Christy Karacas

Christy C. Karacas (born March 8, 1975) is an American musician, animator, voice actor, director and writer, known for creating ''Superjail!'' and '' Ballmastrz: 9009'' for Adult Swim and directing the Cartoon Network series ''Robotomy''.

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"). Karacas went on to study film and animation at the Rhode Island School of Design, 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.

Karacas began his career in the animation industry at MTV Animation, where he served as a background designer for ''Daria''. He is a founding member and guitar player for the band Cheeseburger, and he also worked with title sequences, animation, and illustration for VBS.tv and ''Vice'' magazine. 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. 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!''.

''Superjail!'' was originally animated by Augenblick Studios in the pilot episode and first season, but was later animated by Titmouse, Inc. from seasons two to four. 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, and writing new material with his bandmates of Cheeseburger.

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

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, 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, anime, and underground comix.

Filmography

Karacas is notable for the following:

*''Space War'' (1997)
*''Daria'' (1997-2002) - Background designer
*''Life'' (1999) - Animator
*''Bar Fight'' (2006)
*''Squidbillies'' (2017) - Storyboard artist
*''Superjail!'' (2007; 2008–2014) - Co-creator, writer, executive producer, storyboard artist, director, voice actor, character layout artist, assistant animator, animator
*''Robotomy'' (2010-2011) - Co-executive producer, creative director, director
*'' Out of the Black'' (2013) - Animator, co-director
*''Moonbeam City'' (2015)
*''Nerdland'' (2016) - Sequence animator: Video XV
*'' Ballmastrz: 9009'' (2018–present)
*''Ballmastrz: Rubicon'' (2023)

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karacas, Christy
American animators
American male musicians
American television writers
American male television writers
American male voice actors
Artists from New Hampshire
1975 births
American storyboard artists
Showrunners
Living people
Creative directors
Rhode Island School of Design alumni