Otmar Gutmann was a German filmmaker and animator known for creating the character Pingu, who starred in a globally successful stop-motion animated television series. While Gutmann himself was not a creator of Japanese anime or manga, his original work was later adapted into a Japanese anime series, Pingu in the City. Born in Münstertal, Germany, on April 24, 1937, Gutmann began his career as an amateur animator in the 1960s before producing professional work. His only major personal film as a professional was Aventures in 1978, a piece based on music by György Ligeti that explored the human condition through a sculptural style inspired by Lubomir Stepan. In 1980, he served as a lead animator on the production Lucy the Menace of Street, working with plasticine characters named Frédéric and Frédéri.

Gutmann designed the character of Pingu in 1986, and a pilot film featuring the penguin in an Arctic snowscape was first presented at the Berlin Film Festival in 1987, where it won the Kleiner Bär award. The character was co-created with Erika Brueggemann, who is credited alongside Gutmann as an originator of the series. The Pingu television series began airing in 1990, produced at Gutmann's studio, initially called Trickfilmstudio and later renamed Pingu Filmstudio, in Russikon, Switzerland. The series distinguished itself through its use of claymation, a stop-motion technique using malleable plasticine models. Gutmann developed a specific mixing technique for the films, combining doll-like figures with clay animation. For each movement sequence, a new figure had to be created, and every scene was constructed separately to achieve a natural, lifelike quality.

A core aspect of the series' artistic identity was its rejection of traditional dialogue or voice-over narration. Characters communicated through vocalized squeaks and grunts, often referred to as penguin, creating a universal language that transcended cultural barriers. Gutmann's storytelling philosophy focused on depicting everyday life from a child's perspective, intentionally avoiding violence or artificial hero adventures. The subtle stories followed Pingu's adventures at home with his family and friends in a comfortably furnished igloo, covering relatable experiences like fishing, skiing, and helping a postman. This handcrafted attention to detail, at a time when computer-generated worlds were emerging, contributed to the character's enduring appeal.

Otmar Gutmann died of a heart attack on October 13, 1993, at the age of 56, while working on the second season of Pingu. He was buried in Russikon Cemetery. Following his death, his production company continued to produce new episodes of Pingu with a different team. The Pingu series ultimately ran until 2006, winning numerous international awards including the Japanese Maeda award and the French Prix Jeunesse, and was broadcast by approximately 100 television stations worldwide. Gutmann's original creation later formed the basis for the Japanese anime production Pingu in the City, which began airing on October 7, 2017, demonstrating the lasting international reach and adaptability of his work. The rights to the property were eventually acquired by Mattel through its purchase of HIT Entertainment in 2011. Gutmann's significance to the animation industry lies in his mastery of traditional stop-motion craft and his creation of a universally beloved character whose simple, humane storytelling continues to resonate with new generations.