Michael Cusack (animator)

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Michael Cusack
Cusack in March 2024
Born (1990-10-25) October 25, 1990 (age 34)
Dapto, New South Wales, Australia
Occupations
  • Animator
  • writer
  • producer
  • director
  • musician
  • voice actor
Years active2012–present

Michael R. Cusack is an Australian animator, writer, producer, director, musician, and voice actor. He is known as the co-creator of the Adult Swim animated series Smiling Friends (2022–present), in which he voiced the characters Pim, Allan, and various others. He is also the creator of the Adult Swim animated series YOLO (2020–present) and the Hulu animated sitcom Koala Man (2023–present).

Early life

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

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

Cusack continues to reside in Melbourne although he regularly divides his time between Melbourne and Los Angeles, California, U.S.[1][7]

Filmography

Television

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

Year Title Role Notes
2022 High on Life Knifey Voice

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Question for Ted Various 2 episodes
2012 YOLO Sarah Short
2013–2015 Weedheads Various 2 episodes
2014–2016 Damo and Darren Damo, Darren, various 5 episodes
2014 YOLO 2 Sarah and Some Crazy Happy Woman Short
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
2023–2024 Helluva Boss Mammon 2 episodes

References

  1. ^ a b Mathiesen, Craig (9 January 2023). "'Why not Wollongong?' Disney backs irreverent Aussie superhero spoof". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  2. ^ "The Smiling Friends Troll: How This Atheist Gamer Got an Adult Swim Cameo". YouTube. 19 January 2022.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Whalen, Andrew (2 April 2018). "'Rick And Morty' April Fools' Day Episode, 'Bushworld Adventures,' Premieres Instead of Season 4". Newsweek. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Adult Swim's 'Smiling Friends' Turns Frowns Upside Down". Animation World Network. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  6. ^ @MichaelRCusack (13 June 2022). "Yayy I voiced that knife :) @SquanchGames #HighOnLife" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Michael Cusack's animated series Koala Man is now streaming on Disney+".