Dušan Vukotić(1927-1998)

Dušan Vukotić was a Yugoslavian animator and director of Montenegrin and Serbian descent. In his youth, he was part of the Partisan resistance to the Ustaša regime starting in 1944. He studied architecture in the College of Technology of the University of Zagreb from 1947 to 1951. However, he pivoted to animation after college first by starting in "Duga film" and then as an animator for commercials from 1954 to 1955. He eventually became one of the founding members of the animation studio of Zagreb Film and it is here that he reached great success. He developed an experimental, satirical style while also occasionally experimenting with live-action/animation hybrid films. His film "Surogat" (Ersatz) became the first foreign winner of the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. Vukotić would continue his streak with winning many more awards (and being nominated for another Oscar). Starting in the 60s, he also became a director of live-action films such as "Operation Stadium." From 1967 to 1990, he was a film professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb. Vukotić retired in 1991 and died in 1998. He was survived by his wife, the actress Melita Andres.