There Was More to Gene Deitch than Tom and Jerry

2020 hasn’t been off to a great start, with the anti-CAA protests, coronavirus, global lockdown and whatnot. And the year comes bearing another heartbreaking news. Gene Deitch, the Oscar-winning illustrator and legendary Tom and Jerry director, is no more. He passed away at the age of 95 in his apartment in Prague on April 16. According to his Czech publisher, Petr Himmel, Gene died “unexpectedly”.

During his long and illustrious career Deitch, whose movie Munro won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1960, worked with Rembrandt Films to produce a number of spinach-eating sailor Popeye cartoons and went on to direct 13 Tom and Jerry shorts for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

The news of his death comes as a heartbreak for millions the worldover from whom Tom and Jerry summed up their childhood.

One of Gene's most fascinating works was when he took over the Tom & Jerry series. Despite receiving mixed reactions, some of the shorts that he directed are really good, like the satirical "The Tom and Jerry Cartoon Kit" and the final short "Carmen Get It". pic.twitter.com/yDYcGDptrE

— Down the Inkwell (@DownInkwell) April 17, 2020

The internet thanked the legend for making their “childhood awesome”.

Gene Deitch, one of the directors of #TomAndJerry and #Popeye, passes away at the age of 95 in Prague.

Rest in peace sir and thank you for making our childhood awesome. 😔🙏💐 pic.twitter.com/8i1SvYbDWT

— Filmy Mafia'z (@FilmyMafiaz) April 19, 2020

And for giving the world “memorable cartoons” that are forever going to stay in our hearts.

#TomandJerry and #popeye director is no more. RIP sir and thank you for giving us such memorable cartoons which can’t be erased so easily from our hearts! pic.twitter.com/iYAKIMKu3B

— Abi Krish (@aabikrish) April 20, 2020

R. I. P #GeneDeitch, you were a great part of my childhood. Bringing laughter and great memories to all different types of people with your beautiful imagination. You’re a legend man😭👍🏽👍🏽 #TomandJerry #Popeye pic.twitter.com/g0axOt0V0n

— Boni Momo (@moreno_boni) April 20, 2020

Gene’s works will continue to entertain generations to come. Live on, legend.

#TomandJerry #GeneDeitch #popeye I don't know how to express my emotions, We all grew up watching these lovable cartoons and will never stop. Legends Never Die, You will remain our hearts always, R.I.P.😭 pic.twitter.com/KSi9CPsd7U

— Vignesh Rao (@viggu1595) April 20, 2020

Deitch also worked as a Creative Director at Terrytoons, under 20th Century Fox, where he went on to create characters like Sidney the Elephant, Gaston Le Crayon, Clint Clobber, and Terr’ble Thompson. The first animated Hobbit was directed by Deitch in the 1960s. Besides winning the Academy Award in 1960, Deitch was nominated for Best Animated Short Film another three times in the same category in 1958 for Sidney’s Family Tree, and in 1964 for Here’s Nudnik and How to Avoid Friendship.

After Gene left UPA, he became the creative director at Terrytoons. One of his cartoons, "Sidney’s Family Tree", was nominated for an Academy Award. pic.twitter.com/Bn8aIuu3kt

— Down the Inkwell (@DownInkwell) April 17, 2020

We may have lost a great mind that only helped further our own imagination, but Deitch will remain a childhood legend of the past, present and the future to come. Rest in peace, Gene Deitch.