TARTAKOVSKY, Genndy

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Birth/Death

Birth: January 17, 1970

Occupation/Title

Bio Summary

Early Life/Family

Genndy Tartakovsky was born in January 1970, in Moscow, USSR to Jewish parents. His father worked as a dentist for high level government officers and his mother was an assistant principal at a school. They moved to the United States when he was seven because his father wanted a better life for his children.

Before moving to the United States, however, his family first moved to Italy, where he lived next to a German family. There, he says he was first drawn to art, inspired by the neighbor's daughter. Tartakovsky later commented, "I remember, I was horrible at it. For the life of me, I couldn't draw a circle."

Later, he and his family moved to the United States. He was greatly influenced by the comics he found there, and the first he bought was a Super Friends comic at his first job, working at a 7-Eleven.

Education/Training

He started going to Eugene Field School in third grade. School was hard because Genndy felt that everyone recognized him as a foreigner. He says he never fit in until he was a sophomore in high school. When he was 16, his father died. Genndy's relationship with his father was very special to him. He felt that his father was very strict and was an old fashioned man. After his father died, Genndy was introduced to television, which left a deep impact upon his later career. After his father died, his family moved to government-funded housing and Genndy began working, while still attending high school.

To satisfy his ambitious family, Genndy tried to take an advertising class, because they were pushing him to be a business man. However he signed up late, and therefore did not have any choice over his classes. He was assigned to take an animation class, and studied animation at Chicago's Columbia College. He worked in a frenzy, trying to build his profile as an animator. Around 1991 he made a three-minute short film by himself. This was the beginning of a prolific carrer, and from this, along with a shoebox full of flipbooks, he managed to get into the California Institute of the Arts with his friend, Robert Renzetti.

Career Outline

Comments On Style

Genndy has great sense of timing. He is a leader and is not afraid to go against the grain and try new things with his animation. The visual look of his work tends to be very thoughtful and stylized. He frequently uses pop culture references in his work.

Influences

His work is influenced heavily by American comic books, pop culture, and Japanese anime.

Personality

Anecdotes

According to Genndy’s brother Alex, "Our parents noticed how much he liked to draw, so they brought him to an art teacher," Alex said. "After several classes they asked her opinion, and she said, 'Well, he's no Michelangelo.' What Genndy has in his art is great life. He's not the type of guy who draws vases or a deer."

Miscellaneous

The characters of Dexter and Dee Dee from “Dexter’s Lab” were based on Genndy and his brother when they were children. Growing up his brother, now a computer engineer had complex toys and would not share them. Dee Dee’s character inspired by Genndy himself and Dexter by his brother.

Filmography

"2 Stupid Dogs" (1 episode-"Jerk", 1993)
"Dexter's Laboratory" (1995)
"The Big Sister" (1995)
"The What a Cartoon Show" (7 episodes, 1995-1996)
"Dexter's Rude Removal" (1998)
"The Powerpuff Girls" (17 episodes, 1998-2000)
"Dexter's Laboratory Ego Trip" (1999)
"Dexter's Laboratory: Chicken Scratch" (2002)
“Dexter’s Laboratory” (75 episodes, 1996-2003)
"Star Wars: Clone Wars" (2003-2005)
"Samurai Jack" (2001-2004)
"Sunday Pants" ("Periwinkle Around the World" segment, 2005)
“Korgoth of Barbaria” – TV pilot (2006)


Producer:

"What a Cartoon Show" (Supervising producer, 5 episodes, 1995-2000)
"The Powerpuff Girls" (Supervising producer, 39 episodes, 1998-2004)
"Uncle Gus in: For the Love of Monkeys" (Supervising producer, 1999)
"Dexter's Laboratory Ego Trip" (Supervising producer, 1999)
"What Ever Happened to Robot Jones?" (Supervising producer, 2000)
"My Freaky Family" (Supervising producer, 2001)
"Imp, Inc." (Supervising producer, 2001)
"The Flinstones: On the Rocks" (Supervising producer, 2001)
"Samurai Jack" (Executive Producer, 2001-2004)
"Dexter's Laboratory" (8 episodes, 1997-2002; Executive producer, 1 episode, 2002)
"The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy" (Supervising producer, 10 episodes, 2003)
"Star Wars: Clone Wars" (Executive Producer, 2003-2005)
"Sunday Pants" ("Periwinkle Around the World" segment, 2005)


Writer:

"Dexter's Rude Removal" (1998)
"The Powerpuff Girls" (2 episodes, 1999)
"Dexter's Laboratory Ego Trip" (1999)
WAC Winner - "Dexter's Laboratory Ego Trip" - Best Television Special (2001)
"Samurai Jack" (2001-2004)
"Dexter's Laboratory: Chicken Scratch" (2002)
"Star Wars: Clone Wars" (2003)
OIAF Award - "Samurai Jack" - Best Television Series (2002)
"Dexter's Laboratory" (Creator, 79 episodes, 2004)



Honors

OIAF Award - "Samurai Jack" - Best Television Series (2002)
WAC Winner - "Dexter's Laboratory Ego Trip" - Best Television Special
Emmy Award - "Samurai Jack" - Outstanding Animated Program (2004)
Emmy Award - "Star Wars: Clone Wars" - Outstanding Animated Program (2004)
Emmy Award - "Star Wars: Clone Wars"- Outstanding Animated Program (2005)
Winsor McCay Award 2006


Related Links

ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive: Meta: 2006 Annie Award Winners
www.orphanageanimation.com

Bibliographic References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genndy_Tartakovsky
www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/ap/gtartakovsky.html
Wilkinson, Alec. The New Yorker. “Moody Toons, The King of Cartoon Network”. Page 76. 27 May 2002


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Contributors To This Listing

Crystal Cornejo
Jake Thomas

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