Brenda Banks

Brenda Lee Banks (July 19, 1948 – December 30, 2020) was an American animator, who was one of the first African American women to work as a professional animator. Her work was a major step forward for the field, which historically didn't have much racial diversity.

Career Banks's first projects included the Clerow Wilson television specials in the early 1970s and the 1973 animated special B.C.: The First Thanksgiving. Later that year, she joined Ralph Bakshi’s studio; despite having no prior background in animation, she was hired after asking for a job, according to Ralph Bakshi.

Banks was initially given minor tasks on the 1974 feature Coonskin.

Following her work with Bakshi, Banks joined Warner Brothers Animation to work on their Looney Tunes television specials.

Accolades and awards In 2018, Banks was honored with the Women in Animation (WIA) Diversity Award during the Spark Animation Festival. Taylor Shaw, a founder of Black Women Animate, accepted the award on her behalf, describing her as a "pioneer who deserves this honor" and a "symbol of perseverance" for women of color.

Personal life Banks was known by her colleagues as a private individual who preferred to focus on her craft rather than her status. According to fellow animator Lee Crowe, Banks was modest regarding her achievements and did not seek recognition for being one of the first African American women in animation. 1978 The Lord of the Rings (key animator) 1981 American Pop (animator) 1982 Hey Good Lookin' (animator) 1973 B.C.: The First Thanksgiving (TV Special short) (assistant animator) 1974 Clerow Wilson's Great Escape (TV Movie) (animator - as Brenda Lee Banks) 1980 Pontoffel Pock and His Magic Piano (TV Movie) (animator) 1980 Heathcliff (TV Series) (animator - 1980) 1988 Bugs vs. Daffy: Battle of the Music Video Stars (TV Special short) (animator) 1989 This Is America, Charlie Brown (TV Mini-Series) (animator - 1 episode) 1990 Tiny Toon Adventures (TV Series short) (animator - 1 episode) 1990 Gravedale High (TV Series) (animator - 13 episodes) 1990–1991 The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda (TV Series short) (animator - 26 episodes)