ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti ˈeɪt, kˈɑːvæks lˈɛft ˌɛsˌoʊˈɛm tə bɪkˌʌm vˌiːpˈiː ʌv ˈɑːɹ ænd dˈiː fɚðɪ ˈɜːli kəmpjˈuːɾɚɹ ˌænɪmˈeɪʃən kˈʌmpəni ɹˈɑːbɚt ˈeɪbəl ænd ɐsˈoʊsɪˌeɪts nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti ˈeɪt dˈæʃ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈoːɹ.
In 1978, Kovacs left SOM to become VP of R&D for the early computer animation company Robert Abel and Associates (1978-1984).