Iwao Takamoto, the animator who created characters in the popular Scooby Doo series, died Monday in Los Angeles. He was 81. Takamoto started his career at The Walt Disney Studios before moving on to the independent Hannah-Barbera Studios in 1961. At the time of his death, Takamoto was vice president of special projects for Warner Bros. Animation in Burbank. Warner Bros. Animation President Sander Schwartz described Takamoto as ready with a wide smile, a firm handshake and a warm welcome. “Iwao’s designs will be his legacy for generations to come,” Schwartz said, in a statement. “Those of us who had the privilege of working closely with him will miss his mentoring presence, his good counsel and his unparalleled talent and spirit.” A Los Angeles native, Takamoto received informal animation training while at the Manzanar Internment Camp. He was hired at Disney in 1945 and worked on the full-length films “Cinderella” and “Peter Pan.” But it was while at Hanna-Barbera Studios near Universal City that Takamoto created his most well-known characters, including the skittish, Scooby snack-snarfing Great Dane Scooby Doo, and was primary designer of “Josie and the Pussy Cats,” “The Great Grape Ape Show,” and “The Secret Squirrel Show.” In 2005, Takamoto received the Golden Award from the Animation Guild to honor his more than 50 years of service in the animation field.