Pepita Pardell(1928-2019)
- Animation Department
- Art Department
Pepita Pardell was a Barcelona-born animator and illustrator. Born in 1928, she dedicated her life to her career and artistic endeavours and became renown as a pioneer of cartoon animation in both Spain and Europe.
Her career in cartoon animation commenced in 1944 after landing her first job in the studio Balet & Blay in Barcelona. She was part of the studio design team tasked with painting backgrounds for 'Garbancito de la Mancha' (1945), the first animated film in Spain, and the first in colour in all of Europe. While working with this studio, she was given more official roles in the productions of the films 'Alegres Vacaciones' (1948) and 'Los Sueños de Tay-Pi' (1952).
Pepita began working for Ediciones Toray as an illustrator in 1951 and left the company in 1962 to resume her career as an animator, this time for Estudios Buch-Sanjuan, where she eventually became Animator-in-Chief; one of the first women in the country to obtain such a position. Her resumé is speckled with stints at various other studio companies: Publivision, Pegbar Productions, Equipo, and Cine Nic, along with collaborations with well-known directors Robert Balser and Jordi Amorós.
As an author, she designed and animated the short film 'La Doncella Guerrera' (Julio Taltavull, 1975). She held important roles in the production of series and films alike, one of which being 'Despertaferro (1990)', the first Catalan animated film in its own language. Other titles included 'Moffli, el último Koala' (1986), and international productions ('The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' (1979), 'Yogi's Space Race' (1978), 'Buford and the Galloping Ghost' (1979), and 'The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show' (1983).
Pepita passed away in Barcelona on July 11th, 2019 at the age of 91. Her death is felt extensively by the artistic community after a half century as a pioneer and inspiration in her industry.
Her career in cartoon animation commenced in 1944 after landing her first job in the studio Balet & Blay in Barcelona. She was part of the studio design team tasked with painting backgrounds for 'Garbancito de la Mancha' (1945), the first animated film in Spain, and the first in colour in all of Europe. While working with this studio, she was given more official roles in the productions of the films 'Alegres Vacaciones' (1948) and 'Los Sueños de Tay-Pi' (1952).
Pepita began working for Ediciones Toray as an illustrator in 1951 and left the company in 1962 to resume her career as an animator, this time for Estudios Buch-Sanjuan, where she eventually became Animator-in-Chief; one of the first women in the country to obtain such a position. Her resumé is speckled with stints at various other studio companies: Publivision, Pegbar Productions, Equipo, and Cine Nic, along with collaborations with well-known directors Robert Balser and Jordi Amorós.
As an author, she designed and animated the short film 'La Doncella Guerrera' (Julio Taltavull, 1975). She held important roles in the production of series and films alike, one of which being 'Despertaferro (1990)', the first Catalan animated film in its own language. Other titles included 'Moffli, el último Koala' (1986), and international productions ('The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' (1979), 'Yogi's Space Race' (1978), 'Buford and the Galloping Ghost' (1979), and 'The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show' (1983).
Pepita passed away in Barcelona on July 11th, 2019 at the age of 91. Her death is felt extensively by the artistic community after a half century as a pioneer and inspiration in her industry.