His career started as a designer and cartoonist in 1939, publishing caricatures and editorial cartoons in newspapers.

1949 brought his debut in the film industry with "Punguța cu doi bani" (Bag with two coins).

Unable to surpass Disney's animation characters in color and beauty, Popescu-Gopo tried to be more profound in message and substance and simplify the form and techniques used.

Ion Popescu-Gopo died in Bucharest on 29 November 1989, just weeks before the Romanian Revolution.

His death was the first step into the downfall of the Romanian animation studios Animafilm, which later suffered from financial issues after the 1989 revolution.