Ruh-Roh! Scooby Doo Creator Dead at 81

Scooby Doo creator and former Disney animator, Iwao Takamoto died Tuesday, January 9^th, at 81. Takamoto worked on such animated classics as 101 Dalmations, Lady and the Tramp, and The Flintstones, and directed the original 1973 classic, Charlotte's Web. He also created many of the famous cartoon dogs in the Hanna-Barbera stable, including The Jetsons' Astro.

By far the best eulogy on his behalf was Seth Myers' on Saturday Night Live: "You know what this means: he's a g-g-g-ghost!"

With all of these recent deaths (though none were too unexpected - these are old men now) in the animation industry, I wonder who will take up the reins? Most modern animation is computer-generated or at least computer-animated; have the days of hand-painted cel animation gone the way of the dinosaur?

Yes, this happened last Tuesday and I didn't completely forget so much as just never got around to writing the actual post. There were other pressing matters to which I had to attend. Our condolences go out to Mr. Takamoto's family and friends.