TVSquad

Jan Svocheck, an animator who worked for several studios and whose most recognizable work was undoubtedly as the head animator for the Hawaiian Punch commercials featuring Punchy, the squat Hawaiian who enjoyed decking people in the kisser, passed away Wednesday at the age of 80. Svocheck was born in Czechoslovakia and came to the United States in the 1930s, later returning to Europe to fight in World War II. Upon returning to the states he worked at Famous Studios on such shows as Baby Huey, Herman and Katnip and Little Audrey. Among many other jobs in the industry, he also worked at J.J. Sedelmaier Productions, the studio best known for its work with Robert Smigel on Saturday Night Live's "TV Funhouse" segment. He worked on the Hawaiian Punch commercials from the 1960s up through the 1990s, and was also an animator for the "Mr. Hipp" segment on NBC's Weekend, an occasionally tongue-in-cheek news program that aired in the late 1970s.