AceShowbiz - "The Little Mermaid" animator Randy Fullmer has died aged 73. The Walt Disney Animation Studios veteran animator and producer, who also worked on the likes of "Chicken Little", "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast", passed away following a long battle with cancer on July 10.

His family confirmed he died at his home in Woodland Hills. In a statement to Variety, Don Hahn, who worked with Fullmer on a number of projects, said, "Most people are good at one thing in their lives. Randy was good at a lot of things. He could draw and paint beautifully, but he had the mind of an engineer, and the heart of an artisan. He was great at animation; great at producing movies, too. He was at the very center of the Disney renaissance in animation, then when he needed a new chapter in his life, he started making exquisite and much sought-after bass guitars with that same engineer's mind and artistic soul he brought to Disney animated movies. His masterful woodwork radiates with his love for the craftsman ethic of working with head, hands and heart. I miss him but I carry his passion and joy with me every day. Always will."

Fullmer spent almost 20 years working at Walt Disney Animation Studios as animation producer and artistic/visual effects supervisor. He was initially hired on a three month contract in 1987 working on the Toon Town section of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit", before sending 18 years at the studio. He helped develop the Disney renaissance with his work on the likes of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Oliver and Company".

Following his retirement from animation, he launched Wyn Guitars in 2006.