Peter Keefe
Encyclopedia
Peter Eugene Keefe was an American television producer
best known for creating the popular series Voltron
. Keefe's work on the series is credited with introducing American audiences to Japanese animation and influenced later children's programs like Dragon Ball Z, Pokémon
and Power Rangers
.
Keefe was born on November 16, 1952, in Rochester, New York
. His television career began as a movie critic for TV station KPLR
in St. Louis, Missouri
and he later produced documentaries for World Events Productions
. His "hugely popular" 1980s cartoon series Voltron featured a group of five spaceships combined to form the robot Voltron, who used his sword to protect the universe. The series was credited by The New York Times
in his obituary as having "helped prepare the way for other Japanese-style animation
in the United States". During its run from 1984 to 1987 Voltron was the top-ranked syndicated children's program. It brought forth several spinoffs and merchandise licensing deals. The Voltron series was created by Keefe by cutting and pasting bits of the Japanese cartoons Beast King GoLion and Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV
. Keefe licensed the programs in 1983 and updated the scripts for American audiences with less violence than the originals, removing Japanese location and cultural information to allow the material to be marketed worldwide.
After Voltron, Keefe created other animated series, including Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs
, Denver the Last Dinosaur, Widget
, Twinkle the Dream Being and The Mr. Bogus Show
. Over a 20-year span, Keefe created 600 half-hour episodes, that were enjoyed by millions of children worldwide.
Known for his distinctive mustache and cowboy boots, Keefe died of throat cancer in Rochester, New York
at the age of 57.
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
best known for creating the popular series Voltron
Voltron
Voltron is the titular super robot of an anime series that features a team of young pilots, known as the Voltron Force. The team’s individual vehicles join together to form the giant super robot, with which they defend the galaxy from evil...
. Keefe's work on the series is credited with introducing American audiences to Japanese animation and influenced later children's programs like Dragon Ball Z, Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
and Power Rangers
Power Rangers
Power Rangers is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live action children's television series featuring teams of costumed heroes...
.
Keefe was born on November 16, 1952, in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. His television career began as a movie critic for TV station KPLR
KPLR-TV
KPLR-TV, channel 11, is a television station in St. Louis, Missouri. KPLR is owned by the Tribune Company, and is an affiliate of The CW Television Network. The station's studios are located in Maryland Heights, Missouri, in Northwest St. Louis County KPLR-TV, channel 11, is a television station...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and he later produced documentaries for World Events Productions
World Events Productions
World Events Productions is an American-based animation and distribution company in St. Louis, Missouri, best known for releasing the anime titles Voltron, Defender of the Universe and Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, as well as producing the original animated series Denver, the Last...
. His "hugely popular" 1980s cartoon series Voltron featured a group of five spaceships combined to form the robot Voltron, who used his sword to protect the universe. The series was credited by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
in his obituary as having "helped prepare the way for other Japanese-style animation
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
in the United States". During its run from 1984 to 1987 Voltron was the top-ranked syndicated children's program. It brought forth several spinoffs and merchandise licensing deals. The Voltron series was created by Keefe by cutting and pasting bits of the Japanese cartoons Beast King GoLion and Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV
Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV
was an anime series aired in Japan from 1982 to 1983. It is also referred to as "Dairugger 15", "Dairugger XV", "Armored Armada Dairugger XV", "Armored Squadron Dairugger XV", or "Machine Platoon Dairugger"....
. Keefe licensed the programs in 1983 and updated the scripts for American audiences with less violence than the originals, removing Japanese location and cultural information to allow the material to be marketed worldwide.
After Voltron, Keefe created other animated series, including Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs
Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs
Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs is a 1987 animated space western following a similar theme as Galaxy Rangers and Bravestarr. Originally a 1984 anime series known as created by Studio Pierrot, it achieved moderate success in Japan...
, Denver the Last Dinosaur, Widget
Widget (TV series)
Widget, the World Watcher is an animated television series which debuted in syndication on September 29, 1990. The series ran for two seasons; in the first season , it aired once a week , and in the second season , the series expanded to 5 days a week .-Overview:The show focused on a , purple alien...
, Twinkle the Dream Being and The Mr. Bogus Show
Mr. Bogus
Mr. Bogus was an animated television series from the 1990s. Each episode was separated into two distinct parts, one using traditional cel-based animation and another using stop-motion. Characters often walked around on a kitchen counter having various adventures with common household items.Mr...
. Over a 20-year span, Keefe created 600 half-hour episodes, that were enjoyed by millions of children worldwide.
Known for his distinctive mustache and cowboy boots, Keefe died of throat cancer in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
at the age of 57.