Michael Cusack (animator)
Michael Cusack | |
|---|---|
 Cusack in March 2024 | |
| Born | Dapto, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2012–present |
Michael R. Cusack is an Australian animator, voice actor, writer, director, producer, photographer, and musician. He is best known as the co-creator and co-star of the Adult Swim animated comedy series Smiling Friends (2022–present), alongside Zach Hadel, and as the creator and star of the Adult Swim animated comedy series YOLO (2020–present) and the Hulu animated comedy series Koala Man (2023–present).
Early life
[edit]Cusack was born and raised in Dapto, New South Wales, and later moved to Melbourne.[1] He grew up watching South Park, The Simpsons, and Futurama.
Career
[edit]Cusack became interested in animation in his 20s and taught himself Adobe Flash using online tutorials. He uploaded his content to his YouTube channel and Newgrounds account. He created and portrayed Lucas the Magnificent, a parody of New Atheist "neckbeards", in live-action YouTube videos and on Twitter, beginning in 2014; he later stated that the character led to him meeting and befriending American animator Zach Hadel, as Lucas the Magnificent stated that he wanted Hadel to animate the intro of Lucas' potential Let's Play show.[2] They began to collaborate online, then later in person when Cusack traveled to meet Hadel in Burbank, California.[3]
Cusack wrote, directed, animated, produced, and starred in the Rick and Morty special episode Bushworld Adventures, a parody of the series that aired on Adult Swim in 2018 as part of the network's April Fools' Day tradition.[4] The success of Bushworld Adventures led him to create YOLO and Smiling Friends for the network, the latter alongside Hadel.[5] He also voiced Knifey in the video game High on Life,[6] Nugget in the television film The Paloni Show Halloween Special, and Mammon in the online series Helluva Boss.
Personal life
[edit]Cusack continues to reside in Melbourne.[1]
Filmography
[edit]Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Bushworld Adventures | Various | Writer, director, producer, animator, compositor |
| 2018 | Fresh Blood: Koala Man | Koala Man, Damo, Darren, various | |
| 2020–present | YOLO | Lucas the Magnificent, various | Creator, director, writer, executive producer, animator, storyboard artist |
| 2022–present | Smiling Friends | Pim, Allan, various | Co-creator, director, writer, storyboard artist, storyboard revisionist, art director, character design supervisor, designer, animator |
| 2023–present | Koala Man | Koala Man, Liam, Damo, Darren, various | Creator, co-developer, writer, executive producer |
| 2024 | Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy | Servo | Mini-series |
Video games
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | High on Life | Knifey | Voice |
Web
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Question for Ted | Various | 2 episodes |
| 2013–2015 | Weedheads | Various | 2 episodes |
| 2014–2016 | Damo and Darren | Damo, Darren, various | 5 episodes |
| 2018 | OneyPlays | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2018 | Shrek Retold | Donkey | Animator |
| 2019 | The Cyanide & Happiness Show | Aladdin | 1 episode |
| 2021 | Smiling Friends: Free Draw | Self | Adult Swim special |
| 2022 | The Official Podcast | Self | Podcast, Guest |
| 2022 | The Create Unknown | Self | 1 episode |
| 2023 | Helluva Boss | Mammon | 1 episode |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Mathiesen, Craig (9 January 2023). "'Why not Wollongong?' Disney backs irreverent Aussie superhero spoof". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- ^ "The Smiling Friends Troll: How This Atheist Gamer Got an Adult Swim Cameo". YouTube.
- ^ Zahed, Ramin (4 January 2022). "Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel Discuss Making 'Smiling Friends,' Their New Adult Swim Show". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ Whalen, Andrew (2 April 2018). "'Rick And Morty' April Fools' Day Episode, 'Bushworld Adventures,' Premieres Instead of Season 4". Newsweek. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Adult Swim's 'Smiling Friends' Turns Frowns Upside Down". Animation World Network. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ @MichaelRCusack (13 June 2022). "Yayy I voiced that knife :) @SquanchGames #HighOnLife" (Tweet) – via Twitter.