Michael Cusack (animator)

Australian animator and voice actor

Michael Cusack

Cusack in March 2024

Born| October 25, 1990

Dapto, New South Wales, Australia

Occupations|

* Animator
* writer
* producer
* director
* musician
* voice actor

Years active| 2012–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

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

## 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
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

[edit]

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+".

## External links

[edit]

* Michael Cusack at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Newgrounds

Games that debuted
on Newgrounds|

* Pico's School (1999)
* Alien Hominid (2002)
* Kaboom: The Suicide Bombing Game (2002)
* Super Smash Flash (2006)
* Fancy Pants (2006; 2008)
* Flash Element TD (2007)
* V-Tech Rampage (2007)
* Super Meat Boy (2008)
* Raid Gaza! (2009)
* Aether (2009)
* Faith Fighter (2009)
* Spewer (2009)
* Loved (2010)
* The Room Tribute (2010)
* Super Mario Bros. Crossover (2010)
* The Scale of the Universe (2010; 2012)
* Abobo's Big Adventure (2012)
* Dys4ia (2012)
* Friday Night Funkin' (TBA)

Films/series that debuted
on Newgrounds|

* "All your base are belong to us" (2001)
* Xiao Xiao (2001–2002)
* Broken Saints (2001–2003)
* Neurotically Yours (2002–present)
* "Badgers" (2003)
* Eddsworld (2003–present)
* "Numa Numa" (2004)
* Salad Fingers (2004–present)
* "The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny" (2005)
* Charlie the Unicorn (2005)
* Minushi (2007)
* Saturday Morning Watchmen (2009)
* Ollie & Scoops (2019–present)

Associated people|

* Alan Becker
* Brad Borne
* Kira Buckland
* Neil Cicierega
* John Cooney
* Michael Cusack
* David Firth
* Tom Fulp
* Max Gilardi
* Tyler Glaiel
* Edd Gould
* Zach Hadel
* Arin Hanson
* Jazza
* Edmund McMillen
* Chris Niosi
* Ross O'Donovan
* Chris O'Neill
* Dan Paladin
* Adam Phillips
* Jonti Picking
* TomSka

Related articles|

* The Behemoth
* Nightmare Cops
* Adobe Flash
* Browser games

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