Otmar Gutmann
Otmar Gutmann (24 April 1937 – 13 October 1993) was a German filmmaker who specialised in animation. He co-created the stop-motion television series Pingu alongside Erika Brueggemann.[1]
Otmar Gutmann | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 April 1937 |
| Died | 13 October 1993 (aged 56) Russikon, Switzerland |
| Occupation(s) | Filmmaker, Animator |
| Years active | 1960–1993 |
| Known for | Pingu |
He started as an amateur in the 1960. As a professional he only made one personal work, Aventures (1978). It was based on a piece of music by Gyorgy Ligeti. He brought the sculptural universe of Lubomir Stepan to life as an exploration of human condition. In 1980, he was one of the leading animators of the plasticine characters Frédéric and Frédéri from Lucy the Menace of Street.[2] Later, in 1986, he designed the character of Pingu. A TV series starring the character, which Gutmann co-created with Erika Brueggemann, became successful internationally.[3]
Health problems and death
On 13 October 1993, Gutmann died of a heart attack at the age of 56.[4] He was buried at the Russikon Cemetery. His company, The Pygos Group, decided to keep producing Pingu episodes with a new team of crew members. On 29 October 2001, the company collapsed and its assets were sold to HIT Entertainment.[5]
References
- Pingu season 5 end credits. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021.
Originated by: Otmar Gutmann and Erika Brueggemann
- Pingu - Helvetische Errungenschaften Neue Zurcher Zeitung vom 4. Januar 2006.
- Giannalberto Bendazzi (23 October 2015), Animation: A World History: Volume II: The Birth of a Style - The Three Markets, CRC Press, ISBN 978-1-317-51991-1, retrieved 5 July 2020
- "German Cartoon Creator Dies in Switzerland". Associated Press.
- Mazzola, Silvio (20 October 1993). "Obituary: Otmar Gutmann". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022.