Sullivan as soon as recalled discovering an early affinity for animation as a baby, though the mechanics of how animation labored eluded him for a while:
I might go to the flicks and see all these cartoons and I assumed it was little individuals operating round in costumes doing it. Then I began doing a little analysis once I was in highschool and I stated “Hey, that is unbelievable.”
Clampett promoted Sullivan to an inbetweener on the Beany and Cecil collection, which marked the start of his profession as an business artist. Over time, Sullivan labored for the entire main studios of the period together with Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, DiC Leisure, and Marvel Productions. He contributed as an animator, structure artist, and sheet timer to numerous animated reveals together with The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, Mighty Mouse, Fats Albert, Tremendous Buddies, The Transformers, My Little Pony, Tiny Toon Adventures, and Animaniacs.
Sullivan additionally labored on the manufacturing and administration facet of the enterprise. Most notably, he co-founded Vignette Movies in 1966, together with Floyd Norman, Richard Allen, and Norm Edelen. As the primary Black-owned animation manufacturing firm, Vignette produced academic movies about Black historic figures like George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington. Additionally they labored on varied Hollywood television productions all through the Nineteen Sixties, together with the primetime television particular Hey, Hey, Hey, It’s Fats Albert (1969), the Soul Practice collection opening, and writing on sketch comedy collection like Rowan & Martin’s Chortle-In and Flip On.
“It was Leo Sullivan’s confidence that took us to the following stage,” Norman wrote in his memoir Animated Life. “It was additionally throughout this time that I discovered that my accomplice Leo was a wonderful film producer. Truly, it might not be exaggerating to say he’s higher than most. Throughout this time, it was extremely unlikely {that a} black man would ever be given such a place in a serious studio.”
Within the Seventies, Sullivan ran the animation division on the L.A. commerical studio Spungbuggy Works. All through his profession, he jumped between mainstream studio work and producing work by his personal firm. Sullivan did industrial work for advert businesses within the Caribbean, managed a number of animation studios in Asia, printed a online game that honored the heroic Tuskegee Airmen, and developed and animated a personality (named Walt) for the California Science Middle.
In 2016, Sullivan and Norman reteamed to launch Afrokids.com, a label devoted to empowering households and constructing kids’s shallowness and cultural heritage by academic and leisure media.
Late final 12 months, Sullivan appeared on the Reelblack Podcast to speak concerning the work he and the Afrokids workforce do within the youngsters and household house. The impetus for launching the corporate, he defined, goes all the way in which again to his early profession when he noticed characters from underrepresented communities being marginalized in animation, an issue he says persists right this moment:
I noticed that Black characters, completely different ethnicities, have been marginalized. Typically marginalization is available in refined methods. And I stated, “Any individual wants to vary that.” However the general public within the business who occurred to be African American or from different cultures kind of needed to associate with what was dished out to them to be able to make a residing. The one technique to escape that’s to exit by yourself and see should you can construct one thing that’s extra in step with what might construct up our individuals.
Later within the podcast, Sullivan defined why it was essential for youthful generations to see him working into his 80s, continually study concerning the ever-changing artform of animation:
Why I keep out right here even at my age is so [young people] can see, once they take a look at me as an outdated man, I work with computer systems, and my spouse works together with me. We make the content material. We work with younger musicians, artists, and all the things, to create a few of these issues.
Sullivan offered mentorship and training to many artists. Wherever he was in a hiring capability, he would take possibilities on younger artists who have been beginning their animation careers. He typically spoken to grade college college students about pursuing a profession in movie, and he additionally sponsored area journeys for youngsters to attend film theaters. Moreover, he taught animation on the Artwork Institute of California in Orange County.
Sullivan is a key a part of the 2016 documentary Floyd Norman: An Animated Life which incorporates quite a few video interviews of Norman and Sullivan collectively from throughout the a long time, a style of which could be seen in that movie’s trailer.
Throughout his profession, Sullivan was honored twice by the Black Filmmakers Corridor of Fame and received an Emmy for his work as a timing director. He’s survived by his spouse Ethelyn O. Stewart, their son Leo Jr., and daughter Tina.
Tributes to Sullivan have been flooding social media because the information of his passing. Afrokids.com printed a message throughout its on-line accounts:
The Twitter account for Floyd Norman: An Animated Life posted a touching tribute to Norman’s shut buddy and long-time skilled colleague:
Our buddy Leo Sullivan has handed on.
He was a legend within the animation neighborhood, utilizing animation and filmmaking to share Black Historical past with U.S. highschool college students within the Nineteen Sixties.
Take a second to rejoice Leo with this tribute.
Relaxation in peace, Leo. pic.twitter.com/vq8D0kIDth
— Floyd Norman: An Animated Life (@FloydNormanDoc) March 29, 2023
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse director Peter Ramsey tweeted:
RIP to an awesome and actual one. Thanks, Leo Sullivan. https://t.co/KxhyUOvdBQ
— Peter Ramsey (@pramsey342) March 29, 2023
Walt Disney Animation vfx supervisor Marlon West shared an enthralling anecdote:
On our “Nice Day In Animation” shoot, Leo Sullivan and his household have been the primary to reach and among the many final to go away. There have been 3 generations of execs there and he’s among the many people of whom all of us stand on the shoulders of. Thanks Leo, for serving to open the door. 🖤🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/yPh8IAccmA
— Marlon West (@marlonw) March 29, 2023
Bruce W. Smith, creator and govt producer of The Proud Household and supervising animator of The Princess and the Frog villain Dr. Facilier, tweeted:
Leo was a legend for actual. My first ever job on this enterprise was in a studio working below Leo, Floyd and the ever elusive, extraordinarily proficient Phil Mendez.
All black males.
Leo taught me what to anticipate as a black man getting into the animation business.
Thanks brother Leo. https://t.co/WuX5yeuH72
— Bruce W. Smith (@BruceAlmighteee) March 31, 2023
