Articles and tributes abound on the internet, just do a Google search on "Hans Beck" and you'll find dozens from around the world.
Some interesting facts, and some possibly incorrect ones, being aired.
A common quote in many articles: “No horror, no superficial violence, not short-lived trends,” was Beck’s motto
I'm wondering what his definition of superficial violence was, as there's plenty of regular everyday violence depicted, but the last one, no short-lived trends, is interesting.
Space Aliens, Ghost Pirates, Winged Dragon Warriors? Are these short-lived trends, and would Hans object?
Some of Beck's favorite Playmobil creations presented slices of history that were deemed politically incorrect, such as a group of 19th century Chinese railroad workers that was never sold in stores.
"When you're presenting a picture of a time past, you have to show all sides of it," Beck told the Christian Science Monitor in 1997. But it must be done with "Fingerspitzengefuhl," he said, employing a German word that translates as "instinctive feeling."
Interesting that not all Beck's ideas were accepted, and that Playmobil no longer feel it necessary to show all aspects of past times, but mostly just the warriors.
There is an online Guest Book
http://www.legacy.com/gb/guestbookview.aspx?personId=123727022 where you can leave your own message of appreciation for his great gift to us all.
