The Southern California creative community is grieving the loss of Babatunde Akinloye, a promising producer and storyteller whose influence stretched from UCLA to the prestigious Peter Stark Producing Program at University of Southern California. Akinloye, who worked in production management at Walt Disney Animation Studios since 2018, was widely regarded as a rising force in animation and film.
His passing was shared publicly by classmate James Rogers III, who offered a deeply personal tribute. “You were such a light and a creative powerhouse who made everything and everyone around you better,” he wrote, reflecting on their time as two of the only Black men in USC’s 2024 graduate cohort. “I felt safer in every room knowing you would be there.”
Akinloye’s educational path — earning a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA before completing USC’s renowned producing program — positioned him as part of a new generation of Black creatives breaking barriers in Hollywood. His work at an industry giant like Disney placed him among a relatively small group of Black production leaders in mainstream animation, an area where representation remains limited.
Babatunde Akinloye, a promising producer and storyteller whose influence stretched from UCLA to the prestigious Peter Stark Producing Program at University of Southern California. Akinloye, who worked in production management at Walt Disney Animation Studios since 2018, was widely regarded as a rising force in animation and film.
Colleagues describe him as collaborative, generous, and relentlessly imaginative — qualities that made him stand out both professionally and personally. For many, his presence helped foster a sense of safety and belonging within academic and creative spaces that often lack diversity.
Community members are now rallying around his family, including his wife and children, as tributes continue to pour in across social media. While details surrounding his passing remain private, the loss resonates widely, particularly among students and storytellers who saw in Akinloye a reflection of what is possible.
His legacy, classmates say, is one of brilliance, compassion, and doors opened for others who will walk the path he helped illuminate.
