EuropeSHOWBIZ KONKONSAH

Meet Leo Dan Sullivan, the founder of Hollywood’s first black-owned animated studio

Sullivan’s career started as an errands boy for Bob Clampett’s Snowball Productions in the early 1960s. He also worked in other job positions at the establishment, but his passion for cartoons soon influenced his career trajectory.

“I would go to the movies and see all these cartoons and I thought it was little people running around in costumes doing it. Then I started doing some research when I was in high school and I said ‘Hey, this is fantastic,’” he told Cartoon Brew.

His career as an industry artist began when Clampett promoted him to an in-betweener on the Beany and Cecil series. He went on to work for major studios of the era, including Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, DiC Entertainment, and Marvel Productions.

What is more, he also contributed as an animator, layout artist, and sheet timer to countless animated shows like The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, Mighty Mouse, Fat Albert, Super Friends, The Transformers, My Little Pony, Tiny Toon Adventures, and Animaniacs, according to Cartoon Brew.

In 1966, he co-founded Vignette Film, the first black-owned animation studio in the United States. He started the production company along with Floyd Norman, Richard Allen, and Norm Edelen. Vignette produced films about black historical figures like George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington.

The company worked on Hollywood productions like Hey, Hey, Hey, It’s Fat Albert (1969), and the Soul Train series opening. He also wrote sketch comedy series like Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and Turn On.

In 2016, he partnered with Norman to launch Afrokids.com in a bid to empower families, build children’s self-esteem and promote the cultural heritage of minorities through educational and entertainment media. According to him, the inspiration for Afrokids dates back to his early career when he saw characters from underrepresented communities being marginalized in animation.

“I realized that Black characters, different ethnicities, were marginalized. Sometimes marginalization comes in subtle ways,” he told Cartoon Crew. “And I said, ‘Somebody needs to change that.’ But most of the people in the industry who happened to be African American or from other cultures sort of had to go along with what was dished out to them in order to make a living. The only way to escape that is to go out on your own and see if you can build something that is more in line with what could build up our people.”

His trailblazing career as an industry artist saw him win several honors. He was honored twice by the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, he also won an Emmy for his work as a timing director.

Leo Dan Sullivan passed away in Los Angeles on March 25 2023 from heart failure. He is survived by his wife Ethelyn O. Stewart, their son Leo Jr., and daughter Tina.

Source: face2faceafrica.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

Related Articles

Back to top button