In the spring of 1970, Warner Bros. agreed to fund and distribute the film. The Harlem sequences were the first to be completed. Krantz intended to release these scenes as a 15-minute short if the film's funding was pulled; Bakshi was nevertheless determined to complete the film as a feature. Late in November, Bakshi and Krantz screened a presentation reel for the studio with this sequence, pencil tests, and shots of Bakshi's storyboards. Bakshi stated, "You should have seen their faces in the screening room when I first screened a bit of "Fritz". I'll remember their faces until I die. One of them left the room. Holy hell, you should have seen his face. 'Shut "up", Frank! This is not the movie you're allowed to make!' And I said, Bullshit, I just made it."