Mark Gustafson, the Portland-based animator whose deft hands and visionary mind brought the Oscar-winning "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" to life, died on Thursday at the age of 64. His death, a heart attack, was confirmed through the heartfelt words of his colleague and friend, Guillermo del Toro, on social media.

Gustafson's career spanned decades, with notable beginnings at the celebrated Will Vinton Studios, as OregonLive reports, he brought joy to TV screens with projects like "Claymation Christmas Celebration," "The PJs," and made a splash with the cult-favorite "California Raisins" before he eventually climbed to the pinnacle of his profession serving as animation director for Wes Anderson's "Fantastic Mr. Fox", of course, it was his co-directorial magic with del Toro that bagged him an Academy Award just last year.

Remembrances poured forth from the entertainment community, recognizing Gustafson's indelible impact, Mike Wellins, former director at Vinton Studios expressed his shock on Facebook, saying, "The void in the future will be massive, Earth just lost so much great work that was yet to come," emphasizing the loss felt by many who admired and were inspired by Gustafson's unique talent.

Del Toro, whose partnership with Gustafson culminated in an Oscar win, placed the late animator amongst the stop-motion greats, and hailed him for his artistry and personal warmth, "I admired Mark Gustafson, even before I met him", he shared in a tribute that The Hollywood Reporter echoed, "A pillar of stop motion animation — a true artist," and further described Gustafson as a "compassionate, sensitive and mordantly witty man, a Legend — and a friend that inspired and gave hope to all around him."

Survived by his wife Jennifer, Gustafson leaves behind a legacy that transformed the intricate craft of stop-motion animation, making it clear that his passing leaves a profound emptiness not just in the industry, but in the hearts of those he moved with his storytelling, artistry, and sheer human kindness, as IMDb restates del Toro's sentiment, "He passed away yesterday, today we honor and miss him."