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25 Artists Pay Respect To The Late Gene Deitch, The Illustrator Of Tom & Jerry And Popeye
While a lot of people grew up watching Popeye and Tom & Jerry, or had their kids watching it all the time, most likely just a handful knew the genius behind it. Eugene Merril Deitch, most commonly known simply as Gene Deitch, was an American illustrator, animator, comics artist, and film director. He was also known for creating the animated cartoons Munro, Tom Terrific, and Nudnik.
Deitch spent most of his life in Prague, where he relocated back in 1959 when Rembrandt Films promised to fund Munro. He lived there his whole life and sadly passed unexpectedly on April 16, 2020 at the ripe age of 95. Since hearing about his passing, artists from all over the world have flooded the Internet with touching artwork as tribute to the late illustrator.
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"RIP and all that but" I really do not think that anyone finds your words appropriate. The man just died. It would be nice of you to keep that to yourself unless that is how you want people to act when it is your time.
Load More Replies...While you maybe not familiar with Gene Deitch’s name, you are certainly familiar with his work. It’s probably safe to say there are few people who doesn’t know Tom & Jerry or Popeye and Deitch was a flagship designer to both of them.
Prior to becoming a major figure in the American animation, Deitch was a draftsman for North American Aviation before being recruited by the American army to become a pilot during World War II. When the war was over, he returned to drawing and was spotted by Disney and was asked to become the artistic director of United Productions of America.
Despite his success in America, he made a courageous choice to move to move to Prague, Czech Republic after Rembrandt Films promised to fund his short film Munro. He relocated to the company’s base in Prague in 1959.
It turned out the moving was well worth it as Gee Deitch received an Oscar for best animated short in 1960 for it. After this success, he was given the possibility to direct 13 episodes of Tom and Jerry which were widely criticized among the fans at the time. However, it led Tom and Jerry to become the most profitable series at the time.
This guy deserves clout b/c i have never met anybody in my life who hasent watched at least one of these shows and honeslty im gonna cry
This is false. Gene Deitch is not the creator of Tom and Jerry or Popeye. T & J were created by the animation team headed up by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera at MGM Studios 1940 - 1958 . Popeye was created by cartoonist E.C. Segar for his newspaper comic strip Thimble Theater , and then a series of popular theatrical cartoons based on Segar's characters was made by the talented animation crew at the Fleischer Studio headed by Max and Dave Fleischer. Those are the facts, look it up . This is not intended to disparage Gene Deitch who was a very talented designer and director and made many excellent films over his long career. His Tom & Jerry (and Popeye) cartoons are not among them. Those were low-budget films contracted to his studio as work-for-hire projects. No one considers those cheap Tom & Jerry's and Popeye cartoons as representing his aesthetic values or his best work as a director.
"Despite his success in America, he made a courageous choice to move to move to Prague, Czech Republic after Rembrandt Films promised to fund his short film Munro. He relocated to the company’s base in Prague in 1959." It was Czechoslovakia back then. Communist Czechoslovakia (the coup happened in 1948), so that's what makes the move so brave.
"He originally planned to spend only ten days in Prague, but after meeting his future wife, Zdenka, decided to settle permanently in the city." That is called LOVE! (Wikipedia)
Load More Replies...It's a beautiful idea. I have to wonder why people can't do things like this while the artists are still alive. A living tribute would probably mean a lot.
Those are incredible. What a beautiful way to honor the man and his talent.
This may have been well-intentioned, but honestly this has got to be one of the most cringe-worthy , oddest "tributes" I've ever seen. All this awkward fan art supposedly honoring a man who was known for his "UPA cartoon modern" design sense. But more disturbing is the false historical narrative that is being created here . Gene Deitch had NOTHING to do with creating the characters of Tom & Jerry (or Droopy , or any other MGM characters) or Popeye. Gene Deitch was a very talented designer and director and he made many excellent films over his long career. His Tom & Jerry and Popeye cartoons are not among them. Those were low-budget films contracted to his studio as work-for-hire projects. No one (certainly not Gene Deitch) considers those cheap Tom & Jerry's and Popeye cartoons as representing his aesthetic values or his best work as a director. T&J created by Hanna and Barbera at MGM. Popeye created by E.C. Segar and the theatrical cartoons made by Fleischer Studios.
This was the absolute best piece I have ever seen on Boredpanda.com. THANK YOU!!!!!!! Bored Panda
RIP Mr. D. Thank you for bringing to life popeye, tom and jerry and so many more. Your work will live on. Sad how the major media never said a damn thing about your passing, but will cry over some 35 yr old rapper no one heard of or even gives a rats a*s about. Sorry to be harsh folks but the men and women who developed comedy and dram, music through cartoon etc, deserve oscars more than the morons who get oscars today. Thank heavens for you tube so we old farts can still watch and capture a bit of our childhood again. If you wants DVD's check out oldies.com , no i do not work for them, but they have some of the biggest in stock dvds on cartoons, movies past and present. Thanks again MR D and our prayers and condolences to your loved ones. PAX+
Comics aren't like thee used to be. I'm not a fan of anime at all. I hope this funny man is resting in peace!! Loved Tom and Jerry and Popeye and so did my kids!!
Spinach can't revive you but it (with all fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes) can keep you in good health till very old age - it can prolong your life.
Load More Replies...This is so sad. I’m a Millennial but I still watched those amazing cartoons at my nana’ s house every single day
RIP MR D I did want to say THANK YOU to each artists who has posted a tribute to your memory. BRAVO Pax+
There's a pandemic going on, with a Reality show president holding daily televised disinformation rallies... so, how can you compare.
Load More Replies..."Despite his success in America, he made a courageous choice to move to move to Prague, Czech Republic after Rembrandt Films promised to fund his short film Munro. He relocated to the company’s base in Prague in 1959." It was Czechoslovakia back then. Communist Czechoslovakia (the coup happened in 1948), so that's what makes the move so brave.
"He originally planned to spend only ten days in Prague, but after meeting his future wife, Zdenka, decided to settle permanently in the city." That is called LOVE! (Wikipedia)
Load More Replies...It's a beautiful idea. I have to wonder why people can't do things like this while the artists are still alive. A living tribute would probably mean a lot.
Those are incredible. What a beautiful way to honor the man and his talent.
This may have been well-intentioned, but honestly this has got to be one of the most cringe-worthy , oddest "tributes" I've ever seen. All this awkward fan art supposedly honoring a man who was known for his "UPA cartoon modern" design sense. But more disturbing is the false historical narrative that is being created here . Gene Deitch had NOTHING to do with creating the characters of Tom & Jerry (or Droopy , or any other MGM characters) or Popeye. Gene Deitch was a very talented designer and director and he made many excellent films over his long career. His Tom & Jerry and Popeye cartoons are not among them. Those were low-budget films contracted to his studio as work-for-hire projects. No one (certainly not Gene Deitch) considers those cheap Tom & Jerry's and Popeye cartoons as representing his aesthetic values or his best work as a director. T&J created by Hanna and Barbera at MGM. Popeye created by E.C. Segar and the theatrical cartoons made by Fleischer Studios.
This was the absolute best piece I have ever seen on Boredpanda.com. THANK YOU!!!!!!! Bored Panda
RIP Mr. D. Thank you for bringing to life popeye, tom and jerry and so many more. Your work will live on. Sad how the major media never said a damn thing about your passing, but will cry over some 35 yr old rapper no one heard of or even gives a rats a*s about. Sorry to be harsh folks but the men and women who developed comedy and dram, music through cartoon etc, deserve oscars more than the morons who get oscars today. Thank heavens for you tube so we old farts can still watch and capture a bit of our childhood again. If you wants DVD's check out oldies.com , no i do not work for them, but they have some of the biggest in stock dvds on cartoons, movies past and present. Thanks again MR D and our prayers and condolences to your loved ones. PAX+
Comics aren't like thee used to be. I'm not a fan of anime at all. I hope this funny man is resting in peace!! Loved Tom and Jerry and Popeye and so did my kids!!
Spinach can't revive you but it (with all fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes) can keep you in good health till very old age - it can prolong your life.
Load More Replies...This is so sad. I’m a Millennial but I still watched those amazing cartoons at my nana’ s house every single day
RIP MR D I did want to say THANK YOU to each artists who has posted a tribute to your memory. BRAVO Pax+
There's a pandemic going on, with a Reality show president holding daily televised disinformation rallies... so, how can you compare.
Load More Replies...