Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Ralph Bakshi

Role / Field:

Pioneering American animator known for adult-oriented, fantastical independent films.

Born:

1938-10-29

Century / Era:

1938s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Ralph Bakshi (born October 29, 1938) is an American animator and filmmaker, known for his fantastical animated films. In the 1970s, he established an alternative to mainstream animation through independent and adult-oriented productions. Between 1972 and 1994, he directed nine theatrically released feature films, predominantly urban dramas and fantasy films, five of which he wrote. He has also been involved in numerous television projects as director, writer, producer and animator.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Beginning his career at the Terrytoons television cartoon studio as a cel polisher, Bakshi was eventually promoted to animator and then director. He moved to the animation division of Paramount Pictures in 1967 and started his own studio, Bakshi Productions, in 1968. Through producer Steve Krantz, Bakshi made his debut feature film, Fritz the Cat, released in 1972. It was based on the comic strip by Robert Crumb, was the first animated film to receive an X rating from the Motion Picture Association of America, and remains the most successful independent animated feature of all time. Over the next 11 years, Bakshi directed seven additional animated features.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He is well known for such films as Wizards (1977...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahn Chang Ho — Contemporary (Died in 1938) (1938): Pioneering Korean independence activist and leader of the Korean-American community.
• Alan Bond — Contemporary (Born in 1938) (1938): Australian businessman known for high-profile dealings, the America's Cup, and founding Bond University.
• Alan Dershowitz — Contemporary (Born in 1938) (1938): Prominent American lawyer and constitutional law scholar known for high-profile defense work.
• A. J. Ayer — Shared historical date (10-29 · Born) (1910): Influential English philosopher known for logical positivism and emotivism.
• Andrei Tupolev — Shared historical date (10-29 · Born) (1888): Pioneering Soviet aerospace engineer, renowned for designing over 100 aircraft types.
• Albert Fert — Historical peer (Born in 1938) (1938): Pioneering physicist known for the discovery of giant magnetoresistance.
• Aleksandr I. Kuprin — Historical peer (Died in 1938) (1938): Esteemed Russian author known for novels like The Duel and Yama: The Pit.
• Abraham Joshua Heschel — Historical peer (Died in 1972) (1972): Leading 20th-century American rabbi, theologian, and philosopher.
• Alec Empire — Historical peer (Born in 1972) (1972): German experimental electronic musician, founder of Atari Teenage Riot and digital hardcore.
• Ahmed Ali (writer) — Historical peer (Died in 1994) (1994): Pioneering Urdu writer, poet, and diplomat from British India to Pakistan.
• 1938 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1938
• October 29 (10-29) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 29

Frequently Asked Questions about Ralph Bakshi