A Cartoonist & Animator whose work transcends languages
Guillermo Mordillo, son of Spanish immigrants, was born on August 4, 1932, in Villa Pueyrredón, Buenos Aires. He was a renowned Argentinian cartoonist celebrated for his wordless, humorous, and colorful depictions of everyday life, sports, and animals.
Early Life and Career
Mordillo’s artistic journey began in his childhood, where he drew inspiration from silent comedians like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, as well as Disney animations. At 13, he created his first comic strip, Pascacio El Vagabunde, featuring an anthropomorphic kitten.
He graduated from the School of Journalism in Buenos Aires in 1948 and soon after began illustrating children’s stories, including The Three Little Pigs and The Musicians of Bremen.
In 1952, he co-founded Galas Studios, focusing on animation production.
His career took him across the globe, from Lima, Peru, where he worked for McCann Erickson, an advertising firm, to New York, where he contributed to Paramount Pictures, working on characters like Popeye and Little Lulu.
In 1963, he moved to Paris, where his work gained international recognition through publications like Paris Match and Stern. This marked his breakthrough, and by the 1970s, he had become one of the most widely published cartoonists in the world.
Artistic Style and Themes
Mordillo’s cartoons are characterized by their wordless, pantomime style, making them universally accessible. His works often depicted surreal, humorous situations with recurring themes of sports, love, and animals, particularly giraffes. His characters, typically short, big-nosed, and mouthless, were placed in absurd scenarios.
His style was uniform and instantly recognizable, with a poetic quality that resonated with audiences of all ages. Mordillo’s cartoons often conveyed a sense of melancholy, reflecting his view of the world as a place where people endure hardships, yet he used humor as a defense mechanism against sadness.
Legacy
Over his career, Mordillo created over 2,000 drawings, averaging 60 per year. His work was widely merchandised, appearing on calendars, cups, and greeting cards.
He also contributed to humanitarian causes, such as Amnesty International, and held exhibitions to support autistic children.
Mordillo passed away in 2019 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most significant Argentinian cartoonists of the 20th century.
