33 Facts About Genndy Tartakovsky

Gennady Borisovich Tartakovsky, commonly known as Genndy Tartakovsky, is a Russian-American animator, writer, producer, and director.

Genndy Tartakovsky 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.

Genndy Tartakovsky was born on 17 January 1970, in Moscow, to Jewish parents.

Genndy Tartakovsky's father worked as a dentist for government officials and the Soviet Union national ice hockey team.

Genndy Tartakovsky felt that his father was a very strict and old-fashioned man, but they had a close relationship.

Genndy Tartakovsky's mother, Miriam, was an assistant principal at a school.

Genndy Tartakovsky has a brother, Alexander, who is two years older and a computer consultant in Chicago.

Genndy Tartakovsky's family moved to the United States when he was seven due to concerns about the effect of antisemitism on their children's lives.

Genndy Tartakovsky was greatly influenced by the comics he found there; his first purchase was an issue of Super Friends.

Genndy Tartakovsky began attending Chicago's Eugene Field Elementary School in the third grade.

Genndy Tartakovsky went on to attend Chicago's prestigious Lane Tech College Prep High School and says he did not fit in until his sophomore year.

Genndy Tartakovsky was assigned to take an animation class and this led to his study of film at Columbia College Chicago before moving to Los Angeles to study animation at the California Institute of the Arts with his friend Rob Renzetti.

At CalArts, Genndy Tartakovsky directed and animated two student films, one of which became the basis for Dexter's Laboratory.

Genndy Tartakovsky co-wrote and pencilled the 25th issue of the Dexter's Laboratory comic book series, titled "Stubble Trouble", as well as several stories which are collected in the Dexter's Laboratory Classics trade paperback.

Genndy Tartakovsky created the action-adventures series Samurai Jack, which premiered in 2001; he wrote comics for the franchise.

In 2005, Genndy Tartakovsky was appointed creative president of Orphanage Animation Studios.

Genndy Tartakovsky served as animation director on the pilot episode of Korgoth of Barbaria, which aired on Adult Swim in 2006 but was not picked up as a series.

Genndy Tartakovsky directed a series of anti-smoking advertisements, one for Nicorette in 2006 and two for Niquitin in 2008.

In 2009, Genndy Tartakovsky created a pilot entitled Maruined for Cartoon Network's The Cartoonstitute program, which was not picked up.

Genndy Tartakovsky once worked on the Nicktoons Film Festival for Nickelodeon as part of the Grand Jury with Patrick Warburton and Steve Oedekerk.

In June 2012, Genndy Tartakovsky said that he had a story to conclude the series and title character's story, but the project had been shelved after Abrams moved on to direct Star Trek.

In 2010, Genndy Tartakovsky created storyboards for Jon Favreau's Iron Man 2.

Genndy Tartakovsky created a new series for Cartoon Network, Sym-Bionic Titan, between 2010 and 2011.

Genndy Tartakovsky had hoped to expand on the initial season, but it was not renewed.

In early 2011, Genndy Tartakovsky moved to Sony Pictures Animation, where he made his feature film directing debut with Hotel Transylvania.

In June 2012, Sony announced that Genndy Tartakovsky was slated to direct a computer-animated Popeye feature.

In March 2015, Genndy Tartakovsky announced that despite the well-received test footage, he was no longer working on the project.

Genndy Tartakovsky directed Hotel Transylvania 2, the sequel to Hotel Transylvania, released in 2015.

Genndy Tartakovsky later clarified that he was not working on it yet and funding was still needed, saying that if he had the time he would do it.

Genndy Tartakovsky was involved in the development of the video game Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time, which was released on 21 August 2020.

On June 15,2022, Genndy Tartakovsky inked a cross-studio overall deal with Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros.

On March 30,2023, it was announced that Genndy Tartakovsky's show Unicorn: Warriors Eternal was moved to Adult Swim, with expecting to premiere on the programming block on May 1,2023.

Genndy Tartakovsky married Dawn David in 2000 and has three children with her.