Iwao Takamoto, animation designer for Walt Disney Co., Hanna-Barbera Studios and Warner Bros. who crafted the look of such Hanna-Barbera characters as Scooby-Doo, died Monday of a heart attack. He was 81.
Takamoto died Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was being treated as an outpatient for respiratory problems when he suffered a heart attack. He had most recently served as vp special projects for Warner Bros. Animation. His recent projects for the studio included doing the storyboard for the 2005 Tom and Jerry short The Karateguard and helping to design characters for the Cartoon Network/Kids' WB! series Krypto the Superdog.
"Iwao Takamoto was not only a tremendously talented designer and artist, he was a beautiful human being," said Warner Bros. Animation president Sander Schwartz. "Iwao was always ready with a wide smile, a firm handshake and a warm welcome. Iwao's designs will be his legacy for generations to come."
A Los Angeles native, Takamoto and his family were sent to Manzanar Internment Camp during World War II.
Takamoto died Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was being treated as an outpatient for respiratory problems when he suffered a heart attack. He had most recently served as vp special projects for Warner Bros. Animation. His recent projects for the studio included doing the storyboard for the 2005 Tom and Jerry short The Karateguard and helping to design characters for the Cartoon Network/Kids' WB! series Krypto the Superdog.
"Iwao Takamoto was not only a tremendously talented designer and artist, he was a beautiful human being," said Warner Bros. Animation president Sander Schwartz. "Iwao was always ready with a wide smile, a firm handshake and a warm welcome. Iwao's designs will be his legacy for generations to come."
A Los Angeles native, Takamoto and his family were sent to Manzanar Internment Camp during World War II.
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