Ralph Bakshi
Biography
Ralph Bakshi, born October 29, 1938, in Haifa, Mandatory Palestine, is an animator and filmmaker known for his work in directing. In the 1970s, he established an alternative to mainstream animation via independent and adult-oriented productions. Between 1972 and 1992, he directed nine theatrically released feature films, writing five of them. He began his career at the Terrytoons television cartoon studio as a cel polisher before being promoted to director. In 1967, he moved to the animation division of Paramount Pictures and subsequently started his own studio, Bakshi Productions, in 1968 through producer Steve Krantz. His career also includes involvement in numerous television projects as a director, writer, producer, and animator, including the 1994 live-action film Cool and the Crazy and the 1997 anthology series Spicy City.
Career overview
Ralph Bakshi was born on October 29, 1938, in Haifa, Mandatory Palestine, and is a Palestinian-born American animator and filmmaker. In the 1970s, he established an alternative to mainstream animation through independent and adult-oriented productions. Between 1972 and 1992, he directed nine theatrically released feature films, writing five of them. Over his career, he has been involved in numerous television projects as a director, writer, producer, and animator.
Bakshi began his career at the Terrytoons television cartoon studio as a cel polisher and was eventually promoted to director. He subsequently moved to the animation division of Paramount Pictures in 1967 and started his own studio, Bakshi Productions, in 1968, working through producer Steve Krantz. His work includes mixing animation and live-action elements, with visual separation in films such as Heavy Traffic, and featuring Brad Pitt as a real actor interacting within an animated setting in the 1992 film Cool World.
Later in his career, Bakshi returned to television projects, including the live-action film Cool and the Crazy in 1994 and the anthology series Spicy City in 1997. He is also known for his involvement with American Pop, What a Cartoon Show, and American Playhouse.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Ralph Bakshi.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
144 titles- Midwest (2023)
- Midwest (2023) Director
- Midwest (2023) Writer
- Last Days of Coney Island (2015) Director
- Last Days of Coney Island (2015) Writer
- Last Days of Coney Island (2015) Producer
- Trickle Dickle Down (2012) Director
- Trickle Dickle Down (2012) Writer
- Trickle Dickle Down (2012) Producer
- Adventures in Plymptoons! (2011) as Self
- Breaking the Mold: The Re-Making of Mighty Mouse (2010) as Self
- Forging Through the Darkness: The Ralph Bakshi Vision for 'The Lord of the Rings' (2010) as Himself
- Forging Through the Darkness: The Ralph Bakshi Vision for 'The Lord of the Rings' (2010) Thanks
- Ren & Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon (2003) as Ralph Bakshi (voice)
- Ren & Stimpy: The Lost Episodes (2003) as Ralph Bakshi (voice)
- Frazetta: Painting with Fire (2003) as Self
- Spicy City (1997) as Connelly / Goldblum (voice)
- Spicy City (1997) as Stevie (voice)
- Spicy City (1997) Director
- Spicy City (1997) Producer
- Spicy City (1997) Production Assistant
- Spicy City (1997) Character Designer
- Spicy City (1997) Creator
- Malcom and Melvin (1997) as Super Hero
- Malcom and Melvin (1997) Director
- Malcom and Melvin (1997) Writer
- Babe, He Calls Me (1997) as Super Hero
- Babe, He Calls Me (1997) Animation
- Babe, He Calls Me (1997) Director
- Babe, He Calls Me (1997) Writer
- What a Cartoon! (1995) Writer
- What a Cartoon! (1995) Director
- What a Cartoon! (1995) Animation
- Rebel Highway (1994) Director
- Rebel Highway (1994) Writer
- Cool and the Crazy (1994) Writer
- Cool and the Crazy (1994) Director
- Cool World (1992) Director
- The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991) Storyboard Artist
- Hound Town (1989) Director
- Reflections of A Native Son (1989) Writer
- This Ain't Bebop (1989) Director
- This Ain't Bebop (1989) Writer
- The Butter Battle Book (1989) Director
- The Butter Battle Book (1989) Producer
- Tribe (1989) Writer
- Get Your Kicks on Route 66 (1989) Writer
- Imagining America (1989) Director
- Christmas in Tattertown (1988) Director
- Christmas in Tattertown (1988) Characters
- Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures (1987) Creator
- Cannonball Run II (1984) Animation
- Fire and Ice (1983) Producer
- Fire and Ice (1983) Director
- Fire and Ice (1983) Characters
- American Playhouse (1982) Writer
- American Playhouse (1982) Director
- Hey Good Lookin' (1982) Producer
- Hey Good Lookin' (1982) Director
- Hey Good Lookin' (1982) Writer
- American Pop (1981) as Piano Player (voice)
- American Pop (1981) Director
- American Pop (1981) Producer
- The Cigarette and the Weed (1981) as Cigarette / Weed (voice)
- The Cigarette and the Weed (1981) Writer
- The Cigarette and the Weed (1981) Director
- The Cigarette and the Weed (1981) Animation
- The Lord of the Rings (1978) Director
- Wizards (1977) as Storm Trooper (voice, uncredited)
- Wizards (1977) as Fritz (voice, uncredited)
- Wizards (1977) Director
- Wizards (1977) Writer
- Wizards (1977) Producer
- Coonskin (1975) as Cop With Megaphone (voice) (uncredited)
- Coonskin (1975) Director
- Coonskin (1975) Writer
- Coonskin (1975) Additional Photography
- Coonskin (1975) Lyricist
- The Junker (1975) Director
- The Monsterizer (1975) Director
- The Plastic Blaster (1975) Director
- The Bigger Digger (1974) Director
- Heavy Traffic (1973) as Various Characters (voice) (uncredited)
- Heavy Traffic (1973) Director
- Heavy Traffic (1973) Screenplay
- The Paper Monster (1973) Director
- The Return of the Monsterizer (1973) Director
- Fritz the Cat (1972) as Narrator / Pig Cop #1 (voice)
- Fritz the Cat (1972) Screenplay
- Fritz the Cat (1972) Director
- The Timekeeper (1972) Director
- The Scarecrow (1972) Director
- The Time Eraser (1972) Director
- The Drifter (1970) Director
- The Ghost Monster (1970) Director
- The Ghost Monster (1970) Story
- Lost and Foundation (1970) Director
- The Stretcher (1969) Director
- The Frog (1969) Director
- The Toy Man (1969) Director
- Spider-Man (1967) Director
- Spider-Man (1967) Producer
- Spider-Man (1967) Executive Producer
- The Fuz (1967) Director
- The Fuz (1967) Executive Producer
- Mini-Squirts (1967) Executive Producer
- Mini-Squirts (1967) Character Designer
- Mini-Squirts (1967) Creator
- Mini-Squirts (1967) Director
- Traffic Trouble (1967) Director
- Traffic Trouble (1967) Supervising Animation Director
- Mouse Trek (1967) Director
- Mouse Trek (1967) Executive Producer
- Dr. Rhinestone's Theory (1967) Supervising Animation Director
- Fancy Plants (1967) Director
- Frozen Sparklers (1967) Director
- The Opera Caper (1967) Director
- It's for the Birds (1967) Director
- Mr. Winlucky (1967) Director
- The Heat's Off (1967) Director
- Bugged By A Bug (1967) Supervising Animation Director
- Baron Von Go-Go (1967) Director
- Marvin Digs (1967) Production Design
- Marvin Digs (1967) Director
- Marvin Digs (1967) Executive Producer
- Give Me Liberty (1967) Director
- Which Is Witch? (1967) Supervising Animation Director
- A Voodoo Spell (1967) Supervising Animation Director
- The Mighty Heroes (1966) Creator
- The Monster Master (1966) Director
- Dr. Ha-Ha (1966) Director
- Scuba Duba Do (1966) Director
- Scuba Duba Do (1966) Animation
- Dress Reversal (1965) Director
- Gadmouse: The Apprentice Good Fairy (1965) Animation
- Gadmouse: The Apprentice Good Fairy (1965) Director
- Possible Possum (1965) Creator
- Don't Spill the Beans (1965) Director
- The Third Musketeer (1965) Director
- Where There's Smoke (1962) Animation
- The Unsung Hero (1961) Visual Effects
- Crossing The Delaware (1961) Animation
- House of Hashimoto (1960) Animation
- The Mysterious Package (1960) Animation
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ralph Bakshi best known for?
Ralph Bakshi is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Spicy City (1997), Spicy City (1997), Spicy City (1997), Spicy City (1997).
When and where was Ralph Bakshi born?
Ralph Bakshi was born on October 29, 1938 in Haifa, Mandatory Palestine [now Israel].
How many credits does Ralph Bakshi have?
Ralph Bakshi has accumulated over 144 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1960 to 2023.
What is Ralph Bakshi's background in cinema and television?
Ralph Bakshi, born October 29, 1938, in Haifa, Mandatory Palestine, is an animator and filmmaker known for his work in directing. In the 1970s, he established an alternative to mainstream animation via independent and adult-oriented productions. Between 1972 and 1992, he directed nine theatrically released feature film...
Ralph Bakshi by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- American Pop (1981) as Piano Player (voice) — aged about 42
- Heavy Traffic (1973) as Various Characters (voice) (uncredited) — aged about 34
- Wizards (1977) as Storm Trooper (voice, uncredited) — aged about 38
- Wizards (1977) as Fritz (voice, uncredited) — aged about 38
- Fritz the Cat (1972) as Narrator / Pig Cop #1 (voice) — aged about 33
- Coonskin (1975) as Cop With Megaphone (voice) (uncredited) — aged about 36
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Ralph Bakshi.