It’s a sad time for claymation penguin fans as they come to terms with the news that Carlo Bonomi, also known as the original voice of Pingu, died at the age of 85 years old. The internet has sent their condolences as the Italian voice actor captured the hearts of young children through a stop-motion penguin.
The news was originally broken by Italian publication AF News, reporting that Bonomi passed in Milan. However, no further details about Bonomi’s death have been released.
Fans shared all over social media Bonomi’s legacy as a renowned voice actor and how his talent, especially in Pingu, played a role in their lives.
Pingu is a children’s TVshow that aired from 1986 to 2006 and lasted for six seasons. Pingu, the penguin, lives with his father, mother, and little sister in an igloo in Antarctica. The characters speak in comedic rambles with no-to-little-to-clear English sounds. But the lack of English is made up for their actions, movement, and facial expressions, leaving it up to the viewer to what the characters have said or done.
The show later received a spin-off series in Japan titled Pingu in the City in 2017, which only lasted for two seasons. The reboot still follows the same sound and style as the original but is now set in a busy city.
Bonomi voiced Pingu and other characters in the children’s show from 1986 to 2000. And while the iconic “noot noot” was passed down to other voice actors, nothing can beat the original. Outside of Pingu, Bonomi worked on other shows such as Stripy in 1984 and Mr. Rossi’s Dreams in 1977.
