Christy Karacas

Last updated
Christy Karacas
Christy Karacas (16104735444).jpg
Karacas at the Magic City Comic Con in 2015
Born
Christy C. Karacas

(1975-03-08) March 8, 1975 (age 49)
Alma mater Rhode Island School of Design (BFA)
Occupation(s)Animator, writer, producer, director, voice actor, musician
Years active1997–present
Known for Superjail!
Robotomy
Ballmastrz: 9009

Christy C. Karacas (born March 8, 1975) is an American animator, writer, producer, director, voice actor and musician. He is known for creating Superjail! and Ballmastrz: 9009 for Adult Swim and directing the Cartoon Network series Robotomy . He is also a guitarist of the rock band Cheeseburger.

Contents

Life and career

As a child, Karacas frequently drew, with inspiration from comic book superheroes and Star Wars characters to Family Feud scenarios, often with violent themes (though Karacas has explained that he in actuality is "a very non-confrontational person"). [1] Karacas went on to study film and animation at the Rhode Island School of Design, [1] [2] though he wanted to originally get into live action material. For his senior film project, Karacas created the student film Space War, which raised his profile via showings at animation festivals. [1] He graduated in 1997 with a BFA. [3]

Karacas began his career in the animation industry at MTV Animation, [4] where he served as a background designer for Daria . [1] He is a founding member and guitar player for the band Cheeseburger, [4] and he also worked with title sequences, animation, and illustration for VBS.tv and Vice magazine. [5] While working on Daria, around 2001, Karacas and friend Stephen Warbrick created the short film Barfight and presented it for showing at numerous film festivals, though it was rejected at all of them. Dispirited, Karacas spent time working on his band. [1] Several years later, Barfight caught the attention of Adult Swim, who allowed them and Ben Gruber to create a show of their own called Superjail!. [4] [6] [7] [8]

Superjail! was originally animated by Augenblick Studios in the pilot episode and first season, [7] but was later animated by Titmouse, Inc. from seasons two to four. [8] However, the series ended its run in 2014. While working on Superjail!, Karacas worked on several other projects, including directing the short-lived Cartoon Network animated series Robotomy , which ran from 2010 to 2011, [9] and writing new material with his bandmates of Cheeseburger. [10]

After Superjail!, Karacas moved on to create another show for Adult Swim, titled Ballmastrz: 9009 , which premiered in 2018. [11] The show was renewed for a second season, which began airing February 23, 2020. [12]

Influences

Karacas' influences include Tex Avery, child art, Bob Clampett, John Kricfalusi, Vince Collins, Sally Cruikshank, Nick Cross, Fleischer Studios, Hanna-Barbera, Chuck Jones, Tom Ruegger, The Simpsons , The Itchy & Scratchy Show , Looney Tunes , Mad , Jay Ward, Monty Python, Joe Murray, Klasky Csupo, Walt Disney, Ripley's Believe It or Not! , Robert Crumb, Mike Diana, Ralph Bakshi, Sesame Street , The Muppets, Yellow Submarine , outsider art, Gary Panter, Pee-wee's Playhouse , Schoolhouse Rock! , Beavis and Butt-Head , Earthworm Jim , Dr. Seuss, The Three Stooges, anime, and underground comix. [6] [7] [8] [1]

Filmography

Karacas is notable for the following: [1] [13]

[14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genndy Tartakovsky</span> Russian-American animator

Gennady Borisovich "Genndy" Tartakovsky is a Russian-American animator, writer, producer, and director. He is best known as the creator of various animated television series on Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, including Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Sym-Bionic Titan, Primal, and Unicorn: Warriors Eternal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Willis</span> American voice actor, writer, and producer

Dave Willis is an American voice actor, screenwriter, and producer. He is the co-creator of the Adult Swim animated series Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Squidbillies, and Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell. Willis also voices the main characters Meatwad and Carl Brutananadilewski, along with other characters in Aqua Teen Hunger Force. He is also known for voicing Barry Dylan in the FX/FXX series Archer and Leto Otel in Ballmastrz: 9009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adult animation</span> Animation aimed at adults

Adult animation, also known as mature animation, and infrequently as adult-oriented animation, is any type of animated motion media that is catered specifically to adult interests and is mainly targeted and marketed towards adults and adolescents, as opposed to children or all-ages audiences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher McCulloch</span> American storyboard artist and voice actor

Christopher McCulloch, also known by the pseudonym Jackson Publick, is an American storyboard artist, writer, director, producer, and voice actor. He is known for his work on several Tick properties and for the animated television series The Venture Bros. He and Doc Hammer are the Venture Bros. co-creators, writers, editors, and directors, producing the show through their animation company Astro-Base Go. McCulloch voices over 20 characters in the series, including Hank Venture, The Monarch, and Sergeant Hatred.

Anime-influenced animation is a type of non-Japanese work of animation that is noticeably similar to or inspired by anime. Generally, the term anime refers to a style of animation originating from Japan. As Japanese anime became increasingly popular, Western animation studios began implementing some visual stylizations typical in anime—such as exaggerated facial expressions, "super deformed" versions of characters, and white radical lines appearing on the screen when something shocking happens or when someone screams, etc.

Augenblick Studios is an independent animation studio founded in 1999 by Aaron Augenblick, and located in Brooklyn, New York City. The company has created a wide array of animated shorts for television, film, and the Internet, with the target audience typically being adults. Their clients include Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, Adult Swim, the TED conference, PBS, MTV, and Nickelodeon. Their logo features a moonshine bottle with wings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Augenblick</span> American animator, director and producer

Aaron Augenblick is an American animator, director, and producer. He is the founder of Augenblick Studios, known for his work on Ugly Americans, Superjail!, Wonder Showzen, and Golden Age.

Superjail! is an American adult animated television series created by Christy Karacas, Stephen Warbrick and Ben Gruber for Cartoon Network's late night programming block, Adult Swim. It follows the events that take place in an unusual prison. The pilot episode aired on May 13, 2007, and its first season began on September 28, 2008.

Cheeseburger is an American hard rock band. They are perhaps best known for their song "Commin' Home", which was used as the theme song for the Adult Swim animated television series Superjail!, which was co-created by the band's guitarist, Christy Karacas, who is also known for creating Ballmastrz: 9009.

<i>Robotomy</i> American animated television series

Robotomy is an American animated television series created by Michael Buckley and Joe Deasy for Cartoon Network. The series ran from October 25, 2010 to January 24, 2011. The series revolves around Thrasher and Blastus, two teenage alien robots who live in the planet Insanus. It was produced by Cartoon Network Studios and World Leaders Entertainment, and co-executive produced and directed by Christy Karacas, creator of Superjail! and Ballmastrz: 9009. The series was the result of numerous failed pitches to the network by the creators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. G. Quintel</span> American animator

James Garland Quintel is an American animator, storyboard artist, director, writer, producer, and voice actor. He is best known as the creator of the Cartoon Network series Regular Show (2010–2017), in which he voiced Mordecai and High Five Ghost, and the HBO Max series Close Enough (2020–2022), in which he voiced Josh.

Adult Swim is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by Showcase Television, Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment. The channel primarily airs animated and live-action comedies targeting a teenage and young adult audience. Its branding is licensed from the Adult Swim programming block broadcast by Warner Bros. Discovery's Cartoon Network; it is the first full-time television channel to use the "Adult Swim" brand.

<i>Superjail!</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of the American animated television series Superjail!, created by Christy Karacas, Stephen Warbrick, and Ben Gruber, originally aired on Adult Swim in the United States. The season premiered on September 28, 2008, and ended on December 7, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Wong (musician)</span> American musician (born 1980)

Joe Wong is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer, and podcaster based in Los Angeles, California. He is currently the host of The Trap Set, a weekly podcast and radio show about the lives of musicians.

Dave Hughes is an American television producer and editor, currently employed at Williams Street as well the founder of his production studio, Million Monkeys Inc. Hughes previously worked as a video editor while at MTV Animation, working on series such as Beavis and Butt-head, Celebrity Deathmatch and Cartoon Sushi, before meeting with coworker Matt Harrigan to work on Space Ghost Coast to Coast in Los Angeles. He has worked on several Adult Swim series, and is the creator of his own show for the network, Off the Air.

<i>Mr. Pickles</i> American adult animated sitcom

Mr. Pickles is an American adult animated horror comedy slasher series created by Will Carsola and Dave Stewart for Adult Swim. The series revolves around the Goodman family, especially their 6-year-old son named Tommy and the family's border collie dog, the satanic Mr. Pickles. The series aired from September 21, 2014, to November 18, 2019.

<i>Ballmastrz: 9009</i> Adult animation TV series or program

Ballmastrz: 9009 is an adult animated sitcom created by animator and voice actor Christy Karacas. It premiered on April 9, 2018, on Cartoon Network's nighttime programming block Adult Swim and was produced by Titmouse, Inc. and Williams Street. The series stars actress Natasha Lyonne as the voice of Gaz Digzy, an athletic superstar in a dystopian future where humanity is satiated by a violent sport simply known as "The Game". The series is characterized by anime-style iconography, dark humor, and shock value.

Stephen Warbrick is an American animator, producer, voice actor and writer. He is one of the co-creators of the American adult animated television series Superjail!, which he created with Christy Karacas and Ben Gruber.

Ollie Green is an American producer and production manager. She has won five Primetime Emmy Awards and been nominated for nine more in the categories Outstanding Animated Program and Outstanding Short Form Animated Program for her work on the television programs Robot Chicken and Rick and Morty for Adult Swim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Awesome Inc</span> American animation studio

Awesome Inc, also known as We Are: Awesome Incorporated, is an American animation studio founded in 2006 by Ashley Kohler and Drew Tyndell. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, Awesome Inc does both commercial and series production. Its clients include FX Networks, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Wieden+Kennedy, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Marvel. 

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Nacho, T. (26 June 2019). "Christy Karacas". Kill Pretty. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  2. "Christy Karacas". Rhode Island School of Design. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  3. "RISD will have an unusually strong presence at..." Our RISD. August 4, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 Webb, C. (1 April 2011). "Going Back to 'Superjail!' with series creators Christy Karacas and Stephen Webrick". MTV News. Archived from the original on January 3, 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  5. McPheeters, S.; Karacas, C. (2 October 2011). "Survival of the Streets: Snake Plissken, the Cro-Mags, and the Persistence of Megatoilet Nostalgia" (PDF). Vice. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  6. 1 2 Gazin, N. (8 February 2009). "Superjail bursts our brain vessels". Vice. Vice Media Group. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 Aaron (26 September 2008). "Superjail Super Interview". Cold Hard Flash. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 Wolfe, J. (12 June 2014). "Q&A: Exploring the Twisted World of Adult Swim's 'Superjail!'". Animation World Network. AWN Inc. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  9. ian2x4 (28 January 2011). "Robotomy has been cancelled!!". Anime Superhero. Retrieved 24 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. "Christy Karacas of Cheeseburger on His Day, Night Jobs". 4 New York. NBC Universal, Inc. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  11. Kurland, D. (7 April 2018). "Ballmastrz: 9009's Creator On Mixing Together Art, Sports, and Madness". Den of Geek!. DoG Tech LLC. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  12. TV News Desk (23 January 2020). "BALLMASTRZ: 9009 Returns February 23 on Adult Swim". Broadway World. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  13. "Christy Karacas". IMDb. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  14. "Interview with Christy Karacas". Kill Pretty Magazine. Retrieved 14 February 2024.