We’re sad to report that just a week after the death of Star Wars artist Ralph McQuarrie, Jean ‘Moebius’ Giraud, seminal concept artist for TRON and ALIEN has died at the age of 73 after losing his battle to cancer.
Giraud was best known in France for creating Wild West character ‘Les Aventures de Blueberry‘ but he also ventured into cinema and made quite an impact. He worked with Ridley Scott on the visual effects for the legendary ALIEN and also on the iconic TRON, both films that have had a lasting effect on modern cinema.
In 1974, Giraud launched an adult sci-fi and fantasy crossover called Métal Hurlant. In that same year, publisher Leonard Mogel was on a promotional tour in Paris and discovered the unique publication and took it back to America and in 1977 launched it as Heavy Metal, the hugely influential magazine. Furthermore, Moebius lent his genius of his visionary mind to films like WILLOW, THE ABYSS, Luc Besson’s THE FIFTH ELEMENT and a little success story called STAR WARS.
Jean Giraud has and will influence modern cinema and pop culture forever and was much beloved. If you’re interested in more of his life and work, have a look at the documentary IN SEARCH OF MOEBIUS, a proper modern legend in every sense. Rest In Peace.
Source: Reuters
