Scooby-Doo creator passes away

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Queasy

Queasy

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Aug 24, 2001
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LOS ANGELES - In a career that spanned more than six decades, Iwao Takamoto assisted in the designs of some of the biggest animated features and television shows, including "Cinderella," "Peter Pan," "Lady and the Tramp" and "The Flintstones."
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But it was Takamoto's creation of Scooby-Doo, the cowardly dog with an adventurous heart, that captivated audiences and endured for generations.

Takamoto died Monday of heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Warner Bros. spokesman Gary Miereanu said. He was 81.

Born in Los Angeles to parents who had emigrated from Japan, Takamoto graduated high school when World War II began. He and his family were sent to the Manzanar internment camp in the California desert, where he learned the art of illustration from fellow internees.

Despite a lack of formal training, he landed an interview with Walt Disney Studios when he returned to Los Angeles and was hired as an apprentice.

Takamoto worked under the tutelage of Disney's "nine old men," the studio's team of legendary animators responsible for its biggest full-length films before moving to Hanna-Barbera Studios in 1961. There he worked on cartoons for television, including "Josie and the Pussy Cats," "The Great Grape Ape Show," "Harlem Globe Trotters" and "The Secret Squirrel Show."

Takamoto said he created Scooby-Doo after talking with a Great Dane breeder, and named him after Frank Sinatra's final phrase in "Strangers in the Night."

The breeder "showed me some pictures and talked about the important points of a Great Dane, like a straight back, straight legs, small chin and such," Takamoto said in a recent talk at Cartoon Network Studios.

"I decided to go the opposite and gave him a hump back, bowed legs, big chin and such. Even his color is wrong."

Takamoto also created other famous cartoon dogs such as Astro from "The Jetsons" and Muttley, the mixed-breed that appeared in several Hanna-Barbera animations. He also directed the 1973 feature "Charlotte's Web."

Takamoto was survived by his wife, Barbara, son Michael and stepdaughter Leslie.

Funeral arrangements were pending.
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SIAP - search didn't bring up anything under "Scooby" or "Scooby-Doo"
 
DanTMWTMP

DanTMWTMP

Lifer
Oct 7, 2001
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Originally posted by: Platypus
RUT ROH
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hehe, fitting and funny.

RIP
rose.gif


he lived a long, fulfilling life, and gave generations of people quality entertainment.
 
40Hands

40Hands

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2004
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He would still be fine if it wasn't for those meddling kids and their dog!

RIP Takamoto.
 
Scarpozzi

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,392
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126
You gotta respect a guy who created a cartoon with plenty of weed and lovin' going on. I think everyone knew what that purple mist was around the Mystery Machine.....and that something was going on with Fred and Daphne. ;)
 
waggy

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
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Originally posted by: Platypus
RUT ROH
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heh i was thinking the same.


seen this on cnn.com this morning. sad so many of the great cartoonist are dieing.
 
5

50cent1228

Platinum Member
Oct 5, 2006
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Originally posted by: BroeBo
He would still be fine if it wasn't for those meddling kids and their dog!

RIP Takamoto.
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lol...that was my fav cartoon growing up rip
 
Queasy

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
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Originally posted by: LostWanderer
Originally posted by: Platypus
RUT ROH
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I must really belong here. We all think exactly alike.


Sad to hear that as it was my favorite 'toon growing up.
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One of those timeless ones too. My son likes to watch it now as well.
 
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