Buzz Potamkin obit

Marshall ‘Buzz’ Potamkin dies at 66

He was not on the list.

Sad news to report. Buzz Potamkin, one of animation’s most beloved producers on both coasts, passed away from pancreatic cancer on Sunday, April 22nd. Potamkin founded Perpetual Motion Pictures in 1968 with two employees. Over the next decade Perpetual became New York City’s largest animation studio. Buzz produced hundreds of TV commercials, including the Hawaiian Punch series. In 1979, his successful production of The Berenstain Bears Christmas Tree led to a series of prime time and daytime cartoons based on the famed children’s books. In 1981, Potamkin produced the famous “I Want My MTV” ad campaign. He founded and ran Southern Star Productions from 1984 to 1991 (series included CBS Storybreak, Peter Pan, Teen Wolf). In 1990 with Roy Disney as executive producer, Potamkin produced the TV Academy’s Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue, the only animated program to be telecast simultaneously on all four major TV networks . Buzz also served with Disney as honorary executive producer for the UNICEF Animation Consortium .


Buzz briefly worked at the Walt Disney Company in 1991 before joining Hanna Barbera as Executive Producer & Head of TV (through 1996) where he championed the World Premiere Shorts (“What A Cartoon“) unit, which led to Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, and The Powerpuff Girls. Among his many projects at H-B, Potamkin was Executive Producer of the Dr. Seuss’ special Dayzie-Head Maysie (1995). After Hanna Barbera, Potamkin served on the board of Visionary Media which produced the cutting edge web series WhirlGirl and produced and directed the direct-to-video film, Buster & Chauncey’s Silent Night (1998), through his own company, Project X. His awards include four Clios, the MTV Video Award, more than 20 ASIFA commendations, the Cannes Gold Lion, the Venice Silver Lion, the Cable Ace, the Peabody, the Scott Newman Award, two New York Festival Gold Medals and three Silver Medals, The Child in Our Time Award from MIFED, two Humanitas and seven Emmy nominations. Potamkin was well known and well-liked in New York and L.A., by artists and network execs alike. His presence on the animation scene will be missed.



Filmography

Year Work Credit Notes

1979 The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree Producer TV movie

1980 The Berenstain Bears Meet Bigpaw Producer TV movie

1981 Strawberry Shortcake in Big Apple City Producer TV short

1981 The Berenstain Bears' Easter Surprise Producer TV movie

1982 The Berenstain Bears' Comic Valentine Producer TV movie

1983 The Berenstain Bears Play Ball Producer TV movie

1983 Deck the Halls with Wacky Walls Producer TV movie

1985 ABC Weekend Special Supervising producer Episode "The Velveteen Rabbit"

1985 The Berenstain Bears Show Producer/director TV series

1985–1988 CBS Storybreak Supervising producer TV series

1986–1987 Teen Wolf Executive producer TV series

1988 Mad Scientist Producer Video short

1989 Marvin: Baby of the Year Producer/director TV short

1990 Fox's Peter Pan & the Pirates Executive producer TV series

1990 Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue Producer TV short

1992 The Addams Family Executive producer TV series

1993 SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron Executive producer TV series

1993 The Halloween Tree Executive producer TV movie

1993–1995 2 Stupid Dogs Executive producer TV series

1994 Scooby-Doo! in Arabian Nights Executive producer TV movie

1994 A Flintstones Christmas Carol Executive producer TV movie

1995 Hillbilly Blue Executive producer TV Short; part of What Cartoon Show

1995 What's Going on Back There!? Executive producer TV short; part of What Cartoon Show

1995 Help? Executive producer TV Short; part of What Cartoon Show

1995–1997 What a Cartoon! Executive producer TV series (shorts)

1995 George and Junior's Christmas Special Executive producer TV short; part of What Cartoon Show

1995 Daisy-Head Mayzie Executive producer TV short

1995 Short Orders Executive producer TV short; part of What Cartoon Show

1995 Short Pfuse Executive producer TV short; part of What Cartoon Show

1995 Aaron's Magic Village Producer (U.S. version)

1995 Jonny Quest vs. The Cyber Insects Executive producer TV movie

1995 Cow and Chicken Executive producer Episode "No Smoking"

1996 Dexter's Laboratory Executive producer TV series

1996 Big Bag Executive producer TV series

1997 Out and About Executive producer TV short; part of What Cartoon Show

1997 Pfish and Chip Executive producer TV short; part of What Cartoon Show

1997 Babe! He... Calls Me Executive producer TV Short; part of What Cartoon Show

1997 Malcom and Melvin Executive producer TV Short; part of What Cartoon Show

1998 Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night Producer/director Video

2004 Johnny Bravo Executive producer TV series