Ray Pointer
Adjunct Faculty
Certificate, The University of Southern California, 1980; BA, Wayne State University, 1985;
Ray Pointer’s research interests include the evolution of animation as and art form as well as a science, and its continuing evolution.
Professional Experience
50 years as a film and animation professional including work for industrial and commercial film studios. Seven years as a Motion Picture Specialist and Producer for the U.S. Navy. winner of several awards including The Cine Golden Eagle for the documentary, West Africa, hosted by Alex Haley, and the National Association of Government Communicators Gold Screen Award for animated spots, Pride And Professionalism and The Shore Patrol.
20 years in the Los Angeles animation studios including DIC, Film Roman, Hyperion Animation/Paramount, Playhouse Pictures, Hanna-Barbera, Disney Interactive, Fred Wolf Films, Kroyer Studios, MGM Animation, and Nickelodeon. Was a working Animator and Director for non-Disney animated features, CD-Rom Games, commercials, and television series. Membership in The Television Academy of Arts and Sciences Animation Peer Group 1996.
Founded Inkwell Images catering to the special interest home video market, packaging rare films and cartoons, winner of several awards for documentary productions released by the company including First Sound Of Movies, Ko-Ko Song Car-Tunes, The Ken Southworth Animation Program, Rosa Parks: Modern Day Heroine Restoration, and The Mecosta-Morton Video Tour.
From 2009 to 2014 Adjunct Professor in the Digital Media Department at Kendall College of Art and Design for five years. Taught courses in Traditional Animation and Animation History.
Significant Publications, Presentations and Exhibitions
Consultant on the Max Fleischer recovery and restoration project headed by Jane Fleischer-Reid
Several interviews and Podcasts over the past year
Author of “The Art and Inventions of Max Fleischer: American Animation Pioneer,” McFarland Books, 2017
Content provider to Barbazon Galleries’ “Watch Me Move” Traveling
Animation Exhibit featured at the DIA in 2014
Appearances on the Internet television/celebrity program, “Stu’s Show” 2008, 2009, and 2017, seen on YouTube