The Bulgarian award-winning animator Rumen Petkov passed away at the age of 70. When the Americans made very little mention of the artist, his death made the headlines in Bulgaria where the animator and cartoonist started his career.
Petkov entered the field of animation in 1969 and created the famous series, Choko, The Stork and Boko, The Frog which was also adapted into a comic strip later on. He even headed Bulgaria’s first animation film in 1982, “Treasure Planet” and three years later he won a Palm d’Or at the Cannes Festival for his Animated film, “Marriage”.
There hasn’t been much revealed about his death and he might not be a household name now but back in the 90’s, his work touched the hearts of millions of children during his period at Cartoon Network, where he directed many famous shows in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.
Though his Bulgarian series never came to America but Petkov did and got connected with Cartoon Network during their most crucial growing period. He produced some great cartoons which quickly became famous in America like Johnny Bravo, I am Weasel, Dexter’s Laboratory, The Power Puff girls and others.
He left animation in the early 2000’s and continued his career as a professor at the California Institute of Arts which is considered to have one of the top art programs in the United Stares. This school trained Disney’s animators and Petkov was still teaching there till the time of his death.
We mourn his death and we remember him for touching so many lives with his beloved cartoons that were crucial to teenagers and children. May his soul Rest In Peace.
