Ralph Bakshi

[Brother Rabbit]

1) "Was any work at all ever done for The Lord of the Rings: Part Two? Treatments? storyboards? concept drawings? Discussions with writers? Composers? The studio? Artists? Voice actors? Priscilla Tolkien? Saul? Or was all the attention focused on Part One, and then just dissipated immediately after its release? Have you done any sketching or just general thinking over the past 25 years about what you would have done had you continued?" - dnvillalpando

Bakshi-
No. Well, we shot a few A & b rolls. But the deadline was a severe problem. Cause I mean we only got a year and a half to make the film. And there are just so many characters. Another major problem was no edit time.

Basically it was very overwhelming. There were so many things I wanted to naturally finesse with editing, and there was just no time. Most of what is there was not edited much at all. I would have liked to have 6 months but for LOR we got something like 4 weeks.

Plus there was the lack of computers. Animators use them regularly for every aspect of the animation today. Back then we had to animate and keep timing without computers and that was time consuming. Even rotoscoping is still painting. Now with computers the timing and tests can all be fed into the program and it takes so much of the time out of the process. But we worked with what we had and did amazing things with the technology of the day.

Iid rather paint a bad picture than make a bad film. At least a bad picture is mine. A bad film is out there for the world to see. In that, I kind of learned the hard way.

2) iIt was kind of touching. Ted *Dr Seuss* was stone deaf, and he would call Ralph with important things to talk about, but he couldn't hear anything Ralph said. Ralph would listen to him and then reply in drawings in the mail.i n Milton Knight
iSo Ralph, do you, or Seuss's family, still have these drawings?i n Charles Brubaker

Bakshi-
Oh no, Geisel could communicate fine. Iid draw pictures for him when I was there and Iid pick up his drawings and laugh. I thought he would be timid but NO. He was actually salty, very rugged and rough around the edges. We spoke verbally. It was only around 6 times that I went there.

He actually lived in a lighthouse studio at the top long winding stairs. There heid be drawing or doing whatever he did.

These rumors I donit know where they come from. Itis hard to tell what stories are real and which arenit anymore.

I do have drawings from then. I donit know where. Victoria will have to find and post them next time she comes over to stay with us. Iim too busy with my art to do stuff like that. I love it when people like Victoria or you *Rabbit* come along and do these kind of things. But I just donit have the time.

3) iI guess my biggest question is, with all the technology that's out there, with all this talent emerging from everywhere, where does Mr. Bakshi go from here? Can he use his tradition technologies(rotoscoping, for example) in today's world? Can he capture today's youth?i - Inkerman

Bakshi-
First of all, all the new technologies, and all the talent thatis emergingo And the learning curve is so much better than it used to be, in my day and those before me. It used to take 3-4 days to get pencil tests. Now the minute you shoot it you can see it. The visual aspects have changed. In other words, they *the new talent* have been freed. We used to do timing with a stop watch and the story board. You can time the film visually now. The art of timing which was always so critical in animation is infinitely more simple. There isnit an aspect of animation that hasnit been improved.

Donit ask me what Iim doing. Cause where Iive gone Iive went. In other words, I am going to continue to practice and develop the art that I create, painting and animation and that is what I, and every artist should be doing at all times. The better question would be: With all this in your hands, what are you doing?

I mean you see newer films like the Incredibles great animation, great stuff, but a year after they release, they are forgotten. Where are the films that make you feel and you canit help but remember them? Iim painting pictures, bad or good. I use animation as an art form, not as a vehicle, but a personal art form. I canit do anything else, because I am a happy man. Iim doin what Iive always done, continuing to improve myself as an artist. With all these technologies, what are they doing to improve? The stories are not about our life, itis about a fictitious creation. Who can really feel anything about that?

So could I capture todayis youth? No doubt about it. Ralph Bakshi could capture todayis youth. Coney Island would blow them away.

Will someone in China understand my films. I donit know. I donit make pictures to be understood everywhere in the world. I make pictures that are important to me. Coonskin wasnit made so people could feel good. It was made because the concepts in it were important, and remain important today. I mean pollution, itis a larger problem today.

People keep thinking that being successful is a film that makes a lot of money. They buy new cloths and walk around like theyive done something. Iid vomit and die. I could have gone, like Hanna and use Bakshiis name and make a fortune. In fact, if I grew up today I might have done that.

4) So do you believe that with the world coming together more and more, with the world wide web and all, weire losing our personal individuality and maybe even the uniqueness of our separate cultures?

Bakshi-
Thatis a good question. Yes and no. And thereis always two approaches to every issue. I could take a computer and do Heavy Traffic for half of what it cost. Most filmmakers today use a computer to pour cost into the film.

The interconnection of the world is fantastic. But it all depends on who are you talking to? If you use the interconnection to try to get to the largest common denominator youire not doing what you should. Use interconnection to find people that are like you. Do you plug into every moron on the globe, or to people that have the same ideas as you?

We started to lose our uniqueness in the 80is. Music, Art, Painters who couldnit paint became superstars.

The artists I looked up to, drove city to city club to club Charlie Parker, Dizzy. Theyire all gone. Look whatis going on now... just absolute madness. Everyoneis sold out, maybe itis because the media sold out. You even have Robert Crumb living in a chateau in Southern France drinking wine. I mean, how bourgeoisie can you get? Oh please leave me alone.

INTERVIEW END

Well, Mr. Bakshi was in great spirits for the brief interview. He mentioned that the funding for Coney Island hasnit come through as quickly as he had hoped. But once again I think we have the ibusinessi to thank for the lack of responsiveness to REAL cinema today.

Hope You Guys Enjoy,

Brother Rabbit

[dnvillalpando]

Fantastic interview, Rabbit! Thanks so much!!!

David

[Brother Rabbit]

I appreciate the support David. Sorry I couldn't enlighten reel upon reel of LOR Vol 2 footage for you, but I guess we have the "business" to thank for that, as usual.

Can't wait to see what you come up with for your project.

Sincerely,

Brother Rabbit
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Last Days of Coney Island Kickstarter | Bakshi Media Page | Bakshi's Official Facebook
deviantART.com | NewGrounds | Animation Resources | David Firth
"If I die as just Bakshi Productions Secretary, I'll die a happy man." - Brother Rabbit 2013

[dnvillalpando]

[JC101]

That was a very good interview...and a lot of important points there...thanx to David (If this topic was not bumped, I might have missed this).

...I enjoyed most his thoughts on how animation is percieved in todays world...compared to times of past...and Bakshi pretty much nailed it on how *trendy approaches of todays animation has taken up in filmaking in times of now, and how these 'of the moment' films are easily forgotten, and not to mention, the lack of soul searching in todays artworld...why is it...why do we all constantly reminisce our childhood/nostalgia so much? ...That question can be easily answered, and has been in so many ways.

Thanx Brother Rabbit!

[SpencerTracy]

Great stuff...

I do disagree with his comment about the Incredibles...I think that was a particularly good animation film, and the characters were pretty good in it...the struggle of the talented in a world that wants sameness is a pretty good message, and the family characters were wonderful...Compare that to a Shark Tale or a disastrous Robots, on the other hand...Robots was technically fantastic, but the story was complete crap...

I like that Bakshi is an animation cowboy, and I think adult oriented animation is out there for the taking, particularly now with tech advances...I look forward to seeing what he does with it...
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--SpencerTracy

[Brother Rabbit]

Well, though I agree that some of the newer films that Bakshi was talking about are note worthy and should be remembered, I think what Bakshi was talking about is, as to the storyline of these films, many people just won't be inspired. Though the visuals can be great. That doesn't make up for lack of inspiring plot and execution.

I think they're really more dramas/soap operas for kids than anything incredibly memorable personally. However, some childrens films have deviated from that realm and I do not hesitate to mention the works of Hayao Miyazaki here.

Sincerely,

Brother Rabbit
_________________
Last Days of Coney Island Kickstarter | Bakshi Media Page | Bakshi's Official Facebook
deviantART.com | NewGrounds | Animation Resources | David Firth
"If I die as just Bakshi Productions Secretary, I'll die a happy man." - Brother Rabbit 2013

[Larry (the Mutant Slave)]

he was just saying that the incrediables was a great movie, just not one that stays with you. I think he enjoyed it for what it was worth just like the rest of us.


Great interview very inspiring and noble words.
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"Master loves Larry. Master feeds Larry."
Erik's DeviantART | Erik's Site

[JC101]

Exactly...

The irony in that kind of a message it preaches is funny though. It's funny to me, since a film like The Incredibles is not at all groundbreaking.

[Isaac]

[JC101]

Not every film, NO of course not, and I think this point was made many times ago on other topics...but I think the message of standing out through the sameness of the world comment is a very important point...and I think it's about time people start getting that message...but I just would like to see somebody try this without the sameness of trends for a change, otherwise you are just sending a mixed message. In this particular case, I was pointing out the irony of it.

And furthermore, I do agree that the movies aimed at children these days are too soap opera-ish, that's very much a big part of the problem. Nothing inspiring like the films I grew up on.

...Now, If every film was groundbreaking just for the sake of being, then it wouldn't fit into that category at all (that would not be "groundbreaking"). Don't look into that word so much.