Bruno Bianchi (Italian: [ˈbruːno ˈbjaŋki], French: [bʁyno bjɑ̃ki]; 6 September 1955 – 2 December 2011) was a French cartoonist, comics artist[1] and animation director. Bianchi worked extensively as an artist, director and producer on animated television productions; including Heathcliff, Iznogoud and most notably, Inspector Gadget, which he also co-created.[2][3]
Bruno Bianchi | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 2 December 2011 Paris, France | (aged 56)
Burial place | Père Lachaise Cemetery |
Nationality | French |
Occupation | Animator |
Years active | 1977-2011 |
Career
editBianchi started his career at DiC Audiovisuel (later DiC Entertainment) in 1977 at age 22 as a cel painter, then gradually assumed creative positions. His first director's credit was on the 1980 edutainment mini-series Archibald le Magichien (directly translated: Archibald the Magic Dog). In 1983, Bianchi scored his first major directing job on Inspector Gadget, a series he co-created with Andy Heyward and DiC's founder Jean Chalopin.[4] Bianchi served as main character designer and supervising director on the show, which became one of the most iconic series produced by DiC.
Subsequently, Bianchi worked as a director, producer and designer on numerous other DiC Entertainment, Saban Entertainment and SIP Animation television animation productions from the 1980s until the mid-2000s. His credits include Heathcliff (where he co-created the Cats and Company characters together with Jean Chalopin), Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors, M.A.S.K., Rainbow Brite, Diplodos (which he co-created and co-wrote with Jean Chalopin), Iznogoud, Princess Sissi and Gadget & the Gadgetinis (a spinoff of Inspector Gadget).[3]
In 2008, following the closure of SIP Animation, Bianchi founded his own studio, Ginkgo Animation.[3] One of Ginkgo's projects had been George and Me (French title Georges et Moi),[5] an adaptation of a 2006 Soleil Productions comic series that had first been picked up by SIP Animation as early as December 2007,[6] and had been planned to start production at SIP at the beginning of 2009.[7] However, by April 2011 this venture of Ginkgo's was considered unsuccessful due to changing priorities in the French animation industry,[5] according to one of the authors of the original comics.[8]
Bianchi died on 2 December 2011 at the age of 56.[3] He was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris on 6 December 2011.[3][4]
Filmography
editDirector
edit- 1983: Inspector Gadget
- 1984: Heathcliff
- 1985: Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors
- 1985: Rainbow Brite
- 1985: Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling
- 1985: M.A.S.K.
- 1986: Popples
- 1988: Diplodos
- 1992: Around the World in Eighty Dreams
- 1995: Space Strikers
- 1995: Iznogoud
- 1996: The Why Why? Family
- 1997: Princess Sissi
- 1998: Walter Melon
- 1998: Jim Button
- 2001: Wunschpunsch
- 2002: Gadget & the Gadgetinis
- 2004: The Tofus
Producer
edit- 1995: Iznogoud
- 1996: The Why Why? Family
- 1997: Princess Sissi
- 1998: Jim Button
- 2001: Wunschpunsch
- 2002: Gadget & the Gadgetinis
- 2003: What's with Andy? (season 2 only)
- 2004: The Tofus
- 2004: W.I.T.C.H.
- 2005: A.T.O.M. (Alpha Teens on Machines)
- 2008: Combo Niños
References
edit- ^ "Bruno Bianchi".
- ^ Arrant, Chris (2 December 2011). "French Animator Bruno Bianchi ("Inspector Gadget") Passes Away". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "French TV Animator Bruno Bianchi Passes Away". Animation Magazine. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ a b "Disparition de Bruno Bianchi, le créateur de l'Inspecteur Gadget". Le Monde. 2 December 2011. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ a b "Georges et moi, le projet de série télé par ginkgo-animation - Maroin Eluasti.マロワン・エリュアスティ". 1 April 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ "des NEWS de l'anim - N°13". www.animation-france.fr. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ "UpNext-What's developing in kids production". Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ recherche, résultats de (17 August 2006). Georges et moi, Tome 1 : Bubble-gum et croquettes. Soleil Productions. ASIN 2849465437.