Black History Month... early

[cartoonchaos]

I know, I know... Its January. However, it's Martin Luther King Day and I thought i'd get a head start.

Usually, animators talk about how black characters are portrayed in television and movies. I'm sure this is going to happen again this year in the Cafe.

I wanted to start a thread about black animators. Instead of talking about how the industry is mostly white or asian and how you can count the black animators on your fingers and toes... I'd like to talk about some noteworthy black animators that are part of black history and animation history.

Frank Braxton was animation's FIRST black animator. He started at Warner Bros. and went on to direct shows like George of the Jungle and The Bullwinkle Show.

Floyd Norman was an animator on Disney's Sleeping Beauty and an artist for The Jungle Book.

Dan Haskett is one of my idols. This fantastic artist designed Belle for Beauty and the Beast and Ariel for The Little Mermaid, and has worked on The Simpsons, Sesame Street, Toy Story and Prince of Egypt.

And of course, everyone knows Bruce Smith. I was told that he is the FIRST black supervising animator for Disney. He supervised Kerchek on Tarzan, Pacha on Emperor's New Groove and Pearl on Home on the Range. Most folks know him as the guy responsible for "The Proud Family" on Disney Channel.

Is there someone you guys would like to recognize? Please do it here.

[MightyMew1]

Hey Cartoonchaos, thats some really cool info! I remember reading about a black animator at Disney who had a pretty hard time. I don't remember his name though >_<. Sadly, I don't really know of any famous or historical black animators.

I have a friend who works at Digital Domain who's black. I'm also black myself and there are a few of us in the animation program at SCAD. Perhaps we'll see more black faces in this industry in the future. ^-^

[cartoonchaos]

Historical, yes... but not that many famous ones.

All the more reason for us to work harder to change that.

[DSB]

Floyd Norman is still working today, collaborating frequently with Disney, Pixar, and other smaller studios on animation and live action projects. In addition, he's published a series of cartoon collections about life in the animation biz, and is one of the nicest and most accessible people you'd ever want to meet. A true pro, and an awesome human being.

[cartoonchaos]

I thought i'd ressurect this thread about now.

Here are some links about the animators I mentioned.

Dan Haskett

Frank Braxton

Bruce Smith

Happy Black History Month! And i'd like to add my family's and my sadness for the recent passing of Coretta Scott King. She will be remembered as the First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement and our hearts and minds are with the King family.

[Neo_Crisis]

Originally Posted by cartoonchaos

I know, I know... Its January. However, it's Martin Luther King Day and I thought i'd get a head start.

Usually, animators talk about how black characters are portrayed in television and movies. I'm sure this is going to happen again this year in the Cafe.

I wanted to start a thread about black animators. Instead of talking about how the industry is mostly white or asian and how you can count the black animators on your fingers and toes... I'd like to talk about some noteworthy black animators that are part of black history and animation history.

Frank Braxton was animation's FIRST black animator. He started at Warner Bros. and went on to direct shows like George of the Jungle and The Bullwinkle Show.

Floyd Norman was an animator on Disney's Sleeping Beauty and an artist for The Jungle Book.

Dan Haskett is one of my idols. This fantastic artist designed Belle for Beauty and the Beast and Ariel for The Little Mermaid, and has worked on The Simpsons, Sesame Street, Toy Story and Prince of Egypt.

And of course, everyone knows Bruce Smith. I was told that he is the FIRST black supervising animator for Disney. He supervised Kerchek on Tarzan, Pacha on Emperor's New Groove and Pearl on Home on the Range. Most folks know him as the guy responsible for "The Proud Family" on Disney Channel.

Is there someone you guys would like to recognize? Please do it here.

Wow this is really great info, I'm black myself and currently teaching myself 2D animation, This is very encouraging,because there are a few black animators out there.

[Harvey Human]

For some strange reason, an animator's ethnicity doesn't matter that much to me.

For some strange reason, an animator's gender DOES matter to me.
I'm serious, fellows. This forum is a big sausage fest. Where's Women's History Month?

[Neo_Crisis]

lol, now that I think about it there isn't many women in animation I'm a female, so I guess I got two things going, I'm black and also a female ,who wants to be an animator.

[Harvey Human]

Originally Posted by Neo_Crisis

lol, now that I think about it there isn't many women in animation I'm a female, so I guess I got two things going, I'm black and also a female ,who wants to be an animator.

You got three things going (at least).
You're black, female, and an animator.
Happy Black Female Animators' History Month!

[DIEMERAS Dark Angel]

Originally Posted by Harvey Human

You got three things going (at least).
You're black, female, and an animator.
Happy Black Female Animators' History Month!

Funny......
Any way, black history month, symbolises the freedom of the indigenous people of africa and black americans all around the world, it is however a good point that we talk about black animators in this industry.
I have yet to meet a black animator, quite frankly I don't care about their race and I give kudos to a woman in this industry, namely Christine Hui of Xaiolin Showdown, I love her (sigh). Harvey is right, ethnicity means nothing, it's the accomplishment and stride to greatness that really counts, to all female animators and aspiring animators......Much LOVE!
GIRLS RULE..........no I'm not a girl