Best-selling Miffy the rabbit author Dick Bruna dies age 89

The Dutch creator of Miffy the cartoon rabbit has died 
aged 89, his publishers have announced.

Writer and illustrator Dick Bruna died peacefully in his sleep 
on Thursday night in the Dutch city of Utrecht.

He created the much loved character in 1955 as a story
 to entertain his young son. More than 80 million Miffy 
books have been sold globally.

Over the years, Bruna wrote more than 100 books but 
Miffy was by far his most popular and enduring character.

At first, he was uncertain whether the rabbit was a boy or a girl, but settled the matter by putting her in a dress for the sixth book, Miffy's Birthday, in 1970.


Dick Bruna was all about doing more with less. Economy
 of line was the key behind the much loved Miffy character.

Through only a few simple shapes, heavy graphic lines and
primary colours, Bruna was able to capture and convey a
 huge amount of personality and character.

Miffy delights adults and children alike and we hope that
 her innocent and loving personality will continue to
 resonate - she is such a great example of the universal language of illustration.

In the Netherlands, she is called Nijntje ("little rabbit" 
as a Dutch toddler might say it). It was her first English translator, Olive Jones, who christened her Miffy.

Bruna was still writing Miffy stories in his old age and
 his books have been translated into more than 50 
languages.

The museum dedicated to her name in Utrecht has
 tweeted a picture of the white rabbit, arms behind her
 back, a single tear below her left eye.

Dutch publisher Marja Kerkhof told the AP news agency
 that he used "very clear pictures, almost like a pictogram".

She said his illustrations were often best characterised by what he left out, allowing him "to go to the essence of
 things" while simultaneously using "very strong powerful primary colours".

"Even today if you see it in a store you would think, 'hey 
this looks different to a lot of other things out there'," she 
said. "There is no clutter, it's all very clear."



Miffy the worldwide merchandising marvel

• Is especially popular in Japan, where she has her own webp age section in The Japan Times, as well as a cafe servingf ood dedicated to her name in Tokyo

• Is also popular in China, where train carriages in Guangzhouw ere decorated in her image in 2015 to celebrate her 60thb irthday

• Was in 2004 appointed the official "family tourista mbassador" to New York City's 

• Germany is one of numerous European countries to have ad edicated Miffy website

• Does not like to be mistaken for her rival, the Japanesec haracter Hello Kitty