LOS ANGELES -- After almost nine years, animation historian and cartoon producer Jerry Beck has stepped down from his role as editor at Cartoon Brew, the animation website he co-founded with partner Amid Amidi in 2004.

From Beck’s official bio:

“His fifteen books on animation include The Animated Movie Guide, Looney Tunes: The Ultimate Visual Guide and The 50 Greatest Cartoons. He is a former studio exec with Nickelodeon and Disney, and is currently a consulting producer to Warner Bros., Universal and Disney for their classic animation DVD compilations. Beck has programmed animation retrospectives and animator tributes for the Annecy and Ottawa Animation Festivals, The Museum of Modern Art and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. He has taught animation history at NYU, SVA, the AFI and UCLA. He is currently teaching Animation History at Woodbury University in Burbank, California.

“Beck started his career in film distribution, working at MGM/UA, Orion Classics, Cannon Films and Expanded Entertainment (Tournee of Animation), before starting his own company, Streamline Pictures in 1989, the first U.S. distributor to import anime features such as Otomo’s Akira and Miyazaki’s Laputa: Castle In The Sky. Beck was instrumental in launching Animation Magazine, and has written for The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, as well as numerous articles for Animation World Network. Beck was also the West Coast Bureau Chief for Kidscreen magazine in 2000. He has also created, written and produced animated films for various clients. His most recent animation project, Hornswiggle, aired on the Nicktoons Network in 2008. Beck is also the host/producer of the annual “Worst Cartoons Ever” screening at the Comic-Con International: San Diego.”

Here are some of the final words from Beck himself on the Cartoon Brew website:

For those wondering where I’m going – I’m planning to continue doing what I’ve been doing: animation showings in L.A. (with plans to bring my act to New York as well), teaching cartoon history, consulting with Warner Home Video and continuing my efforts to get classic cartoons out of the vaults and onto your personal screens (on whatever device you prefer). I’m also committed to several new book projects, and have a few brand new ideas I’d like to pursue. I’ll also maintain a presence on the web, through my Facebook page and with my old site, CartoonResearch.com.

Source: Cartoon Brew