Ray Goossens facts for kids

Ray Goossens (born August 14, 1924 – died December 10, 1998) was a talented Belgian artist, animator, writer, and director. He is most famous for creating the beloved cartoon character Musti, a cute little cat.

Biography

Ray Goossens was born in Merksem, Belgium, in 1924. Even before World War II, he was very interested in animation. In 1940, he started his own animation company called AFIM with Henri Winkeler and Edmond Roex.

Early Animation Work

AFIM had 15 employees, including artists who later became famous, like Bob de Moor and Jef Nys. They made several short animated movies. Their most successful film from this time was Smidje Smee.

After the war, Goossens began working as a comics artist for Kleine Zondagsvriend, a weekly magazine for young people. He created many comic series. Some were based on old stories like Tijl Uilenspiegel and Reinaert de Vos. He also made new characters like Tsjoem, a parrot, and Snops. Ray Goossens also drew pictures for different newspapers and magazines, including Gazet van Antwerpen.

Working with Studios

Ray Goossens mainly worked as an animator for advertisements. In 1957, he became the artistic director of Belvision, a new animation studio. Belvision was part of Le Lombard, a big Belgian comics publisher. At first, they made cartoons based on popular comic series such as Oumpah-pah, Hergé's Adventures of Tintin, and Chlorophylle. They also created a full-length movie called Pinocchio in Outer Space.

From 1956 to 1969, he worked on his own as an animator and director. In 1967, he directed Asterix the Gaul. This was the first movie based on the famous Asterix comics. In 1968, he joined Dupuis, another major publisher. There, he helped create many children's TV series, including Tip en Tap, De Pili's, and his most famous creation, Musti. He also directed a series about the adventures of Boule et Bill.

Later Career

From 1976 onwards, Ray Goossens taught animation at the R.I.T.C.S school in Brussels. His last big success as a director was in 1980 with Plons de gekke kikker.

Ray Goossens passed away in 1998 in Deurne.

Filmography

Ray Goossens directed and wrote many animated films and TV series throughout his career.

As director

With AFIM

• 1940: Metamorfose, Rapi Roum, and Hoe primmeke ter wereld kwam
• 1941: Smidje Smee
• 1947: De lamme maakt een ritje

Independent Work

• 1956: Wat 'n vader
• 1958: Paviljoen Wetenschappen for the Expo 58 (Brussels World's Fair)
• 1959: Van zilverzout tot zilverbeeld
• 1960: Van katoenbol tot filmonderlaag
• 1967: In naam der wet
• 1968: Hoera, ik ben vader!, and Er was eens

With Belvision Studios

• 1957-1964: Hergé's Adventures of Tintin
• 1960: Le bosquet hanté
• 1961: Boothill Mc Gall, sheriff and Coin-coin
• 1964: Canard à l'orange
• 1965: Spaghetti à la romaine, Oumpah-Pah, and Pinocchio in Outer Space
• 1967: Asterix the Gaul

With Dupuis

• 1968-1982: Musti (52 episodes, each 5 minutes long)
• 1971: Tip en Tap
• 1973: De Pili's
• 1975: Boule et Bill, and Bobo
• 1984: Trompo

With VRT

• 1990-1991: Musti (104 brand new episodes)

As writer

• 1983-1991: Plons de gekke kikker

Awards

• 1956: First prize at the second Festival of the Belgian Movie, for Wat 'n vader

See also

In Spanish: Ray Goossens para niños