Rune T. Kidde

Who was Rune T. Kidde?

Rune Torstein Kidde was a Danish writer, storyteller, musician and artist. He was the son of illustrator and painter Thormod Kidde and ceramist Ragnhild Kidde. He graduated from Vestfyns Gymnasium in 1976 and has studied theology for short while. Rune T. Kidde was a multi-talented artist and has released both humorous cartoons, poems, novels, children's books and biographies. Additionally, he made radio features to the Danish Children's Radio and was a folk singer, poet and dramatic.

Rune T. Kidde was a prominent member of 1970s Danish cartoon underground. He published "Fields'isten" and fanzines such as "Blomstrende Spaghetti", "Knulp" and "Kong Knud". In 1977 he co-founded the publishing company Baldur og Brage who published the first Danish undergrounds periodica with comics "På Stribe". In 1979 he co-founded the cartoon studio Gimle together with fellow cartonist Peter Madsen and in 1984 was a founding member of Tegneserieværkstedet. Rune T. Kiddes own debut as cartoonist was the albums "Rune T. Kidde" and "De siger så meget" in 1980 and up through the 1980s he released a number of comics, as well as the illustrated handbook "Øldrikkerens Lille Grønne". In 1975 Rune T. Kidde founded Folkebvægelsen for W. C. Fields – one of his great idols. He also made himself honorary member of the movement. In 1990 he lost his eyesight, which was difficult to combine with cartoon production. Still, Rune T. Kidde continued to produce comics and picture books, where other artists – especially Jørgen Mogensen – drew according to his directives.