| Birth date | 24 April 1937 |
|---|---|
| Birth place | Münstertal, Germany |
| Death date | 13 October 1993 (aged 56) |
| Death place | Russikon, Switzerland |
| Burial place | Russikon Cemetery |
| Occupation | Filmmaker, Animator |
| Years active | 1960–1993 |
| Known for | Pingu |
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]
He started as an amateur in the 1960s. As a professional he only made one personal work, Aventures (1978). It was based on a piece of music by György 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]
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. On 29 October 2001, the company collapsed and its assets were sold to HIT Entertainment.[5]
References
- ^ Pingu season 5 end credits'. Archived 2021-12-12 at the Wayback Machine.
Originated by: Otmar Gutmann and Erika Brueggemann
- ^ Pingu - Helvetische Errungenschaften Archived 30 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine Neue Zurcher Zeitung vom 4. Januar 2006.
- ^ Giannalberto Bendazzi (2015-10-23), Animation: A World History: Volume II: The Birth of a Style - The Three Markets, CRC Press, ISBN 978-1-317-51991-1, retrieved 2020-07-05
- ^ "German Cartoon Creator Dies in Switzerland". Associated Press. Archived 2 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ Mazzola, Silvio (20 October 1993). "Obituary: Otmar Gutmann". The Independent. Archived 24 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine.
External links
- Otmar Gutmann at IMDb