Claudio Biern Boyd, a giant of animation in Spain, who founded the influential animation studio BRB Internacional and created beloved shows such as The World of David the Gnome, Gladiator Academy and Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds passed away this past Sunday (Oct. 16) at the age of 81.
Considered one of the fathers of Spanish and European animation— he has been known as the Spanish Walt Disney— Claudio Biern Boyd was born in Palma de Mallorca. After gaining his law degree and working in advertising for some years, he founded BRB Internacional in 1972 as a merchandising agency that represented the licensing rights of characters such as The Pink Panther and Tom and Jerry. He produced his first animated show in 1980, Ruy, the Little Cid.