Sean Horne

My name is Mathias Horne and this Fundraiser is commemorating the life of our dad, Sean Horne, who departed this world on August 2nd, 2023.

While this last month and year has been unbelievably difficult, we have found a great sense of comfort in the tremendous amount of community celebrating a life that was not just remarkable but truly inspiring and impactful for so many. With messages flooding in from all corners of our dad’s vast network, it has been such a privilege to learn how many individuals were guided, influenced, and grateful for his companionship.

Dad’s strengths were in his ability to connect with people. To find moments of laughter, relation, and collaboration in industries that can often be impersonal. Sean illuminated the people around him. I mean how could he not? With a nice bottle of tequila in hand, his chicken-scratch notes, and an arsenal of bad jokes, there is no doubt that his ability to form lifelong friendships is unlimitedly where he found motivation. He was so proud of his studios, projects, and teams. Often he would share that the very people you work with bring the most inspiration and purpose.

Being entirely self-taught in his field, his story became the classic under”dawg” rising to the top; starting by working for Whistler Blackcomb Ski School, EcoSign Mountain Resort Planners, and the World Ski and Snowboard Festival, to developing some of the most influential video games of this generation, reaching over tens of millions of people worldwide.

He rarely took the time to reflect on how many lives he touched and the projects he was a part of, so we wanted to share just how inspiring his achievements are.

Diving head first into Video Game Development, Dad worked as a Cinematic Editor on Need for Speed at Electonic Arts, before advancing to work on games such as Spiderman, Forza, and Resident Evil. Progressing to a Cinematic Director, he worked with some of the most talented MMA fighters for video games such as Fight Night Champion, UFC, and Mortal Kombat. Moving to Respawn Entertainment to continue directing cinematics, Dad worked for Star Wars: Battlefront, Star Wars: Squadrons, and Gears of War. Most recently and notably, he advanced to work as a Producer for Apex Legends and a Creative Director for Call of Duty.

In the last year of Dad’s life, he would often refer to be living on borrowed time— undergoing two life-saving surgeries and proving to his medical team again and again that his strength and humour would continue no matter the procedure. Almost exactly 365 days of borrowed time, Dad spent meaningful moments with family members and friends. On a daily, I would be presented with his impressive social itinerary of multiple outings, meals, and long-distance calls. “Well, this is my Victory Lap,” he would say. This saying always stuck as the very definition of a “Victory Lap” is a celebratory circuit by a person after an accomplishment or winning of a contest. Such as life, our Dad sure accomplished something to be proud of. 55 years on earth that will undoubtedly leave a tremendous legacy.

Life changes fast, and damn can it happen overnight.

We are so unbelievably grateful for our time all together. What a gift.

So in true Sean Horne fashion, pour yourself some nice tequila and cheers — to holding family and friends close, inspiring others, embracing being the underdog, and celebrating every year around the sun as a victory lap!

To continue Sean Horne’s legacy in our community, our family has set up a memorial fund to create an annual scholarship for graduating high school students pursuing Cinematics, Animation, and Video Game Development. This was one of Dad’s requests, to continue to inspire and support young talents who may not have the means or opportunities to start their career.

Memorial details to come