Gene Deitch, a renowned animator, started his career at UPA before joining Terrytoons in 1955, where he went on to create a plethora of memorable characters, including John Doormat, Clint Clobber, Gaston LeCrayon, Sidney, and Foofle.
In 1958, his theatrical cartoon, Sidney's Family Tree, received an Academy Award nomination, solidifying his reputation as a talented animator. However, later that year, Deitch was unexpectedly fired from Terrytoons in August 1958.
Undeterred, he relocated to Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1960, where he collaborated with William L. Snyder, directing approximately a dozen Tom and Jerry cartoons for MGM, as well as Krazy Kat and Popeye for King Features. This period also saw the creation of his Oscar-winning short film, Munro, in 1961.
Deitch's work continued to flourish, and he went on to develop Nudnik, a character inspired by Foofle, which he had previously created during his time at Terrytoons. Throughout his life, he resided in Prague with his wife, Zdenka, until his passing on April 16th, 2020.
