing, colleagues and friends have organized to honor one of de la Rosa’s final wishes. He had brought a collection of postcards of his comic “Ash Rider” to France. It has been decided that these will be distributed to fans, both in France and in Vancouver, where he lived. A family member shared a heartfelt message on social media, saying, “Your Navidades were always at home with us, your talent transcended countries… We are going to miss you too much Luisito”.
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