He is expected to have screen credits on a number of films that have yet to be released, including next year’s The Spongebob Movie: It’s a Wonderful Sponge and Disney’s live-action remake of Lady and the Tramp, which will debut on its forthcoming streaming service.

Throughout his career, Reccardi also created numerous pilots based on his own ideas, including Meddlen Meddows for Cartoon Network and The Modifyers for Nickelodeon (the latter of which was co-created with his wife, Lynne Naylor):

In addition to his work in animation, Reccardi was both an exhibiting fine artist and musician.

As a painter and illustrator, he had gallery exhibitions in Palm Springs, Seattle, Australia, and Amsterdam. He also created custom art installations, including artwork for the Los Angeles chain Tender Greens at its locations in Pasadena (2011), Marina Del Rey (2013), and Westwood (2016). In 2014, he created a series of murals for the Linq Hotel’s High Roller, the wolrd’s largest observation wheel located in Las Vegas.

As a musician, he was part of Der Screamin’ Lederhosen, the in-house music trio at Spumco that created the theme song for The Ren & Stimpy Show, in addition to other music for the series. He also composed the show’s iconic song “Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy.” Later, Reccardi performed with other bands including Elliot Easton’s Tiki Gods and Fono 66, and had more recently formed his own recording group Psellophane, which was expected to release its first album this year.

Reccardi is survived by his wife, Lynne Naylor.

News of Reccardi’s death was first reported in a public Facebook post by a colleague, Bill Wray:

Since the news was first reported, an outpouring of tributes has appeared on social media from other industry colleagues:

Saddened to hear about Chris Reccardi–he was always super generous with his time when I was an intern on Powerpuff learning how to storyboard. Every drawing he did was incredible and funny. https://t.co/ef7Q3wiQH3 — Daniel Chong (@threebarebears) May 2, 2019

i will miss Chris Reccardi deeply. he was a mentor, an inspiration, and a dear friend. i spent so many great times with him. he taught me so many lessons about being a good human. he believed in me in so many ways when others didnt. it’s hard to tell you how much i will miss him. — Justin K Thompson (@shinypinkbottle) May 3, 2019

I'm beside myself hearing of the loss of animation legend, Chris Reccardi. He was an unbelievable talent, and the definition of cool. To say I admired him is an understatement. All my love to dear Lynne and his family. #chrisreccardi https://t.co/N4AGaqMdkP — Lauren Faust (@Fyre_flye) May 3, 2019

I never stopped being awed & inspired by Chris’ talent. An intimidating giant in the industry, a master draftsman, an incomparable designer, a hilarious filmmaker, an amazing musician, and a friend. Love to Lynne & his family. pic.twitter.com/Ihfs7sydMb — Craig McCracken (@CrackMcCraigen) May 3, 2019

So shocked to hear that #ChrisReccardi is gone. When I first met Chris, he was already a larger than life figure in the animation industry and he did not disappoint in person. I admired his talent and loved his wry sense of humor. He will be missed by so many. — Rob Renzetti (@RobRenzetti) May 3, 2019

Back in the day I worked with #ChrisReccardi on “Tiny Toon Adventures”. He was a non-stop source of acerbic jokes, had an amazing design sense and drew beautifully. Chris was very talented, but it was great to see him get even better over time. Goodbye, Chris – we’ll miss you. pic.twitter.com/3lKOMOfJ9Q — Jeff Pidgeon (@jpidgeon) May 2, 2019

My favorite Chris Reccardi fun fact is that he was such a great musician he fulfilled a dream by playing with Brian Wilson (ok— Paul Dano) in Love and Mercy. Nothing was more fun than sitting in riffing on ideas with Reccardi. RIP to a true talent and ace collaborator. ❤️🙏 pic.twitter.com/jEjyKrjnou — philip lord (@philiplord) May 2, 2019

Sad to hear Chris Reccardi, the man who designed Flint Lockwood’s flying car & the LEGO Movie’s Cloud Cuckoo Land, and was a sweet, wonderful human, has passed away. RIP. pic.twitter.com/XUeoaZzG8l — Chris Miller (@chrizmillr) May 2, 2019

This storyboard animatic he did for Shrek is so good. I always come back to this and am blown away by the raw energy of the drawings. His work always has so much confidence. He's off this stratosphere. https://t.co/TyDrcb2ZfF — Adam Paloian (@adampaloian) May 2, 2019

Hard to grasp we lost such an inspirational animation artist like Chris Reccardi… I’m truly at a loss for words to know he has passed. Rest In Peace, Chris. Thank you for all you’ve contributed to this wonderful medium. — Arielle Phillips (@SprinkleM0nster) May 2, 2019

I had the pleasure of working with Chris Reccardi on Hotel Transylvania 3. His art was beautiful, but he was 100x kinder than his art beautiful. A kind man, I will miss him. #RIPChrisReccardi — Steve Edwards (@stevendraws) May 2, 2019

I am gutted by the loss of Chris Reccardi. We met on Lego 2 and he was such a joy — funny, hard working and an utterly brilliant artist. My brother and I were huge fans of his even before… https://t.co/pHgRU7Jg2E — Rob Schrab (@RobSchrab) May 2, 2019

I just heard about the passing of Chris Reccardi. In 2008, after years of fanboying over his work I got to work alongside him on his pilot for "Meddlin Meadows." Thanks for everything sir. I'm shocked and heartbroken. RIP https://t.co/zfcaj1ZwJv — Eric J. Pringle (@EricJPringle1) May 2, 2019

Heartbroken. One of the greatest artists to ever work in animation. RIP #chrisreccardi https://t.co/xZ1izB28vZ — Zach Bellissimo (@CountZachulaaa) May 2, 2019

Shocked & sad to hear the news of Chris Reccardi's passing. I was not a close friend but I worked with him when I first became a storyboarder at CN (Secret Mountain Fort Awesome) and I got a real education from the fixes he did to my boards. A true artist. — ianjq (@ianjq) May 2, 2019

RIP #ChrisReccardi – I never knew him, but "Hermit Ren" (which he directed) is one of the most chilling, inspiring & formative cartoons from my youth. I specifically remember quoting it with friends once on the school bus, age 11 or 12. Unforgettable!! pic.twitter.com/Vm4eOWDenq — Stu Livingston (@stulivingston) May 2, 2019