R.I.P. Carl Macek

I learned yesterday that Carl Macek (1951-2010) passed away following an heart attack on saturday.

He is known for having created Robotech (by brilliantly—although it was controversial—stitching together three different japanese animation: Macross, Southern Cross and Genesis Climber Mospeada) and for adapting into English language many other anime (Akira, Crying Freeman, Doomed Megalopolis, Lensman, Robot Carnival, Twilight of the Cockroaches, and Wicked City). He also collaborated to the production of many other animations (Aura Battler Dunbine, Bleach, Heavy Metal, Lady Death, Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro, My Neighbor Totoro, Naruto, etc).

This is quite a sad new. I met him several time (mostly in comic-book and anime conventions, starting in the late '80s) and I have always admired his pioneering work. Since he is responsible for having me discover the rich world of Japanese animation (and, by extension, manga), I owe him a lot. I remember him telling us (embellished) stories about the production of Robotech, and it was so skillfully told that we were suspended to his lips like children listening to a fairy tale, sometimes laughing but always captivated. Since that time, we—our bunch of friends at Protoculture Addicts—were calling him “Uncle Carl.” To paraphrase what was said about Commander Fokker in “Farewell, Big Brother” (episode 18 of Robotech), his death is “a terrible tragedy indeed. I can tell you [he] will be sorely missed.”

You can read tributes to his life on many other web sites: from Jerry Beck (co-founder of Streamline Pictures), from Tommy Yune (director or the new Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles movie), from Rebecca Forstadt (who voiced Minmei as “Reba West”), on ANN and on ICv2.

Requiescat In Pace, Carl Macek.