March 28, 2024 #1 Local News, Forum, Information and Event Source for Venice Beach, California.

Obituary: Venice Beach Performer Vincent “Mr. Animation” Foster

4:14pm

A long-time dancer on the Venice Beach Boardwalk who became a legend in the world of West Coast street dancing and hip-hop culture in film and television, Vincent “Mr. Animation” Foster died at age 49 when he was struck by a taxi cab while in Las Vegas on September 23rd.

Mr. Animation’s early Venice Beach performances coincided with street dance’s emergence into mainstream culture. At age 18, Foster was discovered by Hollywood where he was hired as a principal dancer for the film 1984 Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo, starring Ice-T and other breakdance legends like Shabba-Doo and Boogaloo Shrimp.

From there, Foster joined an existing street dance group called Air Force Crew, started by dancers Lil Cesar and Wilpower, which gained worldwide recognition for expanding the art of b-boying and street culture with tours to Japan, Germany, Italy, UK, and Australia.

After touring the world with Air Force Crew, Foster returned to Southern California where he became a fixture on Venice Beach for over 30 years, while also performing at Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade and Hollywood’s Walk-of-Fame. Mr. Animation often drew hundreds of on-lookers as he mixed his dance moves with comical skits and audience participation.

“I chose to make people laugh for a living,” he once said.

Mr. Animation was born Vincent Forster on October 16, 1966 and raised in South Central L.A. as one of ten brothers by a single mother, and became a member of a gang by age 15. He then came under the influence of Carmelo Alvarez, the director of Radiotron, a youth center that acted as a safe haven for kids who wanted to get out of gang life. Alvarez introduced Foster to Venice Beach Boardwalk and opened up a whole new world of street performing.

When a kid in his audience one day remarked that he animated well, Vincent Foster’s new moniker “Mr. Animation” stuck. Taking inspiration from by Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, and James Brown, Mr. Animation developed signature moves such as “The Moonrun” and “The Lean” that have since become part of the street dance lexicon.

Passing on the lessons from Alvarez’ Radiotron, Mr. Animation mentored dancers and choreographers including Wade Robson, Eric Nash, Lil Buck, John Boogs, and Jacob Jonas, who now leads the L.A.-based Jacob Jonas The Company.

Jonas described Mr. Animation as a true entertainer who will be greatly missed.

“Mr. Animation’s legacy of positive energy and his contributions to the culture of hip-hop and street theater will live on forever in the memory of those who saw him perform, dancers like me who benefited from his mentoring, and the hip hop street culture at large,” said Jonas.

Additional credits include performances on America’s Got Talent, The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno, My Wife With Kids, Rhyme and Reason, and concert tours with artists such as Missy Elliot, Wu-Tang Clan, Kurtis Blow, Xzibit, Fatboy Slim, and Run-D.M.C.

Tags: in Opinion
Related Posts

New Program Can Help Protect Southern California Homes in the Event of an Earthquake

May 13, 2023

May 13, 2023

Residents Have Until May 31 To Apply For Seismic Retrofit Grants By Janiele Maffei, Chief Mitigation Officer for the California...

Venice Shorts: Tree Trimming Underway Thanks to the Vsa!

April 28, 2023

April 28, 2023

VSA Has Taken up the Task of Trimming Italian Stone Pine Trees. By Nick Antonicello Following the recent toppling of...

Venice Stakeholders Association’s Comments on Traci Park’s Broken Bridge Housing Promise

April 24, 2023

April 24, 2023

By Marc Ryavec I have been struggling with how to address the phenomenon that someone I and many others in...

Column: Tired OF Declinists? Some Enduring New California Positives

April 18, 2023

April 18, 2023

By Thomas D. Elias California has taken a beating lately, with (mostly Republican) governors of other states blasting many aspects...

Venice Shorts: The South Venice Blvd Encampment, Is It a Candidate for a City Cleanup?

April 14, 2023

April 14, 2023

One of the last of the large encampments closest to the beach, Venetians are hopeful help is on the way!...

Venice Shorts: Averill Defeats Tyminski 63%-37% to Become President of Venice Neighborhood Council

April 3, 2023

April 3, 2023

In second bid for top spot, surfer/photographer Brian Averill coasts to an easy win against Venice attorney and outgoing Vice-President...

Column: Install at LAX Tiny Homes From The State Grant

March 31, 2023

March 31, 2023

By Clark Brown On March 16  Governor Newsom announced in Sacramento, his first stop on his State of the State of...

Venice Shorts: Night & Day – Flower & Lincoln Transformed, Back in Business

March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

By Nick Antonicello In what was a Venice eyesore just a few months ago has been transformed into a place...

Opinion: Please Vote for Daffodil Tyminski

March 25, 2023

March 25, 2023

This is Tom Williams, your neighbor at 1011 Main Street.  With the upcoming VNC election this Sunday, I wanted to reach...

Venice Shorts: Popular Local Jim Robb Seeks Vp Slot, Endorses Brian Averill for President of the VNC!

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

By Nick Antonicello  VENICE – In a twist of events longtime Community Officer Jim Robb will now be seeking the...

Venice Shorts: Tabor Family Legacy Amara Hordt Seeks Seat on VNC This Sunday!

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

Local realtor looks to follow a family legacy of engaged community involvement here in Venice By Nick Antonicello VENICE –...

Venice Shorts: Erica Moore, A Cheerleader For Venice In Her Run For Community Officer!

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

By Nick Antonicello VENICE – Local caterer Erica Moore is making a second run for the Venice Neighborhood Council, but...

Venice Shorts: Running Unopposed, Nico Ruderman’s Deep Dive Into Politics and Government Continues!

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

By Nick Antonicello VENICE – It has been an interesting two years of political action, involvement and advocacy for Nico...

Venice Shorts: “V” for Venice Volunteer

March 20, 2023

March 20, 2023

Media professional, local business owner and Dad, Eric Alan Donaldson is defined by his volunteerism and love of Venice. By...

Deborah Keaton, a Consensus Building Candidate for VNC Community Officer!

March 20, 2023

March 20, 2023

Creative director, global brander and private business owner seeks a general consensus on what’s best for Venice moving forward.  By...