ASIFA-Hollywood Cartoon Hall Of Fame: STREET, Rita

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Birth/Death

Birth: October 3, 1963

Occupation/Title

Executive Producer & President of Radar Cartoons, LLC.

Bio Summary

Rita Street was born in Kirkwood, Missouri and soon after her and her family moved to California. They lived in a desert area and she was able to do her two favorite things: horseback riding and drawing.   Ms. Street later went on to earn a degree from Cal State University of Northridge in Theater arts. At the time, she was studying to be a playwright. She learned many valuable skills in the art of how to develop a story.   She began her career at Expanded Entertainment, a Film Distribution company, and is now the president of Radar Cartoons, a producers’ representative firm that exec produces such shows as “Ruby Gloom” and “Hero:108” for client Gamania Digital Entertainment.

Early Life/Family

Rita and her family lived in Kirkwood, Missouri until she was about four-years-old. Her father was a civilian worker for the military, and relocated his family to California. He was a major animation influence for Rita, in that he would read comic books with her, and they would watch cartoons together. As a result, Rita began to draw from her comic books and fall in love with animation.   Rita now lives happily with her husband in Southern California. Although she is a busy woman, Ms. Street always makes time for her husband, who she says, “Grounds her”.

Education/Training

Rita studied and received a degree from Cal State University of Northridge in Theater arts.

Career Outline

Ms. Street started her career at Expanded Entertainment as an accounts receivable clerk. Soon she was promoted to sales, and became one of the three people in charge of college campus venues. Expanded Entertainment was founded by Terry Thoren, and he later started Animation Magazine to publicize the company’s films. Rita was eventually hired to edit the magazine and later promoted to publisher.   During her time at Animation Magazine, Rita founded Women in Animation, an International non-profit organization. However, the organization became She currently serves on the board for the Women in Animation organization. She has also served as the Editor of Film and Video Magazine and has written several books on graphic arts (listed below under miscellaneous).   Rita is the president of Radar Cartoons, a producers’ representative firm that exec produces such shows as “Ruby Gloom” and “Hero:108” for client Gamania Digital Entertainment.

Comments On Style

Although Rita is not an animator, she is drawn to producing shows with great graphic style and still spends time drawing. 
Influences

Two of Street’s professional influences are Terry Thoren and Fred Seibert.   Terry Thoren helped her get her start at Expanded Entertainment, and taught her his philosophy: “As long as you believe in something you can sell it”.   Fred Seibert is a successful independent producer that challenged Rita, and encouraged her to think outside of the box.

Personality

From my phone conversation with Rita Street, I can tell that she is a very cheerful and pleasant woman to be around. She sounded fun, but at the same time, business-like.

Anecdotes

She has a passion for volunteering. Her other hobbies include horse back riding and creative writing.

Miscellaneous

Books by Rita Street:  Best New Animation Design, 1995.   The Best New Animation Design 2, December 1997.  Computer Animation: A Whole New World Groundbreaking Work from Today's Top Animation Studios, February 1998.  Creative Newsletters & Annual Reports: Designing Information  by Rita Street, Roberta Street, January 1999.  The Best of New Animation Design 2, by Rita Street, April 2000.  Creative Newsletters & Annual Reports: Designing Information  by Rita Street and Roberta Street, February 2001.  Touch Graphics: The Power of Tactile Design, by Rita Street, January 2002.  Touch Graphics: The Power of Tactile Design  by Rita Street and Ferdinand Lewis, August 2003  Articles by Rita Street for Animation Magazine:  Rita Street has written over 1,000 articles on animation and visual effects.

Filmography

"Random! Cartoons" (Producer) (1 episode) - Boneheads (Producer)  "Nextoons: The Nicktoons Film Festival" (2005) (Co-Producer)  “Ruby Gloom” (Executive Producer) “Hero: 108” (Executive Producer) “Mock n’Boyd” (2008) (Directed by Rita Street and Chris Dainty)

Honors

In 1994, Rita Street was awarded the Certificate of Merit at the Annie Awards.
n 2007, Rita Street, Patricia R. Burns, Jocelyn Hamilton, and Doug Murphy were nominated for the Gemini award for Best Animated Program or Series for “Ruby Gloom” (2006).

Related Links

A-HAA: Meta: Three New Project Heros
http://www.allbookstores.com/author/Rita_Street.html 

http://women.animation.org/1999/rita_street.html

Bibliographic References

Anonymous. “Rita Street.” Online posting. http://www.allbookstores.com/author/Rita_Street.html.

Site viewed on 2 November 2008.   Anonymous. “Rita Street.” Online posting. http://www.animationmagazine.net/author/7#.

Site viewed on 1 November 2008.  Anonymous. “Rita Street.” Online posting. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1557405

Site viewed on 30 October 2008.  Anonymous. “TAC Speakers: Rita Street, Fast Track Session 2”. Online posting. http://www.awn.com/ottawa/OIAF05/conf_speakers_street.php .

Site viewed on 30 October 2008.  Dainty, C., and Street, R. 2008. “Mock n’Boyd: Get Outta My Tree”. http://www.mocknboyd.blogspot.com

Site viewed on 30 October 2008.  Street, Rita. Telephone interview. 1 November 2008.  Street, Rita. “Rita Street.” Online posting. 1999.  http://women.animation.org/1999/rita_street.html

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