Ralph Bakshi: Surviving In Tough Times

Legendary animation director, Ralph Bakshi discusses how he survived the collapse of theatrical animation and offers tips to current animators for how to succeed in the cartoon business. ( Animation Resources / www.animationresources.org / San Diego Comic-Con 2008 )

[@RubberRoss]

Some of the most inspiring shit I've ever seen. Thanks for that.

[@blat9024]

12 years later and you're playing video games for a living lmao how'd that turn out for you

[@destroyernoah]

@@blat9024 take it easy Blat

[@Shim267]

I'm not even an animator and I found this inspiring. Every artist be it music, visual, story writers should watch this video.

[@romeomoon7727]

I love this guy! My parents are always on my case about having an art degree and not having an art job. They don't realize I just wanna do my own thing. Screw not being paid six figures to do it. I'd rather starve and be free than sell my soul to a company. I've met too many graphic designers who've regretted that decision.

[@1947Desoto]

I fully agree with Ralph Bakshi about the current studios. I love the classic Disney cartoons from the 1920's to the 1960's but I never wanted to be an animator at Disney. When I was 12 I dreamed of my own series on Cartoon Network, but this was back in 2002 when the good cartoons were still on. With what's currently happening at CN I would never want to work for them. Nickelodeon too. I'm an animation student at SVA and I find this video very inspiring.

[@gemreivews]

This is the video that got me into making flash cartoons. I found out that superjail is all being done on flash, in some rented out office with a few people. Its true, we all can get into our own little groups, slap a stupid company name and just work for ourselves. My animation is complete shite. But i'm doing it, Ralph

[@RonColeArt]

Incredible words from a mastermind! I couldn't agree more with every point he made here and have given speeches much like this myself in an attempt to get people to see what opportunity there is today for animators with real talent. I'm in a different field of animation - stop motion animation, but the lesson he Mr. Bakshi shouts out here cuts across the whole industry for independent film... very inspiring1

[@TheSubwaysurfer]

LOVE how Ralph BLASTS the artists in the audience saying I'VE GOT NO RESPECT FOR YOU!!" This film should be required viewing for any animator, illustrator cartoonist,caricature artist, WHATEVER. Calling for artists to take their careers into their OWN HANDS and sue the technology available. It seems a no trainer what he's saying and yet so many dont DO THIS. And THEN have the never to criticize HIS work.

[@shakeemwinn3647]

Thanks Stephen. Been watching this video for years. Didn't realize that you were the owner. This video inspired me more than any other. Thanks 👍 Ralph. I finally developed the necessary skills to make a film that reflects me. I still have a little ways to go but, I'm getting there. Never cared about the being rich part but, the independence of expressing yourself as you see fit regardless of what anyone thinks. To be authentic without fear. I will take that philosophy to the grave.

[@StephenWorth]

thanks!

[@jimmiejackson8489]

Bakshi going HAM!!!!

[@balrog13571]

CGI is something to be reserved for video games 9.5/10 of the time. Bring back puppets, stop-motion, and handrawn animation or in bakshi's case rotoscoping. Those are much better. After all the contributions they made they deserve to have a happy life at least if they can't work.

[@prettynoose8497]

I can't stand listening to the way Ralph speaks; but there is no denying his talent and genius!!!!

[@adesyndicate]

+Kim Cornell What are you talking about? He sounds delightfully Jewish.

[@adesyndicate]

***** Just make sure it's not too hot in here or else it will set off his asthma OH I NEED MY INHALER I love that character.

[@gatheringleaves]

This guy is an inspiration for me He dared to go farther at a time when Disney was king and look where he is today. I'm an aspiring animator also but I haven't started a student film yet because I can't think of a really good idea and plus I want to improve my drawing first

[@mittROMNEY666]

@WallyWadeMovies yeah, but the thing that talented people like mr bakshi tend to forget is that not everyone has their creativity. the reason people dont strike out like he did is not because theyre cowards - its because they honestly dont have any original ideas.

[@moeljayer]

Too bad that there isnt a recording of the full panel discussion online...

[@mobile513]

It really is a non-issue to me though. As long as people can keep making these things, and I can keep seeing them, I'm happy. In recent years we've seen FLCL, Samurai Champloo, The Incrediles, Wall-E, Spirited Away, Triplets of Belleville, Persepolis, the surprising stamina of South Park, Sealab 2021, and grand champion of awesome Brad Neely. Life's pretty good for animation. I wish I could see more of it on the big screen, but it's far from dead and the internet is already coming through.

[@siskavard]

Great advice, still relevant

[@buttondiet]

Brilliant words from a brilliant mind.

[@Khultan]

That's why Elfquest creators, Wendy and Richard Pini, been SCREWED for decades--they waited and waited around, they should have looked around for talented animators not established.

[@NoNamesOnMe]

This video is life changing. Favorited.

[@BikiniDeathSquad]

This guy made Fire and Ice AND Coolworld!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy Fuck why am I just discovering this guy? He's a legeng to me as of now!

[@Reanimator999]

Good question. When he said 40 feet, he meant 40 feet length of a film for animation. American studios used length of the film to pay animators. 40 feet of film is about 26 seconds.

[@veriteo]

Ralph is incredible great guy he is an inspiration

[@WinterFuknMute665]

another good way for someone to put there own indie animation out there and get payed for it is to put it on iTunes, or on youtube with adds attached. Another good way would be to create your own web page (or word press/ blogger) and try to make money off of the advertising on the site. Focus your animation or web comics toward a niche and reach out to those niche groups through social networks.

[@TheNeocatZone]

While I strongly believe in the 'different strokes for different blokes' philosophy and that personal taste shouldn't have to be accounted for, Bakshi still makes a great and undeniable point. Love or hate whatever you want, but too much of something stagnates the mind and when you got an industry that insists that it stay that way, it also then stifles talent and creativity. So it's okay to like Disney, but too much is too much.

[@warriors6411]

Very relevant today

[@LobsterCharlie]

I think his argument is that if you've got something to say, a clever spin on things, or you're just funny, the execution isn't nearly as important as is having all of the tools available in *one box*, that box being a computer. In the old days, they had to pencil test on video tape, do actual cels, shoot it on film, get the film developed, sync the audio on an acmade. Lame stuff. I went to college before the computer boom really hit, and we were doing stuff on reel-to-reels and oxberrys. :(

[@danpaladin_lovesyou]

What a solid lad

[@TrentCoffinanimator]

@OriginalGagBonkers YOU ARE A GENIUS.

[@Khultan]

@94animationkid I got what you said. What country are you from? Any animation studios there that is making a name for itself?

[@MrRossT1]

LOVE THIS! LOVE THIS! :D

[@Khultan]

@94animationkid Plus, I don't see American animation as the leader and it shouldn't be, other countries. I'm beginning to see, are contributing their own in this medium and I gladly, with great relief, welcome this.

[@inkswithbrush]

Man... He's Right.

[@illharmonic]

amen!

[@Spheremaster0001]

Well, Walt Disney as a young man was a fine artist, not the worlds greatest but a fine one, He even went to art school, when they got into being a bigger studio, walt quit drawing altogether, so as the years went by he became less of an actual artist and more of someone with an imagination.

[@Reanimator999]

I may made a wrong comment. What I heard from an industry insider is that Avatar is going to get termination due to high budget and unintended audience. I haven't watched TV lately so I can't say more. Right now, Generation X is making high budget films from 80's animations which considered crap by Baby Boomer Generation. History repeats again.

[@Khultan]

@94animationkid I really hope for the best for you and that you contribute someday soon, I would like to know of your work when this happens. I think the opportunity is there to do something quite entirely different from the way it has been going, Ralphy proved it, but more mavericks need to DO IT, not talk or gripe, they need to work together and do it, otherwise, it'll be the same situation: complain, gripe, morose attitudes.

[@Khultan]

@94animationkid Well, you got to be fair, if you weren't there in that era then it's speaking after the fact, the movie must've caused some kind of controversy back then , it had to. The point is, he rejected the standard routine of American business as usual psyche while everyone else in America was pussyfooting.

[@Atheneastro]

@94animationkid I agree with you. His movies aren't exactly the masterpieces everyone makes them out to be. But a couple of them look really cool. The Lord of the Rings one... the animation's good but a bit overdone. The characters can't keep still for a minute.

[@shapevader9311]

Yeah hard out bro, i'm gonna do it

[@Khultan]

@94animationkid 15 hours ago,

[@yelloweyeball]

Everyone criticized the quality of bakshi's films, but he succeeded in doing what a lot of independent filmmakers starting out are bad at. FINISHING STUFF. Sure, he wasn't able to finish last days of coney island, but he was able to make a large number of independent animated films throughout his Carrier, regardless of quality. Dont spend thirty years making a high quality animated film with the risk of it being a failure as a finished product. A living dog is better than a dead lion.

[@HawaiiKnut]

Disney is to animation as Google is to the internet. They've grown too big for their own good.

[@raffvids]

+HawaiiKnut "Don't look evil."

[@fenrir-art4742]

one of the companies killed more people and blacklisted people who were trying to do better

[@Khultan]

I absolutely agree with you. Nelvana Studios was a contender with their own aesthetics, as you can see from their works all throughout the 1970s leading up to RocknRule which, unfortunately, proved to be their Waterloo, they couldn't stand together, like say, Gainax Studios, who started out as scifi fans.

[@HawaiiKnut]

I have Rock and Rule on DVD. Trippy, but cool. Anyone want a beer?

[@HawaiiKnut]

That's the trouble with such unconventional films. Sometimes they're big hits, and other time they bomb, even if they're not bad.

[@PunchiesManifesto]

"But you guys are sitting around crying and I got no respect for you" I love how STREET the guy is.

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

Nothing to it but to do it. I love Disney's films and have learned a lot from them, but I've never had any interest whatsoever in animating characters that someone else has made.

[@Khultan]

Exactly! !!

[@illusionsdelusions7552]

Amen

[@MuonRay]

Ralph Bakshi is one of the most unique animators, he was way ahead of his time - taking existing technology such as stroboscopic and rotoscoping effects and innovating animation so that he could bring out full length feature cartoons at only a fraction of the cost. He would have flourished at Flash animation if he was born a few decades later would probably have dominated it. John Kricfalusi is another such innovator, having been one of the first people to take Flash animation seriously and having a distinct style to all of his animations.

[@velociraptor4you3291]

Well said about Ralph AND John! :)

[@MrParkerman6]

He would never use flash cuz he isn't that lame.

[@susususu6778]

@@MrParkerman6 I guess Masaaki Yuasa is lame then.

[@nannmaa1266]

MrParkerman6 he said in an interview he would

[@DijaVlogsGames]

Listening to him always makes me pace up and down my room, thinking about how I'm wasting my life and what I can do next.

[@Rolandzebub]

"Lethargic, uninspired, terrified . . ." This guy could be my biographer.

[@TheoryStudios]

This video inspired us start an animation studio. Thank you!

[@glipk]

That's great man. Best of luck

[@danpaladin_lovesyou]

Update us!

[@TheoryStudios]

@@danpaladin_lovesyou OH MY GOD IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS. A lot has happened! This is David replying, the co-owner of Theory. It took about 2-3 years of making KZbin short films and reaching out to everyone I could find before the studio landed it's first gig. To be clear: no money making in this period (we were late to the YT animation ad revenue train). But that's ok, because with enough outreach and pounding the pavement we landed the first gigs! Fast paced commercials, terrible music videos, a lot of things we'd never put on a demo reel haha. Around the 3-4 year mark we hooked up with an incredible young company, BarnstormVFX, in the TV VFX world and began a journey together working on photo-real CGI animation. Very different from our cartoony animation background but we loved every bit of it. We got very lucky and snagged two Visual Effects Society nominations AND an Emmy nomination! Very proud moments :) We decided TV VFX wasn't for us, we missed the cartoonier aspect of things. This led to collaborating with Disney Imagineering on a themepark animation (sadly the project was killed, but it was awesome!), Chuck E Cheese (kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJ7MmIyJhrKneKs), a company that wanted to make kids healthy eating cartoons & apps (kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHizaJ6lZt95q80) and even Sesame Street (kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJ3NnYd8gb1snZI). It's interesting, COVID19 unfortunately met we had to downsize (at peek we had 15 employees), but we're still moving forward! We just started a game company making a VR cartoony shooter: www.bravelunch.com/blobkin-blaster *whew* Lessons if anyone else wants to start a studio: • Read business and marketing books! It's important, SUPER important (E-Myth, Made to Stick, 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing come to mind) • Read leadership and management books! Helpful for working in teams (How to Win Friends and Influence People, Principles of Life and Work) • Conferences, cold-emails, and being generally friendly in front of people are how we won all of our work • Don't trade "good enough" in for money. Find a way to trade "GREAT!" in for money and some prestige if you can do it, as each one raises your bar and your caliber among competition. • It's ok to fail, and to make mistakes, and to hit walls. Books and video lectures are no substitute for hard knock life lessons that stick with you forever. Get up and tell yourself tomorrow is a new day • Learn accounting and know what cash flow is. Always have enough money to pay your people, or be up front as soon as possible so your team knows what is going on (we've had client go bankrupt or stiff us for money, ouch!) • Just keep swimming. A mantra I use til this day even among the COVID-19 chaos. Animation has changed so much in the years since Ralph made his comments. I even got to interview him on the phone and have some great conversations, he's got an incredible mind. It's funny how his thoughts years ago are shaping animation to this day. Heck, almost every studio I know out there is now working out of a box, remotely! So it's definitely possible. I recently read Bob Iger's (former Disney CEO) book on business, it's incredible, especially the last chapter. One of my favorite lines resonates so much, and I think will be a good piece of advice to end on (for now!): If it doesn't look right to you, it most likely isn't right FOR you. Thank you for asking :)

[@kyleshiflet7932]

I love Ralph bakshi he doesn't care what studios think of his works

[@CapraCorn2006]

This is a super talk. Should be required viewing for all animators and students of animation. I haven't always agreed with Ralph's own artistic choices , but the guy is the real thing. He's followed his own way and he is a legend. Everything he says about how computer software has actually made it possible for independent animation to be financially viable nowadays is TRUE. Instead of sitting around crying about "the industry" animators should recreate the industry in their own image.

[@TheSubwaysurfer]

I love Ralph. He's like your dad telling you to stop crying and get to work....right after he smacks you. Love it also how he calls all the yuppies out indirectly. Ralph is a dying breed of a working class guy who's willing to believe in himself.

[@LobsterCharlie]

This guy is my hero. Thank you SO much for posting this. He's saying a lot of things I've been saying to my fellow animators all these years, and I can admit I'm guilty of not getting off my ass and doing my own thing. I'm passing this around to every animator I know.

[@Xan0789VA]

Bakshi makes a very valuable point to anyone into animation, film and any other video art. I mean, I really enjoy Disney, but hey... you want to reach high peaks in film? What's stopping you? Gather some friends, toss around some creative ideas, get animators, proper editing software, and distribute it to companies, or sell it on eBay. Ralph Bakshi, you are such an inspiration to society, sadly his studio is closed, from what I recently heard.

[@johnmanning6587]

It's a FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMILY picture!!!!!!!!!!

[@MrParkerman6]

You lazy asshole!!!!

[@SKAR030]

i like how he is 100% no bullshit hes like dude stop crying just do it

[@garfoonga1]

He was wrong though. Now days you can be independent and spend ten years making a masterpiece, and if youre not connected to hollywood or not doing things in a textbook way, youre never getting picked up. Thats why he prefaces with being a corny guy. His idea is charming and sounds right, but it doesn't reflect the reality, which is why he talks about disney being shit.

[@SKAR030]

@@garfoonga1 you're kind of right, something that i have seen in this years is that you need connections with people to get into hollywood, but at the same time theres people making independant cartoon like spaceking and smiling friends or indie animators opening patreons getting a lot of success with their projects, of course you can make a masterpiece and noone will know...unless you do ads, i still agree with you at some degree but in all these year i notice that you dont need hollywood to make it big exactly but if you want to make it into hollywood you may need connecttions or huge popularity with people on the internet like smling friends.

[@xevious2501]

Personally i really hear Bakshi's words. Im sick and tired of doing work for clients. Yes been a means of paying bills but i didnt start animating on my own then several years of school to waist my talent and energy hashing out people crack pipe ideas. People that dont even take the time of day to properly flesh out there idea's, or find myself often Fleshing out the clients ideas because the agency was too lazy to do there end of the work.

[@captainbeastazoid7084]

Love this man. Love the DIY yourself attitude. He's right. If you're an artist. Make art. Don't sit around waiting for big opportunity. Just go do it.

[@WintersWar]

surprised Don Bluth wasn't cited here. he was no fan of the Disney mold.

[@MrParkerman6]

Don Bluth worked for Disney, dumbass.

[@RyanBarrett80]

More people need to watch this video.

[@Khultan]

Leave the 'establishment ', i.e. Disney Studios, and start forming a coalition of united animators and artists.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

The same applies to those making live action film. You don't need major movie studio to make a film anymore.

[@MronoC]

@Panzeux No, when Bakshi was doing his rotoscoping stuff, the industry was already ruined thanks to Filmation and the decline of Hanna-Barbera. He certainly did not mess up the industry, but he did play a large part in making it great again for a short period in the '90s when he produced Mighty Mouse, and gave John K the jump start that would allow him to open the door for other creative cartoonists with vision who actually had a passion for the medium. So show some damn respect.

[@rigomortisfxstudios]

pixar and Disney bullshit !!!!!!!! made today ols school disney was better

[@yelloweyeball]

"we are the strange" was a perfect example of what bakshi was talking about. made with 20,000 dollars but it still was cool.

[@toprightchannel3080]

I needed that so much right now. Thanks Ralph-super inspirational stuff.

[@quaife]

I was in the audience that day! This talk by Bakshi is historic. One for the ages. Thanks for posting it here Stephen!

[@steampunker7]

Someday I hope Ralph is formally recognized for the passion, creative and absolutely fearless artist he really is. Say what you want about his work, and indeed much can be said both positive and negative, he always approached the medium of animation from the perspective of not what it should do, but rather what it can do. His storytelling, though indeed sometimes crass and uncomfortable, none the less carries an honesty and forwardness that at first seems simple and shallow but quickly reveals layers upon layers of nuance and subtly. His characters are rarely outright heroes or straight villains, but rather just people. Complex, complicated, contradictory, and for lack of a better term, real. Every one one of his works shows a world through his eyes and while the view is rarely flattering, it's also rarely as untrue as we'd like to tell ourselves. It gets diluted sometimes in this age where "adult animation" is now more common and accepted and so many ape the surface details of what he did without understand what was under or behind it. "Shocking" for the sake of shock as it were. But while contemporaries of his that attempted similar things have faded to obscurity as cult curiosities (Rock and Rule, Dirty Duck) or require some level of nostalgia blinders to forgive them not aging particularly well (Heavy Metal, Starchaser), and imitators may keep trying copy the style and look while missing the intent, seeing a Bakshi film is like finding a time capsule or hidden treasure. Whatever it is it will fascinate you, draw and capture your attention, leaving you wondering what the hell you just saw but unable to stop thinking about it. And it's hard not to at least respect an artist like that.

[@HawaiiKnut]

While I still like old-school Disney, there's no denying in what corporate monster they have turned into. Just look what they did to Star Wars.

[@monkeybash3000]

I use to hate those Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote cartoon: They were so boring and they did the same damn thing over and over again.

[@StudioP4VA]

This is truthful, inspiring, encouraging and timeless.

[@TheSubwaysurfer]

Lethargic...uninspired...terrified.....does that answer your question? Yep. It sure does. I direct all my students to this broadcast.

[@PissoPuyo]

Preach Ralph, PREACH! Whenever I mention perusing animation to my family, I always get spat in the face. My father feels inclined to ask me on a daily basis what career I'm specifically trying to pursue. EVERY time, I say "Animation". Then he goes a "starving artist" rant, because all he can ever seem to picture is me being a hobo-istic beatnick with dark glasses and a beret. I just don't see why it's so hard to understand. It's all about jobs and money, and never the work I make.

[@SexuaLobster]

YES

[@tylerdamelondragon]

SexuaLobster sup man i love you're cartoons

[@borediideath6526]

I always looked up to the likes of Walt Disney, believing that if you follow literally every direction he did, you’d get a chance at finding your own success. But after learning about Bakshi and this very inspiring video, I think I’ve found a new role model when it comes to entertainment.

[@RobochaoXX]

This has a message to inspire all cartoonists. We have these machines that can make cartoons without killing the land and if you have ideas you can learn to animate by yourself and do movies with your buddies! DO IT! Don't be jerked around by conglomerates, If you have an idea, do it yourself.

[@xevious2501]

Absolutely agree, As animators we all (or most of us) did start because of the Love of animation Not particularily because we wanted to work at a particular studio. We did it for Fun , a hobby that eventually turned into a career. Schools opened a much larger door for the possibility of working at a studio but Much of our original goals were to create our own films. OUR own films not mearly doing the work for others.

[@togio100]

and when that time passed, so did the interest in those great films. That, and none of his pictures, with the exception of Fritz the Cat and (arguably) Wizards was financially successful. There's a reason they call it the film industry. And if your projects keep wasting money, then you're not going to be looked well upon by the big bosses who hold the purse strings. Keep in mind, Ralph Bakshi punched Frank Manusco Jr. during the filming of Cool World. he's pissed of money men more ways that 1.

[@ryanbannerman2830]

R.I.P pencils

[@TheSubwaysurfer]

If Ralph was at a meeting today with the technology we have he would be unstoppable

[@puppetmaster1011]

@RanDOOMP Sorry about that. I was too focused on innovation and that Bakshi did mention that he wanted to try to make the story better not caring if the animation is good or bad. Anime does fall into that criteria. Americans don't innovate. As what he said in the beginning, they were saving what has been done many times before in the past and not thinking about what they are doing. My point is, people making animated films need to stop being restricted by others and do what will win viewers

[@Da1Dez]

This guy deserves way more attention and respect!!!! What he's saying isn’t just the case for the animation industry, but the same for all industries. More people need to come together and beat the system that's shutting you out and has little respect for you even if you get in!

[@blackbishop37]

I saw this video about a year ago. I've probably watched it over 100 times since then. I started a business earlier this year, and I'm trying to get it going while working full time. It's hard work, but it has always been hard to live up to your potential. I don't work in animation, or know much about the business, but you don't have to to be motivated by this. Thanks Ralph.

[@djtazzyjeff]

I have to admit, Bakshi inspires me, I had given up my dream to create my own comic because i didn't have the money and resources that Marvel and DC said I need. Screw them, "where's my sketchbook?"

[@eldersmit]

he is 100% right as a cartoonist myself I have a computer which saves me alot of time but If you have a team of people. there no stopping you... you may never be as big as Disney,Pixar but your impact will still be huge force.

[@Cokenutz]

still great.

[@soupforare]

I wouldn't say it's a superiority complex. He sounds more like an uncle who is frustrated with lazy youth and is trying to light a fire under some ass. He's not wrong.

[@TheNatkidd]

Man I hate how modern animation today is meh. You get these story book adaption's that are pure pure shit. Especially when they try to be fucking hip with kid's. That is one thing I despise the most about them. Because it fucking kill's it. And the animated show's are really terrible when it come to flash animation. I mean I really hate Canada's animated show's these day's. Bad plot, bad character's, bad animation, bad humor UGH!!! CN never do this crap again!! I hate Johnny Test!! Oh man.....

[@hectormanuel8360]

This video aged like fine wine.

[@tilldain5]

I was so glad to see this clip, since I was about six ralph was an inspiration (yeah I know). I always wanted to be the next guy to carry on what Ralph had done and inspired so many people that see's what art really is...expression. My hat off to you Ralph, your the man. And thanks for posting this .

[@762x51n8o]

@ultrasynthetic I'm going to ignore your incessant psycho-babble -- out of that whole blurb there was only one sentence that was a counter-point to my statement. Disney is not "all there is." Dreamworks and there are a couple of other studios that offer kids movies, but they are worthy of forgetting -- they are hit or miss. Which is why Disney has emerged as the best. But you're only talking movies. Animation is also in TV shows, and there's a lot of good stuff. PBS KIDS, Nick Jr, etc.

[@762x51n8o]

I agree with some of what he says, but some of it just sounds like bitter crying. Maybe from an artist's standpoint Disney sucks, but from the consumer's standpoint, Disney is the best there is. No one make movies as entertaining. It takes special magic to make a movie that will entertain a 2 year old, a 99 year old, and everyone in between. If Disney was crap, they wouldn't be around.

[@bloodrunsclear]

@Consumerofknowledge I have several ideas actually. I'm not a good hand with animation unfortunately but I'm a fairly good writer and editor. You can see some of my ideas on my KZbin page, but I have all my story concepts on my deviantart page under Jarred Spekter. Are you similarly interested in a collaboration of some nature? :)

[@blackbishop37]

I have no idea who this guy is, nor do I have any interest in animation, but this speech applies to almost any industry these days. Complete genius. It's an instant kick in the ass. "It's not crumbling, YOU'RE crumbling!"

[@mbera11]

@illuminatioracle what you said is extremely hilarious because that's exactly what she was doing, fronting bands doing shitty led zeppelin covers in bars in the west village, then she remembered she was born rich into one of the most wealthy families new york and focused entirely on spectacle after that

[@DanielLiljar]

This is all well and good except that the public expects a lot more from the animation industry now adays, besides its not just enough to be a good animator , like in the old days (bill plympton). You also need to know all the software.. you might have an A-grade package for rigging, skinning, texturing, lighting and so on, but unless you know how to work the package and do storytelling, screenwriting an all these other things. you cant do shit with it.. I live in a small town, there are nobody to team up with.. ppl have to eat to. even so called crap food is expensive here. Besides making a great animation or computer game there is no such grantee that you will make money. its an over-saturated market. btw. bill plympton whould not last a day in my country he would have starved to death in a week.

[@togio100]

it's good that Ralph has faith in his ideas about making gritty, adult animated films, but with the exception of Fritz the Cat and a few others, they never had as much audience appeal or made a lot of profit. That's why they're more or less dead, at least in the mainstream sense. Disney and Dreamworks are going strong because they've more or less stuck to a formula that gets kids and parents into theaters seats, brings them cash, and (for a few a t least) draws critical praise.

[@narayanasupramati1394]

Cool World and Lord of the Rings animations need a remake of his style and vision. Mostly Cool World which was shredded by the producers.

[@SagooBoy]

he's a wonderful man.

[@ErichoTTA]

We need more guys in animation like this.

[@nuke97]

Ralph Bakshi throws it in you face "DO something about it!"-that is all that needs to be said.

[@soychidoese]

one good piece that follows Bakshi's example is Makoto Shinkai's Voices of a Distant Star... HE ANIMATED THE WHOLE THING BY HIMSELF and with only help from his wife as voice actress, it was a sucess i hope to follow his example indeed

[@51lodb]

Hi Ralph! I don't know if you'll ever see this comment, but I love you. Damn, you're right! Thanks for inspiring me again. Right on the money. This is probably the most exciting time for animation because of the software available to us now. I've been using the Wacom Cintiq to do storyboard work, and I'm amazed at the possibilities independent artists could excercise.I'm glad to see you're still doing animation. Thanks for giving me my start in the industry.