Three simple words. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences remembered the late Robin Williams with a moving Twitter post on the evening of his death, Monday, Aug. 11.
“Genie, you’re free,” the update read, alongside a still from the 1992 animated Disney classic, Aladdin. The image features a poignant moment between the Arabian prince and the big blue granter of wishes, after Aladdin had granted Genie his freedom. Williams was the voice behind the lovable, scene-stealing character, who had been enslaved inside a magic lamp for thousands of years.
In the movie, Genie exclaims: “I’m free! I’m free at last! I’m hitting the road, I’m off to see the world…” He then pauses, and sadly realizes what he’s leaving behind. “Genie, I’m gonna miss you,” Aladdin tells the giant.
“You, too, pal,” Genie says, while swooping down to give Aladdin a hug. “You’ll always be a prince to me.”
The tweet sparked an outpouring of reaction from fans and bloggers who enjoyed Williams’ ’90s movies like Aladdin, along with Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji, and Flubber.
Popular blog But You’re Like Really Pretty recreated that same scene between Genie and Aladdin, replacing the prince with a cartoon depiction of Williams. In the moving illustration made by Ryan Casey, Genie envelopes and embraces Williams, as he weeps. “But We Like Really Love You Robin Williams,” it read.
Jeffrey Katzenberg, former chair of Walt Disney Studios, among many other Hollywood heavyweights, released a statement Monday evening remembering Williams’ contributions to the flick.
“His was truly one of the most brilliant and singular performances in the history of animation,” Katzenberg recalled. “That moment in which he introduced himself to the audience was purely of his imagination. For me, it was one of the most breathtaking, pure moments of creativity I think I have ever witnessed. Aladdin would not be the classic movie it is without his brilliance.”
Aladdin won two Oscars in 1993 for Best Music, Original Song and Original Score. The film also won five Grammys and two Golden Globe awards that same year.
Williams died at age 63 from an apparent suicide Monday morning.
