Robert Balser, RIP

Another animation veteran leaves us.

Robert Balser, animation director for The Beatles’ trippy animated musical Yellow Submarine, who also worked on other iconic animated projects including Heavy Metal, died Saturday at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles of respiratory failure. He was 88.

Born in 1927, Balser enjoyed a varied career stretching back to the 1950s. Among his work, the animated end titles from Around The World In 80 Days, the animated Jackson Five TV series from the 1970s, and The Glorious Muskateers. He served as a sequence director on the animated 1979 television adaptation of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, and served as animation supervisor on five episodes of the 1980s The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show. ...

Mr. Balser held a number of positions in Cartoonland, animator, director, and storyboard artist. He worked both in Europe and the United States, which isn't unusual. Many animation artists are globe-trotting gypsies.