Pete Kozachik, Oscar-Nominated ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ VFX Artist, Passes Away at 72

Pete Kozachik, a renowned visual effects artist whose expertise in stop-motion animation left an indelible mark on films like “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “James and the Giant Peach,” “Corpse Bride,” and “Coraline,” has sadly passed away at the age of 72.

Kozachik’s wife, Katy Moore-Kozachik, confirmed his peaceful passing on Tuesday in hospice care at their Northern California residence. His death was attributed to complications arising from primary progressive aphasia, a rare variant of Alzheimer’s disease.

Throughout his illustrious career, Kozachik contributed to numerous iconic films, including operating a stop-motion camera on “Ghostbusters II” (1989), serving as director of miniature photography on “Starship Troopers” (1997), and working as a visual effects cameraman on “Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones” (2002).

His tenure at Industrial Light & Magic included involvement in projects such as “Howard the Duck” (1986), “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” (1986), “Innerspace” (1987), and “Willow” (1988). Kozachik reunited with frequent collaborator Phil Tippett for the “RoboCop” sequels in 1990 and ’93.

Director Henry Selick relied on Kozachik as director of photography for several notable stop-motion films, including “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993), “James and the Giant Peach” (1996), “Coraline” (2009), and “Corpse Bride” (2005), all of which were produced by Tim Burton or co-directed by Burton and Mike Johnson.

Kozachik’s exceptional contributions earned him an Oscar nomination for “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” which he shared with fellow visual effects artists Eric Leighton, Ariel Velasco-Shaw, and Gordon Baker.

Kozachik’s journey into stop-motion began in sixth grade when he was inspired by a photograph of VFX legend Ray Harryhausen and the puppets from “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad” (1958). This encounter ignited his passion for the art form, and he pursued it relentlessly.

Despite a diagnosis of aphasia, which progressively impaired his ability to communicate, Kozachik remained active in the industry. In 2021, he received a credit on Tippett’s animated horror fantasy “Mad God” and published his memoir, “Tales From the Pumpkin King’s Cameraman,” referencing the character Jack Skellington from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

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Tim Burton penned a heartfelt foreword for the memoir, highlighting Kozachik’s exceptional talents and the unique perspective he brought to the world of stop-motion animation.

Pete Kozachik’s legacy in the world of cinema will continue to inspire and captivate audiences for generations to come. He is survived by his wife, brother, sister-in-law, and niece.

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