Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
99Kviews
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.
This post may include affiliate links.
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.
RELATED:
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.
#5
[] person [] 4 years ago
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
#21
David Nethery 3 years ago
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.
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Helena Houzarová 4 years ago
"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.
Monika Soffronow 4 years ago
"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... Helena Houzarová 4 years ago
"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.
Monika Soffronow 4 years ago
"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...
Related on Bored Panda
