born october american director animated live action films 1970s established alternative mainstream animation independent adult oriented productions directed theatrically released feature films wrote involved numerous television projects director writer producer animator beginning career television cartoon studio eventually promoted animator director moved animation division paramount_pictures started studio producer debut feature film cat released animated film receive rating successful independent animated feature time years directed seven additional animated features known films lord rings american pop returned television work producing series mighty mouse ran years year hiatus feature films directed largely rewritten production received poor reviews returned television live action film cool crazy anthology series 2000s focused largely fine art painting founded son eddie received awards work including golden lord rings film festival annie award distinguished contribution art animation tribute award film festival early life born jewish family october mandatory palestine family immigrated new_york_city escape world war grew neighborhood brooklyn family lived low rent apartment fascinated urban child enjoyed comic books dug trash cans find spring father uncle traveled washington search business opportunities soon moved family black neighborhood recalled friends black business black school street black segregated black went black movies black girls sat lap went black parties black kid block problem racial segregation local schools meant nearest white school miles away obtained mother permission attend nearby black school friends white student classroom students problem presence teacher sought advice principal called police fearing segregated whites riot learned white student attending black school police removed classroom father suffering anxiety attacks months family moved rarely spoke events age discovering gene complete guide public library took document experiences create fantasy influenced artwork stole copy book learned lesson teenage years took boxing attending took little interest academics spending time focusing participating food fight caught smoking sent principal office unlikely principal transferred manhattan june graduated school award career early career friend hired cartoon studio recommended studio production manager hired hours day studio based suburban low level position required carefully remove dirt dust animation months surprised showing work promoted painter began practice time point slipped supposed work pile fellow painter deception noticed days later called office painted wrong explained mistake argument ensued eventually took point studio employees aware intention animator began receive help advice established animators including married wife son mark born disliked long work hours marital problems drew comic strip man determined girl perfected animation style began jobs including creating design tests studio head director convinced modern design sensibility response period political climate form therapy drew comic strips agenda focused technology discarded ideals failing marriage state planet drove need moved desk join rest animators asking material received scenes hat floating water deputy lead character syndicated television series running despite threats animators union fought layout artist began father figure childless happy serve mentor age promoted director assignment series sad cat wife separated giving time short dissatisfied traditional role director didn direct like think animation directors story department controlled couldn affect tried time mix soundtracks fuck independent animation studios selling shows networks series produced owned cbs declining popularity asked help carry presentation boards manhattan meeting cbs network executives rejected proposals sophisticated old cbs daytime programming chief began leave office unprepared pitched superhero parody called mighty heroes described series characters including tornado man rope man man fought evil villains executives loved idea required drawings committing immediately work series development saw character designs confirmed cbs condition serve creative director appear segment network saturday morning schedule series renamed recognition new segment received pay raise satisfied career advancement anticipated died creative control unhappy quality animation writing timing voice acting series segments successful wanted leave form company drew presentation pieces fantasy series called help way cbs offices pitch involved car accident auto body shop met liz later second wife cbs passed designs served basis film leaving network offices learned paramount_pictures recently fired head animation division met lawyer studio hired replace enlisted comic book pulp fiction artists writers work studio finishing shorts directed produced wrote designed short films paramount conceived flower child picture completed way intended going curse words sex scenes lot course wouldn let described disappointing result typical limited animation theatrical animation historian called film bad picture kind makes people love animation leave theater disgust production mighty heroes ended left served head studio months paramount closed animation division december learned position intended temporary paramount intended pick pitches prepared offer package immediately ripped contract suggested work producer recently fired supervising director canadian science fiction series background artist soon headed toronto planning canada new_york artists wood working united_states unknown producer middle lawsuit failing reach settlement guest told grab series model sheets return united_states studio found warrant arrest issued toronto police narrowly avoided capture stopped american border guard asked responded guys heading canada dodge draft running states fuck wrong guard laughed let detained airport searched interrogated hours soon founded studio manhattan mother work described worst neighborhood world paid employees higher salaries studios expanded opportunities female minority animators studio began work later took spider man television series married liz august second child preston born june cat spot founded division produce commercials max year old mouse series educational shorts paid kind animation studio turning wanted produce personal soon developed tale inner city street life told hollywood studio executives unwilling fund film content lack film experience place came copy impressed sharp satire purchased book suggested work film arranged meeting presented drawings created learning artist distinctive style prove adapt artwork animation impressed lent reference preparation began studio pitch included poster sized featuring comic cast traced photo background intended film appear despite enthusiasm artist refused sign contract drew artist warned working describing slick later agreed assessment calling life sent san_francisco stayed wife attempt persuade sign contract week left leaving film production status uncertain weeks returned new_york entered office told acquired film rights power attorney signed contract pitched project major hollywood studio bought promised budget hired animators worked past including began animation completed sequence scene harlem marijuana sex revolution intended release sequence minute short case picture financing fell determined complete film feature screened sequence executives wanted sexual content toned celebrities cast voice parts refused pulled leading seek funds eventually deal owner distributor specializing exploitation films time pitch film gross agreed fund production distribute believing fit slate despite receiving financing sources including agreed distribute soundtrack album label budget tight exclude pencil tests test animation animator drawings hand painted realized desert scenes wide revealed transparency painted cover mistake walked harlem taking moody artist outlines photographs technical pen preferred giving film backgrounds stylized realism virtually unprecedented animation tones backgrounds influenced work painters unusual techniques bent camera perspectives portray way film viewed city scenes featured documentary recordings real conversations place scripted dialogue signature moved studio los_angeles hire additional animators including welcomed felt cat bring diversity animation industry animators pleased arrival placed advertisement hollywood reporter stating california time production wrapped released sweet song considerable success despite rating received gave film rating exploited promotional purposes advertising minutes violence excitement sex rated animated variety called amusing executed youthful attitudes writes book cat breakthrough movie opened brand new commercial animator united_states presenting accurate portrayal particular western society particular era dated cat released april opening hollywood washington major hit successful independent animated feature time month film release daughter victoria born time cat released celebrity reputation primarily based having directed dirty animated film facing criticism work publicity tours trade publications began writing poetry express emotions tradition wrote poems beginning production films poems street arabs preceded production inspiration film came penny arcades played accompanied year old son mark pitched expressed interest tortured underground cartoonist agreed film compensated work halfway production asked paid responded picture didn money lot noise found claims dubious producer recently purchased new mansion beverly_hills lawyer sought advice fellow directors friendly including steven_spielberg soon accused producer denied continued work began pitching project film loosely based uncle story books idea interested producer encountered screening godfather received questioned said talk hung locking studio day called directors including search replacement threatened withdraw financial backing returned week later wanted voices sound organic experimented improvisation allowing actors recording sessions animation sequences appear rough pages film incorporated live action footage photographs attempt film rating prepared different versions scenes involving sex violence rated success theaters willing book adult oriented animation film box office person animation industry financially successful movies released received critics newsweek applauded black humor powerful peculiar raw beauty hollywood reporter called shocking outrageous offensive occasionally authentic work movie art certainly creative american animator disney new_york_times ranked best films release movie banned province alberta canada began production paramount originally contracted distribute proved adult oriented animation financially successful animated films respected pictures considered dirty disney mature depicting sex drugs profanity based experiences racism attack racist stereotypes cast live action voice roles cutting animation abruptly seamlessly wanted prove excuse apology wrote song sing opening title sequence structure rooted history slave plantation slaves shout lines poems stories great distances fields creating natural beat described vocal style backed fast guitar early version rap intended attack stereotypes portraying directly imagery early designs main characters brother rabbit brother bear resembled figures wind rejected stereotypical designs blacks negative depictions white film strongest criticism directed mafia said sick hero worship guys got godfather production concluded editing title changed finally hired african american animators work including african american female animator hired graffiti artists trained work animators film release delayed protests called film racist distribution contracted paramount canceled project developing american chronicles advertised exploitation film given limited distribution soon disappeared theaters initial reviews negative playboy commented throw little pull eventually positive reviews appeared hollywood reporter african american newspaper said film masterpiece shattering successful effort use uncommon form cartoons live action combined convey violence frustration american city life specifically black city life lyrically violent way exploit violence variety called brutal satire streets reviewer wrote certainly outrage disney dialog obviously generated box office obstacles healthy called best film hey good production concluded wanted distinguish producing film live action animated characters interact said illusion attempted create completely live action film making work drove crazy hey good set brooklyn 1950s lead characters leader gang named friend crazy based high school friends optioned screenplay film initial version hey good completed minute promo version screened cannes film festival film scheduled christmas release moved summers later ultimately postponed indefinitely concerned controversy film encounter result backlash film felt film mix live action animation spend money project financed film completion director fees projects lord rings american pop live action sequences hey good gradually replaced animation eliminated live action sequences featuring glam punk band singer worked initial musical score final version scored hey good opened new_york_city october released los_angeles january film release limited went largely unnoticed united_states garnered respectable business foreign markets brief review wrote exactly originally mind slipped away animation historian wrote beginning film promising garbage discussing life streets garbage example best medium animation comment society unfortunately doesn film wildly imaginative fantasy sequence climax character named crazy starts rooftop shooting scene film ideas better explored film gained cult following cable television home video stated preferred hey good shift fantasy film pitched war 20th century fox returning fantasy drawings created high school inspiration intended prove produce family picture impact adult oriented films british illustrator comic book artist hired contribute backgrounds designs crew included comfortable limited lack pencil tests production costs increased fox president declined requests salary increases refused complete film time dealing similar budget problems wars lucas negotiated contracts franchise ownership merchandising end payment suggested fund completion films chose cost effective way complete movie battle scenes finances afford hire film crew actors develop stock requested prints films contained type large battle scenes needed including footage needed cost printing photographs frame cost million learning introduced industrial sized asked company technical experts able feed machine produce enlarged copies frame experiment worked got pages needed penny copy war neared completion lucas requested change title film avoid conflict star wars agreed lucas allowed time star wars record voice received limited release successful theaters showed developed worldwide audience chicago reader saw marred cut rate techniques screenplay view film historian lead character aging clearly owes cartoonist character film interesting moments particularly series illustrations marvel comic artist notable turning point necessarily positive film career late learned contracted direct adaptation lord rings volume novel condensed single film arranged meeting head production agreed let direct exchange million spent screenplay hall metro mayer president interrupted meeting learned wanted discuss acquiring rights lord rings agreed pay million soon fired project canceled replacement contacted wrote check cover mgm debt agreed fund million budget initially planned series films later negotiated production began insisted estate receive film want produce broad cartoon version tale planned shoot entire film live action footage film incorporated brief animation straightforward live action footage production live action sequences took place spain middle large shoot union bosses called lunch break secretly shot footage actors costumes moving craft service table footage film later wrote found animation beautiful felt unclear use live action artistic choice budgetary constraints spanish film development lab discovered telephone lines helicopters cars visible footage tried telling assistant director kind sloppy cinematography got hollywood come spain shoot returned united_states learned cost developing blown prints frame risen want repeat process unsuitable level detail intended lord rings camera technician created photographic process footage live action special effects analog place animation visual effects budget low film realistic look voice actors regarded performed role project high profile brought heavy trade journal coverage fans visited studio chance play role animator loved drawing gave bell live action costume wore viewing lord rings holiday film pressured complete schedule intended november release finished told audiences pay incomplete story objections lord rings marketed indication second follow reviews film mixed generally seen flawed inspired interpretation newsday wrote film principal reward visual experience unlike animated features moment roger_ebert called effort mixed blessing entirely respectable occasionally impressive job falls far short charm sweep original story found impressive new_york felt film sense viewers read book wrote dark lacked humor concluding meaningless violence movie left exhausted end film cost million produce grossed million studio refused fund sequel adapted remainder story lord rings won golden film festival american pop fire ice following production struggles lord rings decided work personal pitched president wanted produce film songs given new context visuals american pop follows generations russian jewish immigrant family musicians careers parallel history american pop starred actor dual lead role film reflect experiences themes strongly influenced people encountered film crew included character layout design artist attempt capture range emotions movement required film story according terrible tough facial performances match stage ones able acquire rights extensive soundtrack including songs doors million released february film financial success wrote amazed success turning animated characters figures real feelings called best films music clearance issues released home video fantasy films conan proven successful box office wanted work long time friend fantasy illustrator fire ice financed american pop investors million 20th century fox agreed distribute fire ice action oriented story directed realism design animation replicated artwork heavily involved production live action sequences casting sessions final shoot film crew included background artists layout artist established artists greatly admired work animated sequences working film given limited release financially unsuccessful wrote plot standard recalling graphic episode fire ice essentially stands films followed wake appearance conan projects temporary retirement production wrapped attempted projects fell including adaptations fear las_vegas fan man worm girl streets novels anthropomorphic depiction turned offers direct wicked way comes dream electric sheep passed adapted film period catcher read high school saw parallels situation book protagonist inspired seek film rights intended shoot story sequences live action core flashback scenes rejected previous offers adapt novel public appearance granted interview sent letter explaining allowed adapt novel writer responded asserting novel unfit medium original form prompted letter briefly retired focus painting time completed screenplay catch kill live action feature developing late 1960s paramount_pictures paid develop film 1970s unwilling produce studios pitched film 1980s according thought going admit women cheat husbands thought hot sense received phone manager told band recorded cover harlem shuffle wanted direct music video told live action shoot needed completed day january shown grammy awards production designer forced drastically compact sets animation director designer push team including complete animation weeks band arrival set delayed takes ruined cameras crossed paths forced pay union wages fees continuity animation live action footage match video completed time recognized talent wanted charge project showcase young animator skills wrote screenplay bobby girl teen films era president production develop project prompting los_angeles left forced pitch film studio new executives understand appeal cut financing began develop feature hollywood golden age worked proposed cartoons influenced pulp fiction bobby girl reworked potential prime time series called love attracted interest return television april set meeting head cbs saturday morning block days meeting met remembers car packed windows stop driving cross country new_york family price rejected prepared pitches asked told rights agreed purchase series rights know researching rights learned cbs acquired entire library forgotten according sold owned gave rights team wrote story outlines thirteen episodes week pitched price week hired animators knew working studios went production month scheduled premiere september required crew split teams led supervising director team given handful episodes operated entirely independently scripts required approval cbs executives insisted artists add visual gags drew artists worked series despite time constraints cbs pleased way addressed network notes production episode editor expressed concern sequence showing remains crushed flower resembled cocaine use initially view footage believed agreed let cut scene expressed disbelief cut insisting action harmless sequence restored following advice told restore scene approved network executives cbs standards practices department episode aired october controversy received distinguished contribution art animation year began production series pilot loosely adapted comic strips according proposed series going cartoon style gon soundtrack nickelodeon initially willing episodes june head alleged depicted cocaine use media incarnation previously targeted cbs murder mother killed daughter following airing concerning involvement claimed cbs intentionally hired known cartoon children allowed insert scene cartoon hero shown cocaine responded pick lady impression cat wasn pornography social commentary burning books going cbs order removed sequence master broadcast footage claimed edits facto admission cocaine despite receiving award favorable reviews ranking time magazine best feature canceled cbs following controversy incident effect weakening nickelodeon commitment stated trying different series didn sense didn work series scrapped completed pilot aired special christmas december original animated special created nickelodeon moved warehouse downtown los_angeles clear head offered direct half hour live action film pbs imagining america anthology series produced film ain professional collaboration father wrote poem influenced jazz served narration spoken car crash completed post production casts said work proud picture real thing total integrity result film received offer adapt butter battle book tnt satisfied previous screen versions work wanted produce entirely faithful adaptation agreed storyboard special pleased final product directed pilot town nbc described result embarrassing piece shit return film continued television projects retirement pitched cool world paramount_pictures partially animated horror film concept involved cartoon human having sex hybrid child visits real world murder father abandoned live action footage intended look like living walk painting visual concept long wanted achieve massive sets constructed sound stage las_vegas based designer paintings animation strongly influenced house styles sets built producer son paramount president screenplay rewritten secret new version radically different original paramount threatened sue complete film creative differences studio began fight film casting actor replace original choice character bigger box office draw time film animators given screenplay instead told scene funny want designer recalled audiences actually wanted premiere audience saw certainly critical reaction film generally negative roger_ebert wrote hosting radio station free preview stage promised audience liked love cool world wrong blame hadn seen movie promise liked quit ahead film box office disappointment film projects followed began focus attention painting son approached write direct low budget live action feature showtime series time revisited screenplay catch kill retitled cool crazy picture aired september starred noted visual sense animated films said cool exist shoots odd angles director closing sequences demonstrate possible present strong violence blood shed onscreen pulls strong performances largely unknown actors producer offered chance create animated short films cartoon calls focusing trumpet playing named best friend clown named heavily edited turned result subsequently contacted hbo looking launch animated series specifically adults interest stirred discussions involving series based video christmas card jesus santa enlisted team writers including son preston develop later renamed anthology series set noir technology driven future episode narrated female host named raven voiced series premiered july month debut parker stone south_park adults cartoon series critical reaction largely unfavorable received acceptable ratings second season approved network wanted fire writing team hire professional los_angeles refused cooperate series canceled painting teaching new animation projects retired animation returning painting began teaching undergraduate animation class new_york december paintings film later involved screen projects including development deal september liz dogs moved new_mexico productive painting began development days film appeared fire chief episode fire dogs cartoon september announced collaborate sequel began producing short film series shorts contains reused animation criticizes republican presidential candidate shorts focus old new characters comment modern day america days present february launched successful campaign obtain funding latest film days actor cast film february longtime fan came film campaign online released legacy received tribute award san film festival year began teaching class new_mexico run son edward partner availability work internet sparked resurgence interest career resulting day retrospective held egyptian theatre hollywood california april complete hardcover book art released april foreword written released list animated features time march included films cat lord rings fire ice cat ranked number poll conducted britain channel_4 documentary greatest cartoons added films collection preservation attending april screened ain cool news head writer wrote american pop favorite film commented showed inspired interview hollywood reporter animated movie saying happened world sitting talking family entertainment animation family entertainment audiences want new articulate january hollywood special screening film american pop actors attendance time lead actor introduced film live audience california march screening american pop attending filmography films television selected episodes provided voices episode sex drive episode hands iii provided voice super hero animated conjunction voice fire chief episode fire dogs
Ralph Bakshi