DISCLAIMER: This article mentions death. Reader discretion is advised.Barry Caldwell, the animator and director best known for his work on the classic cartoon series ‘Animaniacs’ and ‘Pinky and the Brain,’ has died at the age of 68. The animator was well known for his contributions to some of the most beloved animated shows that are still loved by viewers.
Veteran entertainer Barry Caldwell has died
Barry Caldwell’s death was confirmed by tributes from long-time friend and collaborator Paul Dini. The update comes after entertainer Dan Haskett announced the death of Barry Caldwell.
A touching tribute to Paul Dini
Paul Dini shared a heartfelt message describing Barry’s professional brilliance.He wrote: “Barry Caldwell was one of the first animation artists I met right out of careers school around 1980. He was also one of the best artists I’ve ever met, and easily one of the best people. The man’s talent as an artist, designer and director was revered throughout the industry and I’ll get to that. First, I’d rather talk about Barry himself, the funny, kind, kind giant guy you’ve liked since you met him. He knew more about cartoons than you or I ever will (trust me on this), but he was incredibly generous with his time and his talent. And my God, could he laugh! When it comes to humor, it takes a special genre to be dry and hot. Barry was both.”He added: “No artist has ever mocked the insanity of the Hollywood cartoon system with such devastating honesty and yet loved his creative product so much. At least, I think he did. You don’t last very long in the cartoon business unless you have a real love for the characters and the people you work with. That spirit was there until I met him, and we worked together everywhere, Filmation, Ruby-Spears, Warner Bros, Disney, so many others.“
A career spanning four decades
Barry Caldwell began his career around 1980 after training at the School of Visual Arts in New York. He quickly became an animation talent scout.His early work included contributions to shows such as ‘Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids’, ‘The New Adventures of Zorro’, ‘The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show’, ‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ and ‘The Smurfs’. Barry Caldwell’s most notable contributions came from ‘Animaniacs’, where he worked as an animator and director on several episodes. These include “Bumbie’s Mom,” “West Side Pigeons,” and “Cat on a Hot Steel Beam.”“Caldwell also contributed as a writer, notable for his storyboard work on ‘Pinky and the Brain.'” His work on “A Pinky and the Brain Christmas” remains highly regarded.
Film and television contributions
Beyond television, Barry Caldwell worked on several long-form projects. His credits include The Tigger Movie, Osmosis Jones and Curious George. He also contributed to the famous ‘Kim Possible’ and ‘Mulan II’. His work extended to projects such as Hop and DreamWorks’ Dragons series.
