Christy Karacas

Christy Karacas won over legions of animation fans with his series "Superjail" (Cartoon Network, 2007, 2008-14). Providing content for Cartoon Network's popular Adult Swim, his style drew upon influences as diverse as Robert Crumb and Tex Avery. After studying at the Rhode Island School of Design, his student film "Space War" (1997) was featured on "Cartoon Sushi" (MTV, 1997-98). Alhtough he never completely left animation, Karacas turned his attention to his band, Cheeseburger, which he formed with drummer Luke Crotty and singer Joe Bradley. With Karacas on guitar, the group first released a six-song EP, "Gang's All Here" (2005), before releasing the albums "Cheeseburger" (2007) and "Another Big Night Down the Drain" (2011). He continued animating, contributing to Spike Jonz's VBS.tv. Partnering with Steve Warbrick, Karacas completed another short animated film, "Bar Fight" (2001), that helped raise his profile again within the animation community. Along with Warbrick and Ben Gruber, he developed "Superjail," about a prison in an alternate dimension run by a deranged Warden, voiced by David Wain, who can manipulate time and space. His series "Robotomy" (Cartoon Network, 2010-11), featuring voice work from Patton Oswalt and Kate McKinnon, continued to further his reputation as an animator. His short "Royal Blood: Out of the Black" (2015), co-directed by David Wilson and about a bunny-suit wearing alien who robs gas stations, combined live-action and animation. He returned to the Adult Swim lineup again with "Ballmastrz: 9009" (Cartoon Network, 2018), an animated offering about a failed extreme athlete in the future named Gaz Digzy, voiced by Natasha Lyonne.