The Disney Animators “officially unofficial” Twitter account tweeted Friday that John Kahrs, director of the 2012 short Paperman, has left Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Goodbye @john_kahrs. Thank you for all you brought to our studio. The best of luck to you, sir.

— Disney Animators (@DisneyAnimators) August 31, 2013

Before his stay at Disney, Kahrs also contributed his talents to Pixar Animation Studios.  It was there that he worked on films such as A Bug’s Life, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille.  Paperman was screened in theaters before Wreck-It-Ralph, and can be seen on the DVD/Blu-Ray of the same film.  Paperman went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in February.

As a parting gift, Kahrs was given a paper sculpture of Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat with paper airplanes spiraling around it — every individual paper airplane was signed by a Disney Animator.

Wherever life may lead him next, we wish John Kahrs, a man of extraordinary talent, the greatest success.

via A113 Animation