Ralph Bakshi was born Oct. 10, 1938. Mr. Bakshi is a director of animated and live action films.  Between 1972-1992 he directed nine theatrically released feature films, five of which he wrote. 

Ralph began his career at the Terrytoons television Cartoon Studio as a cel polisher, he was promoted to director.  In 1967, he moved to Paramount Pictures and started his own studio.

Bakshi made his debut feature film "Fritz the Cat", released in 1972.  It was the first animated film to receive an X-rating from the Motion Picture Association of America.

Over the next eleven years, Bakshi directed seven additional animated features. 

• Wizard-1977
• The Lord of the Rings-1978
• American Pop-1981
• Fire and Ice-1983
• Cool World-1992
• Cool and Crazy-1992
• Spicy City-1997

He has received several awards for his work.  Including the 1980 Golden Gryphon's for The Lord of the Ring at the Giffoni Film Festival, the 1988 Annie Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Art of Animation, and the 2003 Maverick Tribute Award at the Cine quest Film Festival.

Born in Haifa, British mandated Palestine, his family immigrated to New york to escape World War 2.  They settled in BROWNSVILLE, Brooklyn.  As a child he enjoyed comic books.

During his teenage years, Bakshi took up boxing.  While attending Thomas Jefferson High School, he took little interest in his academics, spending most of his time focusing on "broads", mouthing off and doodling.  After participating in a food fight and being caught smoking, Bakshi was sent to the Principal's office.  Believing that Bakshi was unlikely to prosper at Thomas Jefferson's, the principal transferred him to Manhattan's School of Industrial Art.  In 1956, Bakshi graduated from the school with an Award in Cartooning.