RALPH BAKSHI: LIVE IN PERSON AT ASoF
Ralph Bakshi's directorial debut FRITZ THE CAT enjoys the unique honor of being two disparate 'firsts'- it was the first animated feature film ever to receive an "X" rating from the MPAA and it was the first animated independent film to eventually gross 100 million. The infamous animator/writer/director, who had been born innocently enough from the warm and cozy womb of Terrytoons' "Heckle and Jeckle" and "Mighty Mouse", had obviously pinched a sensitive nerve in the American subconscious. In his own words: "The art of cartooning is vulgarity. The only reason for cartooning to exist is to be on the edge. If you only take apart what they allow you to take apart, you're Disney. Cartooning is a low-class, for-the-public art, just like graffiti art and rap music. Vulgar but believable, that's the line I kept walking." Vulgar or profound or both, his films are art indeed.
Mr. Bakshi will be in attendance for special screenings of two of his most highly acclaimed works- WIZARDS and STREET FIGHT. The director will also be in attendance for a special Music Monday screening of his film AMERICAN POP.
