Main image via Unilad
We’ve been losing many talents and people who shaped our childhood lately. With the publisher of Old Master Q and iconic anime voice actor Keiji Fujiwara being the most recent to leave the world behind, 2020 takes away another.
The Academy Award winning illustrator and legendary director of Tom & Jerry, Gene Deitch, has recently passed away at the age of 95.
His Czech publisher Petr Himmel confirmed that he had died “unexpectedly” in his apartment in Prague on Thursday, 16 April, but no cause of death has been identified yet.
Gene directed the iconic cartoon series Popeye back in 1960 and Tom & Jerry back in 1961.
Born Eugene Merrill Deitch, the director’s animation career started off after he was discharged from the military for medical reasons in 1944.
His film Sidney’s Family Tree was nominated for an Oscar in 1958 and he won Best Animated Short Film for his movie Munro in 1960, before getting nominated for another two films Here’s Nudnik and How to Avoid Friendship in 1964.
He also created characters like Sidney the Elephant, Gaston Le Crayon, Clint Cobber and Terr’ble Thompson during his time working as a creative director at Terrytoons under 20th Century Fox.
He also created an original kids’ series called The Bluffers and co-produced and directed a series of King Features’ Krazy Kat shorts for TV.
Fans are paying tribute to the late director and thanking him for bringing the characters of their childhood to life.
Thank you Gene Deitch. Rest in peace.
Which cartoon series was your favourite childhood series? Tell us!
Info via Unilad
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