Jason "Spilly" Spilchak

We are heartbroken to share the passing of a beloved brother, son, and friend. Jason passed suddenly, but peacefully, in Vancouver of natural causes. He is survived by his father John, sister Tanya Fears (Tom), and many good friends around the world. He was predeceased by his mother Donna in 2012. Many knew him as "Spilly".

Jason grew up in the small town of Davidson, Saskatchewan. From an early age, his talent and imagination emerged. He was fascinated by cartoons, and soon took up drawing his own characters and creating stories for them. He repeatedly said that "one day I will draw Smurfs". Clearly, he knew something the rest of us did not, as his first job as an animator was in Vancouver on the Smurfs movie! He had a passion for animation, and a keen eye for details, often calling out spots in movies that were problematic with the CGI characters. He loved sharing this interest with others, often mentoring and assisting others who had questions and wanted to enter the field. He worked on a plethora of projects, including TMNT, The Emoji Movie, Escape from Planet Earth, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which won an Oscar and Golden Globe. A full list of his accomplishments can be found on IMDB. -  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4548999/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1)

Jason's heart was bigger than life. He was generous of his time, apartment for animators moving to Vancouver who needed a place to stay while starting their new lives there, possessions that he could lend or give others to make their lives better, his insights, and always his great sense of humour. This infectious laugh is what everyone remembers most about him, commenting on how much they will miss it in the years ahead. He always found a way to find the comical in a situation, had a sharp wit, and was always quick with a joke or smirk. 

Jason always thought people should be remembered for who they were in life, rather than their death. Therefore, his ashes will be spread in a private family ceremony, and everyone who loved him is invited to attend "Spilly Stories", an online come-and-go chat where we can all share memories, anecdotes, and moments we shared with him (see Facebook post for time and link). 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the MS or Cancer Societies, as both affected his family.

Jason/Spilly will be forever loved and remembered.