Craig McCracken
{{short description|American cartoonist and animator}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Craig McCracken 1.jpg
| alt =
| caption = McCracken in January 2012
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|3|31|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = Charleroi, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| years_active = 1990–present
| known_for = {{plainlist|
| occupation = {{hlist|Cartoonist|animator|director|writer|producer}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Lauren Faust|2004}}
| children = 1
}}
Craig McCracken{{Cite tweet |number=1778148570560143561 |user=CrackMcCraigen |title=My middle name's not Douglas, I'll tell you that. |first=Craig |last=McCracken |author-link=Craig McCracken |date=April 10, 2024}} (born March 31, 1971) is an American cartoonist, animator, director, writer, and producer known for creating Cartoon Network's The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Disney Channel and Disney XD's Wander Over Yonder, and Netflix's Kid Cosmic.
Regarded as "one of the most successful creators of episodic comedy cartoons",{{Cite web |last=Baron |first=Reuben |date=January 20, 2021 |title=The Powerpuff Girls' Craig McCracken Talks Entering the Streaming Age with Kid Cosmic |url=https://www.cbr.com/craig-mccracken-kid-cosmic-interview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120183234/https://www.cbr.com/craig-mccracken-kid-cosmic-interview/ |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |access-date=January 25, 2021 |website=CBR.com}} his style was "at the forefront of a second wave of innovative, creator-driven television animation" in the 1990s, along with that of other animators such as Genndy Tartakovsky,{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Robert |date=February 2, 2021 |title=Now at Netflix, 'Powerpuff Girls' Creator Savors Freedom: 'Wait. We Can Do This Now?' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-02-02/powerpuff-girls-craig-mccracken-kid-cosmic-netfix |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905160842/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-02-02/powerpuff-girls-craig-mccracken-kid-cosmic-netfix |archive-date=September 5, 2021 |access-date=September 5, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times}} and has been credited as "a staple of American modern animated television".{{Cite web |last=Maher |first=John |date=February 2, 2021 |title=Two Decades After The Powerpuff Girls, a New Superpowered Kid Learns Some Big Lessons |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/kid-cosmic-craig-mccracken-interview.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202232821/https://www.vulture.com/article/kid-cosmic-craig-mccracken-interview.html |archive-date=February 2, 2021 |access-date=February 22, 2021 |website=Vulture}}
Early life and education
McCracken was born March 31, 1971,{{Cite tweet |number=1774551258864452005 |user=TheCartoonBase |title=Happy 53rd Birthday to the talented Craig McCracken. What's your favorite series from the creator? |date=March 31, 2024}}{{Cite tweet |number=1642036573821898753 |user=CrackMcCraigen |title=Thank you for all the happy birthday well wishes. Winding the evening down watching classic CN cartoons, like Chowder which was recently discovered by our daughter. Her mom, @Fyre_flye are so proud! |first=Craig |last=McCracken |author-link=Craig McCracken |access-date=June 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612062809/https://twitter.com/CrackMcCraigen/status/1642036573821898753 |archive-date=June 12, 2023}} in Charleroi, Pennsylvania. He began drawing at an early age. He attended California High School in Whittier, California, and the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he met his friend and future collaborator, Genndy Tartakovsky. During his first year, he created a series of short cartoons featuring a character named No Neck Joe, which were picked up by Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation.{{Cite AV media |title=The Powerpuff Girls: Who, What, Where, How, Why... Who Cares? |year=2009}}{{Cite web |date=July 3, 2011 |title=Spike and Mike's – A Brief History |url=http://spikeandmike.com/sitepages/press.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703084323/http://spikeandmike.com/sitepages/press.php |archive-date=July 3, 2011 |access-date=January 14, 2014 |website=SpikeandMike.com}} While at CalArts, he also created a short entitled Whoopass Stew!, which would later become the basis for The Powerpuff Girls.{{Cite book |last=Lenburg |first=Jeff |url=https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinanimate0000lenb |title=Who's Who in Animated Cartoons: An International Guide to Film & Television's Award-Winning and Legendary Animators |publisher=Hal Leonard |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-55783-671-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinanimate0000lenb/page/231 231] |quote=tartakovsky calarts. |access-date=May 31, 2011 |url-access=registration}}
Career
In 1993, McCracken was hired by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons as an art director on the Turner Broadcasting System series 2 Stupid Dogs, alongside Tartakovsky. As his first job in the animation industry, he was "never really happy with how that [show] worked".{{Cite web |last=Plume |first=Ken |date=June 26, 2002 |title=10 Questions: Craig McCracken |url=http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/363/363366p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020804022912/http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/363/363366p1.html |archive-date=August 4, 2002 |access-date=March 10, 2022 |website=IGN |publisher=News Corporation}} While McCracken was at Hanna-Barbera, studio president Fred Seibert began a new project: an animation incubator consisting of 48 new cartoons running approximately seven minutes each. Dubbed What a Cartoon!, it motivated McCracken to further develop his Whoopass Girls! creation.{{Cite web |title=Animator Profile: 'Craig McCracken' |url=http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/ap/cmccracken.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310030357/http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/ap/cmccracken.html |archive-date=2007-03-10 |access-date=2007-03-26 |website=CartoonNetwork.com}} He recalled that the network could not market a show with the word "ass" in it, so two of his friends came up with The Powerpuff Girls as a replacement for the original title.{{Cite news |last=Rawson |first=Christopher |date=November 14, 1998 |title=Three Tough Sisters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94622924/three-tough-sisters/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304132233/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94622924/three-tough-sisters/ |archive-date=March 4, 2022 |access-date=March 4, 2022 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |page=60 |publication-place=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |via=Newspapers.com}} His new pilot, "The Powerpuff Girls in: Meat Fuzzy Lumkins", premiered on February 20, 1995, on Cartoon Network's World Premiere Toons-In,{{Cite news |last=Winfrey |first=Lee |date=December 27, 1994 |title=From Hanna-Barbera, 8 New Cartoons for Cable the Cartoon Network's New Stable of Stars Includes Two Ducks, Two Bears, and Even Dino of "Flintstones" Fame. |url=http://articles.philly.com/1994-12-27/entertainment/25853819_1_world-premiere-toons-johnny-bravo-famous-cartoon-characters |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002247/http://articles.philly.com/1994-12-27/entertainment/25853819_1_world-premiere-toons-johnny-bravo-famous-cartoon-characters |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=2013-05-12 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |publisher=Philadelphia Media Network}} and a second short, "Crime 101", followed on January 28, 1996. The first short to be picked up by the network was Tartakovsky's Dexter's Laboratory, which McCracken would contribute to in early seasons. McCracken's Powerpuff Girls was the fourth cartoon to be greenlit a full series, which premiered on November 18, 1998, with the final episode airing on March 25, 2005. The show has won Emmy{{Cite web |title=The Powerpuff Girls {{!}} Emmys.com |url=http://www.emmys.com/node/22291 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017031414/https://www.emmys.com/404-search?search_api_views_fulltext=node%2022291 |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |access-date=November 4, 2011 |website=Emmys.com}} and Annie awards.{{Cite web |title=29th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (2001) |url=http://annieawards.org/29thwinners.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509071145/http://annieawards.org/29thwinners.html |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |access-date=November 4, 2011 |website=AnnieAwards.org |publisher=ASIFA-Hollywood}} In 2002, McCracken directed The Powerpuff Girls Movie, a prequel to his series. The film received generally positive reviews but was a box office failure.{{Cite news |last=Longino |first=Bob |title=The Powerpuff Girls Movie |url=http://mo.accessatlanta.com/movies/content/shared/movies/reviews/P/thepowerpuffgirlsmovie.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116094053/http://mo.accessatlanta.com/movies/content/shared/movies/reviews/P/thepowerpuffgirlsmovie.html |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |access-date=March 15, 2018 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Brandon |date=July 8, 2002 |title=Same Weekend. New Record. 'Men in Black 2' Bags $87 Million over Fourth of July Weekend |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed628360196/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213543/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed628360196/ |archive-date=June 2, 2021 |access-date=March 15, 2018 |website=Box Office Mojo}}
File:Craig McCracken & Lauren Faust.png at the Emmy Awards in 2008]]
McCracken left The Powerpuff Girls after four seasons, focusing on his next project, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. It premiered with the 90-minute television special "House of Bloo's" on August 13, 2004, on Cartoon Network. He developed the series with wife Lauren Faust and Mike Moon. The show ran for six seasons, all directed by McCracken, and concluded on May 3, 2009. It also won Emmy{{Cite web |title=Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends {{!}} Emmys.com |url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/fosters-home-imaginary-friends |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606215058/http://www.emmys.com/shows/fosters-home-imaginary-friends |archive-date=June 6, 2012 |access-date=November 4, 2011 |website=Emmys.com}} and Annie awards.{{Cite web |title=34th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (2006) |url=http://annieawards.org/34thwinners.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129175920/http://annieawards.org/34thwinners.html |archive-date=January 29, 2009 |access-date=November 4, 2011 |website=AnnieAwards.org |publisher=ASIFA-Hollywood}}
In April 2008, he became executive producer of a new Cartoon Network showcase project called The Cartoonstitute.{{Cite web |date=April 8, 2008 |title=Cartoon Network Bows the Cartoonstitute: A 'Think Tank' for Animators |url=https://variety.com/2008/tv/news/cartoon-network-2-20919/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404175928/https://variety.com/2008/tv/news/cartoon-network-2-20919/ |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |access-date=April 4, 2022 |website=Variety}} After 17 years of employment, he resigned from Cartoon Network in 2009, after it shifted focus to live-action and reality shows.{{Cite web |last=Flint |first=Joe |date=August 17, 2009 |title=Gambling on Live Action |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-aug-17-fi-ct-cartoon17-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404130947/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-aug-17-fi-ct-cartoon17-story.html |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |access-date=April 4, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times}} He created Wander Over Yonder for Disney Television Animation and Disney Channel in August 2013.{{Cite web |last=Connelley |first=Brendon |date=March 13, 2012 |title=Wander Over Yonder Coming to TV – The New Project from Powerpuff Creator Craig McCracken |url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/03/13/wander-over-yonder-coming-to-tv-the-new-project-from-powerpuff-creator-craig-mccracken/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101013308/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/03/13/wander-over-yonder-coming-to-tv-the-new-project-from-powerpuff-creator-craig-mccracken/ |archive-date=January 1, 2014 |access-date=August 27, 2013 |website=Bleeding Cool}} After Wander Over Yonder was cancelled, McCracken pitched a new show to Disney, based on his 2009 comic strip The Kid from Planet Earth.{{Cite tweet |number=1489340668333858817 |user=CrackMcCraigen |title=2015- After Wander Over Yonder was cancelled @FrankAngones @Fyre_flye @andybeanmusic @ownerofwendys @skulptduggery Justin Nichols & I started working on what was then called "The Kid from Planet Earth" for Disney TVA. https://t.co/6vkrtAq1FT |first=Craig |last=McCracken |author-link=Craig McCracken |date=February 3, 2022 |access-date=May 8, 2022 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203205206/https://twitter.com/CrackMcCraigen/status/1489340668333858817 |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnnhm1gBy7s |title=Craig McCracken: Creating Kid Cosmic! (Teaser) |date=September 4, 2021 |publisher=What's In My Head Podcast |access-date=May 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502225311/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnnhm1gBy7s |archive-date=May 2, 2022 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}} Disney ultimately passed on the project,{{Cite tweet |number=1489340671466954752 |user=CrackMcCraigen |title=After two years of development & a final pilot animatic Disney said no & passed on the project. |first=Craig |last=McCracken |author-link=Craig McCracken |date=February 3, 2022 |access-date=May 8, 2022 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203205612/https://twitter.com/CrackMcCraigen/status/1489340671466954752 |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |url-status=live}} and he eventually left the company in 2017.{{Cite tweet |number=1059982912974536704 |user=CrackMcCraigen |title=@angelleivaa @nickandmore Nope, I left Disney about a year ago. |first=Craig |last=McCracken |author-link=Craig McCracken |date=November 6, 2018 |access-date=May 8, 2022 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508221709/https://twitter.com/CrackMcCraigen/status/1059982912974536704 |archive-date=May 8, 2022}} He then pitched his idea to Netflix and it was greenlight under the name of Kid Cosmic. The show premiered on February 2, 2021, and ended on February 3, 2022.{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2021 |title=Craig McCracken's 'Kid Cosmic' Premieres February 2 on Netflix |url=https://www.awn.com/news/craig-mccrackens-kid-cosmic-premieres-february-2-netflix |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108064440/https://www.awn.com/news/craig-mccrackens-kid-cosmic-premieres-february-2-netflix |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |access-date=January 5, 2021 |website=Animation World Network}}{{Cite tweet |number=1482064513058807808 |user=CrackMcCraigen |title=#KidCosmic Season 3 premieres Feb 3rd on @netflix. These last 6 episodes are the final chapter in Kid's story of finally becoming the Global Hero he always dreamed he could be! https://t.co/S58EkrA3Pw |first=Craig |last=McCracken |author-link=Craig McCracken |date=January 14, 2022 |access-date=May 8, 2022 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114185831/https://twitter.com/CrackMcCraigen/status/1482064513058807808 |archive-date=January 14, 2022 |url-status=live}} It is the first of McCracken's original works to have a serialized format and his return to the superhero genre since The Powerpuff Girls.{{Cite web |last=Zahed |first=Ramin |date=January 5, 2021 |title=Close Encounters of the Retro Kind: Craig McCracken Discusses His New Show 'Kid Cosmic' |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/streaming/close-encounters-of-the-retro-kind-craig-mccracken-talks-kid-cosmic/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104185220/https://www.animationmagazine.net/streaming/close-encounters-of-the-retro-kind-craig-mccracken-talks-kid-cosmic/ |archive-date=January 4, 2021 |access-date=January 5, 2021 |website=Animation Magazine}} He pitched 10 projects to Netflix in August 2021,{{Cite tweet |number=1425251948555505666 |user=CrackMcCraigen |title=@FrankAngones @bibbymoynihan Then you'll really like one of the 10 new projects I'm pitching to Netflix tomorrow! |first=Craig |last=McCracken |author-link=Craig McCracken |date=August 10, 2021 |access-date=May 8, 2022 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811002526/https://twitter.com/CrackMcCraigen/status/1425251948555505666 |archive-date=August 11, 2021 |url-status=live}} but eventually left by April 2022 due to mass layoffs at Netflix Animation.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Drew |date=April 20, 2022 |title=Netflix Animation Erased: Executives Fired, Shows Canceled and Accusations of 'Staged Data' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/netflix-animation-erased-executives-fired-220251819.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017031413/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/netflix-animation-erased-executives-fired-220251819.html |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |access-date=April 25, 2022 |website=Yahoo!}}{{Cite tweet |number=1518377445140811776 |user=CrackMcCraigen |title=@mexopolis @kikutowne Incredibly well said. This is a great sentiment to take with me as I wrap my last official week there. |first=Craig |last=McCracken |author-link=Craig McCracken |date=April 24, 2022 |access-date=May 8, 2022 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424235317/https://twitter.com/CrackMcCraigen/status/1518377445140811776 |archive-date=April 24, 2022 |url-status=live}}
On July 18, 2022, it was announced that McCracken began developing reboots of The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends at Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe. Foster's Home will take form in a pre-school show focused on new characters.{{Cite news |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=2022-07-18 |title='Powerpuff Girls' & 'Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends' Animated Series Reboots from Craig McCracken in Works at Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/powerpuff-girls-fosters-home-for-imaginary-friends-animated-series-reboots-craig-mccracken-hanna-barbera-studios-europe-1235071571/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718190549/https://deadline.com/2022/07/powerpuff-girls-fosters-home-for-imaginary-friends-animated-series-reboots-craig-mccracken-hanna-barbera-studios-europe-1235071571/ |archive-date=July 18, 2022 |access-date=2022-07-18 |work=Deadline Hollywood}} In 2023, McCracken received the Winsor McCay Award at the Annie Awards ceremony for his "unparalleled achievement and exceptional contributions to animation".{{Cite web |title=Annie Awards - Nominations |url=https://annieawards.org/nominations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229200458/https://annieawards.org/nominations |archive-date=December 29, 2021 |access-date=January 18, 2023 |website=AnnieAwards.org |publisher=ASIFA-Hollywood}} The Hollywood Reporter also named him one of the most powerful people in kids entertainment, in pair with Lauren Faust.{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2023 |editor-last=Sancton |editor-first=Julian |title=The 75 Most Powerful People in Kids' Entertainment |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/powerful-people-kids-entertainment-1235507904/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808073647/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/powerful-people-kids-entertainment-1235507904/ |archive-date=August 8, 2024 |access-date=December 9, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}
Style and influences
Since his early years of career, McCracken has chosen to design characters in a simplistic way (as opposed to the realism of Warner Bros. or Disney feature films) because it is more practical for television production, as money and time limits what the animators can do.{{Cite book |last=Murray |first=Joe |url=https://joemurraystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Creating-Animated-Cartoons-with-Character.pdf |title=Creating Animated Cartoons with Character: A Guide to Developing and Producing Your Own Series for TV, the Web, and Short Film |publisher=Watson-Guptill Publications |year=2010 |isbn=9780823033072 |pages=106–109 |chapter=Q&A with Craig McCracken}} In addition to this, he claimed that the crew at Hanna-Barbera wanted their shows "to be different than what was on Nick and Disney". Some of his main inspirations were comic book artists such as Charles M. Schulz, Bill Watterson and Hergé.{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2023 |title=Craig McCracken on Creativity |url=https://animationobsessive.substack.com/p/craig-mccracken-on-creativity |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607190641/https://animationobsessive.substack.com/p/craig-mccracken-on-creativity |archive-date=June 7, 2023 |access-date=September 5, 2023 |website=Animation Obsessive}} All of his series have had diverse influences in terms of design, comedy and storytelling. To mention some: 1960s Batman, Underdog and Rocky and Bullwinkle in The Powerpuff Girls,{{Cite news |last=McDonough |first=Kevin |date=June 30, 2002 |title=Powerpuff Girls |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/94554371/powerpuff-girls-market-muscle-d18/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905142915/https://www.newspapers.com/article/94554371/powerpuff-girls-market-muscle-d18/ |archive-date=September 5, 2023 |access-date=September 5, 2023 |work=Newsday |page=D18 (141) |via=Newspapers.com}} The Muppet Show, Sesame Street and SpongeBob SquarePants in Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (which also has a visual style inspired by 60s psychedelia),{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Joy |date=August 15, 2004 |title=Television; The Retirement Home for Imaginary Friends |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/15/arts/television-the-retirement-home-for-imaginary-friends.html?_r=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515151140/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/15/arts/television-the-retirement-home-for-imaginary-friends.html?_r=1 |archive-date=May 15, 2021 |access-date=September 5, 2023 |website=The New York Times}}{{Cite news |last=Renata |first=Gonzáles |date=September 13, 2004 |title=Cambia a las Chicas por un 'Amigo' |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A126118026/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=e3a18da5 |access-date=September 5, 2023 |work=Reforma |publisher=Grupo Reforma |page=1 |language=es}} Yellow Submarine and Looney Tunes in Wander Over Yonder,{{Cite web |last=Zahed |first=Ramin |date=September 13, 2013 |title=McCracken's 'Wander Over Yonder' Premieres Tonight |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2013/09/a-walk-on-the-bright-side/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212142753/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2013/09/a-walk-on-the-bright-side/ |archive-date=December 12, 2023 |access-date=September 5, 2023 |website=Animation Magazine}} and Dennis the Menace and The Adventures of Tintin in Kid Cosmic.{{Cite web |last=Fay |first=Kim |date=March 1, 2021 |title=Cosmic Cartooning |url=https://keyframemagazine.org/2021/03/01/cosmic-cartooning/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905135911/https://keyframemagazine.org/2021/03/01/cosmic-cartooning/ |archive-date=September 5, 2023 |access-date=September 5, 2023 |website=Keyframe}}
During his time at CalArts, he discovered the cartoons of United Productions of America (UPA), which also heavily influenced the visual style of his creations. His shows often present the underdog as the main focus. For example, Kid Cosmic is about a group of "punk rock" characters who "may not have the skill or the talent, but they have the determination and conviction" to create a superhero team. Foster's also revolves around a group of misfit creatures that have been abandoned by their original owners. Although the Powerpuff Girls are not typical underdogs, the fact that they are little girls might make people underestimate them as superheroes. He also liked to present "the contrast of cute characters being strong and tough".{{Cite news |last=Rosenfeld |first=Megan |date=December 26, 2000 |title=Powerpuff Girls: Good Guise, Bad Guys |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/12/26/powerpuff-girls-good-guise-bad-guys/79a54733-9e40-4633-a5c4-46c040bff6c2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620012839/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/12/26/powerpuff-girls-good-guise-bad-guys/79a54733-9e40-4633-a5c4-46c040bff6c2/ |archive-date=June 20, 2020 |access-date=December 9, 2023 |work=The Washington Post}} Although the Powerpuff Girls have been widely regarded as feminist icons, McCracken has claimed that the real background for their creation was finding "a fun idea" or "a cool concept".
Personal life
McCracken married animator Lauren Faust on March 13, 2004. Faust took maternity leave in mid-2016 to take care of their newborn daughter, Quinn.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fs6R8XtUGU |title=Episode 18: Lauren Faust |date=September 9, 2016 |last=Nicktoons |access-date=September 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/1Fs6R8XtUGU |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live |quote=My daughter's only three months old, so I'm still on my leave, so I'm... just... usually... all day, taking care of the baby. I kinda love it. |via=YouTube |work=Nick Animation Podcast}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
|+ Films |
| style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! Role |
| 1991
| No Neck Joe | Creator, director, writer, and animator {{small|(made in 1990, copyright date 1991)}} |
| 1992
| Creator, director, writer, and animator |
| 1999
| Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip | Story |
| 2002
| Creator, director, story, writer, executive producer, storyboard artist, character designer, and character layout |
| 2009
| Creator, Writer, Story, director, executive producer, story editor, storyboard artist, and character designer |
| class="wikitable"
|+ Television |
| style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! Role |
| 1993–1995
| Art director |
| 1995
| Himself {{small|(Episode: "President's Day Nightmare")}} |
| 1995–1997
| Writer, director, and art director |
| 1995–1996
| Character designer |
| 1996–2003
| Director,{{Cite news |title=Dexter's Laboratory Credits |url=https://www.nytimes.com/tv/show/154958/Dexter-s-Laboratory/credits |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206114629/https://www.nytimes.com/tv/show/154958/Dexter-s-Laboratory/credits |archive-date=February 6, 2015 |access-date=2011-05-31 |work=The New York Times}} art director, model designer, and storyboard artist |
| 1998–2005
| Creator, story, executive producer, writer, storyboard artist, recording director, and director (1998-2002; 2008) |
| 2004–2009
| Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends | Creator, executive producer, art director, character designer, developer, story, writer, storyboard artist, director, and story editor |
| rowspan="2 | 2007
|Diggs Tailwagger: Galactic Rover | rowspan="2"|Executive creative consultant |
| Enter Mode 5 |
| 2008
| rowspan="1"|Executive producer {{small|(Episode: "Pilot")}} |
| rowspan="2 | 2009
| Story and storyboard artist {{small|(Episode: "The Birthday Suits")}} |
| Regular Show
| rowspan="1"|Executive producer {{small|(Episode: "Pilot")}} |
| 2013–2016
|Wander Over Yonder{{Cite web |title=Disney's 2012–13 TV Schedule Presented to Advertisers |url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz/disneys-2012-13-tv-schedule-presented-to-advertisers.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314100013/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz/disneys-2012-13-tv-schedule-presented-to-advertisers.html |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |access-date=March 13, 2012 |df=mdy-all}} | Creator, writer, storyboard artist (2013), director (2013), story, character designer, executive producer, and additional voices |
| 2021–2022
| Creator, executive producer, story, writer, storyboard artist, character designer, director |
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Craig McCracken}}
- {{IMDb name|0566833}}
- [http://cmcc.deviantart.com/ Craig McCracken's deviantART account]
- {{Twitter}}
- {{Tumblr|crackmccraigen}}
- {{Instagram|cmcccartoons}}
- [https://m.ign.com/articles/2002/06/26/10-questions-craig-mccracken 10 Questions: Craig McCracken]
{{Craig McCracken}}
{{Winsor McCay Award 2020s}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCracken, Craig}}
Category:20th-century American male writers
Category:21st-century American male writers
Category:20th-century American screenwriters
Category:21st-century American screenwriters
Category:Animators from Pennsylvania
Category:American art directors
Category:American animated film directors
Category:American animated film producers
Category:American storyboard artists
Category:American television directors
Category:American television writers
Category:American male screenwriters
Category:American male television writers
Category:American voice directors
Category:Television producers from Pennsylvania
Category:California Institute of the Arts alumni
Category:Cartoon Network Studios people
Category:Disney Television Animation people
Category:Netflix Animation people
Category:Showrunners of animated series
Category:Film directors from Pennsylvania
Category:People from Charleroi, Pennsylvania
Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners