Ralph Bakshi wrote and directed the first X-rated animated film, Frtiz the Cat. It caused quite a stir, but it's only because of him that adult-centric projects like Beavis & Butthead, The Simpsons, The Boondocks, South Park, Family Guy, and Japanese anime are acceptable today. Always decades ahead of the curve, he was one of the first to combine live-action and animation, which can be seen in today's Waking Life and Scanner Darkly. He laid the foundations for TV animation, proving networks like Nickelodeon and Toon Disney could work. He opened the doors for shows like Justice League with his 1960s' Spider-Man, and his 1966 The Mighty Heroes paved the way for prime-time parodies like Batman. He created the first animated The Lord of the Rings, which became both a cult and mainstream classic, and is known to have influenced Peter Jackson's trilogy. With chapters dedicated to his early life, his first 'gigs,' and 10 of his remarkable and memorable projects, this book will provide a never before seen access into the mind and madness of a true icon. With his larger-than-life bravado and eclectic body of work, Bakshi left a mark on American culture so deep that whether you're a diehard animation fan or don't even know how to say his name, you've seen--and been undeniably affected by-- something he's created.