Mark Hall, the animator behind Danger Mouse, The Wind In The Willows, Chorlton and the Wheelies and co-founder of Cosgrove Hall films, has died of cancer aged 74.
Hall died in Manchester surrounded by his family, his representatives said.
Operations director Adrian Wilkins said that Hall had led "a lifetime of achievement" and was "one of life's true gentlemen".
Hall founded his first production company with Brian Cosgrove in the 1960s before establishing Cosgrave Hall Films.
The company produced many successful animated shows for children, including Danger Mouse, Count Duckula and Jamie and the Magic Torch.
In 2006 Hall said that Danger Mouse succeeded because it was loved by adults as well as children.
"The adults watched because of that kind of anarchy," he told the BBC. "The kids watched it because they just loved the stories and the absolutely stupid gags."