Animator Jane Shattuck-Takamoto-Baer, known for her work on Disney classics like "Sleeping Beauty" and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," died Monday at her home in Van Nuys, California, at the age of 91, according to Variety. Her passing was announced on February 17, 2026. Baer was a longtime animator, producer, and industry pioneer.
Baer began her career in 1955 as an assistant animator. She later founded Baer Animation. Her work on "Sleeping Beauty" and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" solidified her place in animation history.
The news of Baer's death comes amidst other significant events. Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson passed away at 84, as reported by Variety. Additionally, ByteDance is shutting down its AI video app Seedance due to copyright infringement concerns from entertainment companies like Disney, according to Variety.
In other news, the U.S. cross-country ski team achieved historic success at the 2026 Olympics, with Ben Ogden winning silver and Jessie Diggins earning bronze, marking her third consecutive Olympics with a medal, according to NPR News. This success was attributed to the dedicated wax technicians, including the "unsung hero" wax truck, Yolanda, who meticulously prepare the skis for optimal performance.
Meanwhile, Crystal Hefner, Hugh Hefner's widow, is filing complaints against the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation, alleging they possess thousands of scrapbooks with potentially lewd photos of women, including possibly underage girls, according to CBS News. She claims she was removed from her position as foundation president after raising concerns about the scrapbooks, which allegedly document private sexual encounters dating back to the 1960s.
Also making headlines, an anonymous individual created an autonomous agent, MJ Rathbun, to contribute to open-source scientific projects, aiming to address small bugs and issues, according to Hacker News. The agent, running in a sandboxed environment and utilizing various AI models, has faced criticism from the open-source community, with some considering its actions harmful.
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