Harrie Geelen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harrie Geelen
|
|
|---|---|
Harrie Geelen
|
|
| Born | 10 January 1939 Heerlen, Netherlands
|
| Died | 30 August 2025 (aged 86) Hilversum, Netherlands
|
| Occupation | Writer, animator, illustrator, scriptwriter, composer, film director, creative director, animator |
Harrie Geelen (born January 10, 1939 – died August 30, 2025) was a very talented Dutch artist. He was an illustrator, film director, animator, translator, writer, and poet. He created many stories and characters that children loved. In 2014, he received a special honor. He was made a knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion, which is a high award in the Netherlands. This award recognized his amazing contributions to art and culture.
Contents
Who Was Harrie Geelen?
Harrie Geelen was a creative force in the Netherlands for many years. He worked in various artistic fields, bringing joy and imagination to audiences of all ages. His work included writing books, drawing illustrations, and creating animated films and television shows.
Early Life and Education
Harrie Geelen was born in Heerlen, Netherlands. He went to college in Amsterdam to study the Dutch language. During his studies, he met Imme Dros, who later became his wife. Like Harrie, Imme was also a gifted writer of children's books. Their shared passion for storytelling connected them deeply.
A Creative Mind: Writing and Illustrating
Harrie Geelen was a master storyteller and artist. He wrote many popular television shows for children. He also helped bring famous Disney movies to Dutch audiences by translating them. This meant he made sure the words and songs fit perfectly in Dutch.
Geelen was not just a writer; he was also a gifted illustrator. He drew pictures for his own books and for books written by his wife, Imme Dros. He also illustrated books for other famous Dutch authors, like Annie M. G. Schmidt and Toon Tellegen. He wrote a novel called "Het Nijlpaard Ellende" (which means "Ellende the Hippopotamus"). He also wrote collections of short stories, such as "Ooms en Tantes, Tantes en Ooms" ("Uncles and Aunts, Aunts and Uncles").
Bringing Stories to Life: Film and Television
Harrie Geelen also worked extensively in film and television. He helped create many animated projects. For the movie Pinkeltje, he was the director, designer, and scriptwriter. This means he guided the entire film, designed how it looked, and wrote the story. He also worked on other feature films. He even created a big TV series called "de Sommeltjes" using early computer animation techniques.
Famous TV Shows and Movies
Harrie Geelen contributed to many well-known television series and films:
- Oebele (1968-1972): Harrie wrote the dialogue and songs for this show. His wife, Imme Dros, wrote short stories that Harrie brought to life with children's drawings.
- Kunt u mij de weg naar Hamelen vertellen, mijnheer? (1972-1976): He wrote the scripts and songs for this popular series.
- Q & Q (1974 and 1976): Harrie also wrote the scripts for this exciting show.
- Pinkeltje (1981): He directed the script and planned the technical parts for this movie.
- Als je begrijpt wat ik bedoel (1983): He directed the soundtrack and helped write the script for this film.
- Carmen & IK (1996): Harrie wrote the script and songs, designed the animation, and directed this project.
- Sommeltjes (2002): He created the scripts, designed the animation, and directed this TV series.
- Annetje Lie in het holst van de nacht (2003): This was a story based on a novel by his wife, Imme Dros. Harrie wrote the script and songs, designed the animation, and directed it.
Awards and Recognition
Harrie Geelen's work was recognized with many important awards. His children's books were published by Querido, a well-known publisher in the Netherlands. His stories were so popular that some were even published in countries like Japan, Sweden, and France.
One of his animated documentaries, called "Getekende Mensen," won a "Gouden Kalf." This is a very important Dutch award for excellent television programs. This documentary explored a challenging subject in a thoughtful way. Many other documentaries he made at Toonder Studios also won prizes in cities like New York and Paris. These awards show how much his creative work was appreciated around the world.
