Carl Macek Has Passed Away

Animation historian Jerry Beck has informed the public that 58 year old animation producer Carl Macek suffered a fatal heart attack on Saturday, April 17th. Best known as the creator of Robotech and co-founder of Streamline Pictures, Macek is arguably the most significant (and most controversial) individual to have ever been involved in the American anime industry, as it was Macek who first promoted and popularized anime as imported Japanese animation in America. Besides bringing Macross, Southern Cross, and Mospeada to America under the umbrella title “Robotech,” Macek was involved in the American localization of anime including Captain Harlock, Robot Carnival, Vampire Hunter D, Akira, My Neighbor Totoro, as well as co-founding the Spumco animation studio, and co-writing the Heavy Metal 2000 movie.