Leo D. Sullivan (c. 1940 – March 25, 2023) was an American writer and director of animated films, and a pioneer in black animation.[1] With Floyd Norman, who he met working on Beanie and Cecil, he launched Vignette Films, later Vignette Multimedia, and worked on the original animated Soul Train logo.[2][3] They also produced short films geared toward a high school audience on leaders in the African-American community.[4]
Sullivan worked for Bob Clampett Productions as an animation cel polisher before moving up to working as an artist and animator.[3] Over a more than sixty year career, he and his wife collaborated on improving animation for black children.[5] His company, Leo Sullivan Multimedia, is behind brands such as AfroKids.[1][5]
Sullivan and Norman's work was recognized by the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1991 and Sullivan received an Emmy in 1992 as a Timing Director.[3] Interviews of Sullivan are featured prominently in the documentary Floyd Norman: An Animated Life (2016) by Michael Fiore.
Leo D. Sullivan died on March 25, 2023, in Los Angeles, California, USA, of heart failure.[6][7][8][9][10][11]
Filmography
edit- Round Trip to the Moon (1972)
- Examining the Moon (1972)
- Men to Meet the Challenge (1972)
- Living in Space (1972)[12]
References
edit- 1 2 "Funky Turns 40: Sista ToFunky's Interview With Leo Sullivan | The Museum Of UnCut Funk". museumofuncutfunk.com.
- ↑ Evans, Kelley D. (October 24, 2016). "Legendary black animators penned life into big films — now they have a new website to empower families".
- 1 2 3 Moon, Spencer; Allen, Linda (1997). Reel Black Talk: A Sourcebook of 50 American Filmmakers. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 255–258. ISBN 978-0-313-29830-1.
- ↑ Turran, Kenneth (2016-08-25). "Disney's first black animator looks back in the incisive doc 'Floyd Norman: An Animated Life' - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2021-08-22. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
- 1 2 "This Couple Spent 60 Years Developing Animated Content For Black Children Around the World". BET. 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
- ↑ Animation Magazine (April 6, 2023). "Pioneering Animator Leo D. Sullivan Dies Age 82". Animation Magazine. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
- ↑ Jamie Lang (March 30, 2023). "Leo Sullivan, Co-Founder Of Hollywood's First Black-Owned Animation Studio, Dies At 82". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
- ↑ Mike Barnes (March 29, 2023). "Leo D. Sullivan, Pioneering Black Animator, Dies at 82". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
- ↑ Bruce Haring (April 5, 2023). "Leo D. Sullivan Dies: Emmy-Winning Animation Artist Created 'Soul Train' Opening, Was 82". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
- ↑ Sophia Scorziello (Apr 5, 2023). "Leo D. Sullivan, Animator on 'Fat Albert,' 'Flash Gordon,' Dies at 82". Variety. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
- ↑ Christi Carras (March 30, 2023). "Leo D. Sullivan, trailblazing animation artist and educator, dies at 82". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
- ↑ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (February 21, 1974). "Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series" – via Google Books.