Robert Verrall, an influential figure in Canadian animation and a revered National Film Board (NFB) filmmaker and producer, passed away on January 17, 2025, at the age of 97. His extraordinary career spanned several decades and left an indelible mark on the world of animation, film, and public service cinema in Canada and beyond.
Born on January 13, 1928, in Toronto, Ontario, Verrall displayed an early interest in art. He attended Western Technical-Commercial School in Toronto, where he honed his skills as a graphic artist. Encouraged by his teachers, Verrall’s journey into the world of animation began in 1945, when a serendipitous opportunity altered the course of his life.
Verrall recalled in a 2021 interview with the author: “One of my teachers, who was also associated with the Art Gallery of Toronto, asked me to bring my portfolio down to the gallery. I wasn’t sure what it was about, but …