View source for Max Gilardi

{{Short description|American internet personality}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox YouTube personality
| name                 = Max Gilardi
| image                = HotDiggetyDemon 2014.jpg
| caption              = Gilardi in 2014
| birth_name           = Max John Gilardi
| birth_date           = {{birth date and age|1988|1|28}}
| birth_place          = [[Massachusetts]], U.S.
| other_names          = {{Flatlist|
* Max G
* HotDiggedyDemon
* Max Gilardi}}
| website              = {{URL|hotdiggedydemon.com}}
| pseudonym            = 
| channel_name         = hotdiggedydemon
| years_active         = 2003–present
| genre                = Comedy
| subscribers          = 2 million <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW -->
| views                = 436 million <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW -->
| associated_acts      = {{flatlist|
* [[Newgrounds]]
* Yotam Perel
* [[Arin Hanson|Egoraptor]]
* [[Tom Fulp]]
* [[Harry Partridge]]
* ''[[Mega64]]''
* ''[[Eddsworld]]''
* [[Zach Hadel]]
}}
| silver_year          = 2012
| gold_year            = 2017
| stats_update         = 11 Mar 2024
}}

'''Max John Gilardi'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Hotdiggedydemon Tumblr|url=https://hotdiggedydemon.com/post/44247004797/whats-your-middle-name|publisher=[[Tumblr]]|access-date=August 4, 2024}}</ref> ({{IPAc-en|dʒ|ɪ|ˈ|l|ɑːr|d|i}} {{Respell|jil|AR|dee}}; born January 28, 1988),<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Max G|user=hotdiggedydemon|number=693076754034987009|title=Thanks for all the birthday drawings ...|date=January 29, 2016|accessdate=May 21, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205193344/https:/twitter.com/hotdiggedydemon/status/693076754034987009 |archivedate=February 5, 2017}}</ref><ref name= "Jerry">{{cite web|title=Gilardi Animates Jerry's Daily Grind |url=http://www.coldhardflash.com/2007/06/gilardi-animates-jerrys-daily-grind.html|publisher=Cold Hard Flash|date=June 27, 2007|access-date=May 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630084459/http://www.coldhardflash.com/2007/06/gilardi-animates-jerrys-daily-grind.html|archive-date=June 30, 2007}}</ref> also known as '''Max G''' or his Internet pseudonym '''HotDiggedyDemon''', is an American [[internet personality]], [[YouTuber]], cartoonist, animator, and voice actor. He is best known for his ''PONY.MOV'' web series, a parody of the popular children's animated [[television series]] ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'', other viral videos, and his media analysis series known as ''Brain Dump''.

==Early life and education==
Gilardi was born in [[Massachusetts]] in 1988.<ref name="Jerry" /><ref name="newgrounds">{{cite web|title=[ NG Mag ]- Max Gilardi|url=http://www.newgrounds.com/ngmag/devspot/spotlight/13|publisher=[[Newgrounds]]|last=McCloud|first=Skye|date=May 5, 2004|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111065420/https://www.newgrounds.com/ngmag/devspot/spotlight/13|archive-date=January 11, 2012}}</ref> He is of [[Italian diaspora|Italian]] descent and has an older sister. He attended the [[Art Institute of Boston]] briefly before dropping out after one of four years in an animation major.<ref name="FAQ">{{cite web|title=Hotdiggedydemon • Frequently Asked Questions!|url=http://hotdiggedydemon.com/FAQ|website=Hotdiggedydemon.com|access-date=May 24, 2016}}</ref>

==Career==
Gilardi, under the name "HotDiggedyDemon", first started creating [[Flash animation]]s in the mid 2000s on [[Newgrounds]] as a teenager. Among shorts, he would experiment in launching his own original cartoon. These early efforts included ''Adam Android'', about a superpowered robot boy, and ''Spookyville USA'', about a town of monsters.<ref name="newgrounds" /> In 2007, he began uploading his work to his [[YouTube]] channel. That year, he created the ''Jerry'' series, a collection of web animations detailing the terrible and mundane life of a man named Jerry, and people related to him.<ref name= "Jerry" />

In 2010, he created the ''Wacky Game Jokez, 4 Kidz!'' series, also known as ''WGJ4K'', starring a fictional criminal named Mickey the Dick who is kidnapped by a corporation specializing in video-game parody content. In addition to creating animations, he co-hosted the ''Wisenheimers'' podcast with fellow animator Yotam Perel, also known as LazyPillow or LazyMuffin, from 2010 to 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wisenheimers by Wisenheimers on iTunes| date=April 26, 2012 |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wisenheimers/id471653801?mt=2|publisher=[[iTunes]]|access-date=May 21, 2016}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=April 2023}}

In 2011, Gilardi was contacted by [[Nickelodeon]] asking if he would be interested in pitching an animated series to the television network. Gilardi traveled to the [[Nickelodeon Animation Studio]] in [[Burbank, California]] to pitch a cartoon featuring his original character "Fishworth", however, plans for this and other concepts ultimately fell through and a show would not be picked up. He would return to Nickelodeon for a short period of freelance work on ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]''. In an interview with YouTuber Dovendraw in August 2023, Gilardi stated that in retrospect, having a TV show was a "crazy upheaval" he wasn't sure he was capable of.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzFhMUEpKtw?t=218 | title = 20 Years of BRAIN DUMP (Interview w/@hotdiggedydemon) | publisher = [[Dovendraw]]|via=[[YouTube]] | date =August 20, 2023 | accessdate = November 15, 2023 }}</ref>

From 2011 to 2013, he gained notoriety for releasing his six-part video parody of ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'', ''PONY.MOV'', an [[adult animation|adult animated]] [[dark comedy]] web series in the art style of [[John Kricfalusi]] and [[Spümcø]]'s ''[[The Ren & Stimpy Show]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://io9.com/5921536/incredibly-messed+up-short-gives-my-little-ponyss-pinkie-pie-a-sex-tape | title = Incredibly messed-up short gives My Little Ponys's Pinkie Pie a sex tape | publisher = [[io9]] | first = Meredith | last = Woerner | date =June 26, 2012 | accessdate = May 21, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=BEST OF 2013: 'Brony' fandom carves out space for young men to enjoy friendship ... and cartoon ponies|url=http://netnebraska.org/article/news/best-2013-brony-fandom-carves-out-space-young-men-enjoy-friendship-and-cartoon-ponies|publisher=Netnebraska.org|last=Stohs-Krause|first=Hilary|date=December 26, 2013|access-date=May 21, 2016|archive-date=June 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604105328/http://netnebraska.org/article/news/best-2013-brony-fandom-carves-out-space-young-men-enjoy-friendship-and-cartoon-ponies|url-status=dead}}</ref> The series obtained a spin-off in the form of a [[Tumblr]] webcomic, ''Ask {{Not a typo|Jappleack}}'', and each video highlights a different character from the main cast of the television series.

He also gained notability for his comedic parodies of video games like ''[[Five Nights at Freddy's]]'', ''[[Cuphead]]'', and ''[[Animal Crossing]]'', due to their dark nature and subversive themes. The ''Animal Crossing'' parody has [[Isabelle (Animal Crossing)|Isabelle]], an innocent character in the game, worshiping [[Karl Marx]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=A Cuphead fan has made his own cartoon|url=https://htxt.co.za/2017/11/a-cuphead-fan-has-made-his-own-cartoon/|date=November 20, 2017|access-date=June 4, 2021|work=Hypertext}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/01/isabelle-has-some-revolutionary-ideas-for-running-your-animal-crossing-town/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126082933/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/01/isabelle-has-some-revolutionary-ideas-for-running-your-animal-crossing-town/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 26, 2016|title=Isabelle Has Some Revolutionary Ideas For Running Your Animal Crossing Town|date=2016-01-25|access-date=2021-06-04|website=[[Kotaku]]}}</ref>

Gilardi has over two million subscribers on YouTube.<ref>{{cite web |title=hotdiggedydemon YouTube Stats, Channel Statistics |url=http://socialblade.com/youtube/user/hotdiggedydemon |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=[[Social Blade]] |publisher=Socialblade.com}}</ref> The majority of his videos are self-made: written, animated, and voiced<ref name= "FAQ" /> by himself. In his more recent projects, he has experimented with [[3D animation]] in conjuction with his 2D work.<ref name= "FAQ" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Person|first=Chris|title=King of the Hill, In Eye-Popping 3D |url=http://kotaku.com/king-of-the-hill-in-eye-popping-3d-1166349400|work=[[Kotaku]]|date=August 19, 2013|access-date=May 21, 2016}}</ref> On September 2, 2016, Gilardi launched a new [[YouTube]] series titled ''Brain Dump'' in which he reviews movies and other media, often satirically.<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Max G|user=hotdiggedydemon|number=771819569488900096|title=Please watch my new clickbate / movie review show, BRAIN DUMP! ...|date=September 2, 2016|accessdate=November 7, 2016|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206122001/https:/twitter.com/hotdiggedydemon/status/771819569488900096|archivedate=February 6, 2017}}</ref> The series has since become the main focus of Gilardi's channel, with an overarching narrative exploring his career, and the show's three main characters. ''Brain Dump'' stars Gilardi himself, a ghost named Goofball, and a living television named Burnbot.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}{{Update inline|date=April 2023}}

On November 6, 2023, Gilardi started a series of live streams called ''Relax with Max'' through his YouTube channel, previously on [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]], where he plays video games and interacts with his audience in real time.<ref>{{Citation |title=RELAX WITH MAX {{!}} Finding kingdom of Jericho?? | date=November 6, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-Bn5sEa3dk |access-date=2024-03-17 |language=en}}</ref> On May 3, 2024, Gilardi revealed that he had been diagnosed with [[fibromyalgia]] during one of his live streams, which had affected the scope of his animated work. He also announced there are no current plans for future episodes of ''Brain Dump'', putting the series on indefinite hiatus while he continues his focus on ''Relax With Max''.

Gilardi has cited [[Craig McCracken]], [[Matt Groening]], [[John Kricfalusi]], [[Jhonen Vasquez]], [[Danny Antonucci]], [[Genndy Tartakovsky]], [[United Productions of America]], [[Hanna-Barbera]], [[Junji Ito]], [[Akira Toriyama]], [[Bill Watterson]], and early [[Charles Schulz]] as influences on his art and animation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hotdiggedydemon Tumblr|url=https://hotdiggedydemon.com/post/175682304434/who-would-you-say-are-some-of-you-biggest|publisher=[[Tumblr]]|access-date=August 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hotdiggedydemon Tumblr|url=https://hotdiggedydemon.com/post/24271718412/do-you-have-anyone-who-inspired-you-to-draw|publisher=[[Tumblr]]|access-date=October 13, 2021}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|2020
|''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]''
|
|Storyboard Artist ("[[Spongebob Squarepants (season 12)|Boss for a Day]]")
|-
|}

=== Web ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|2003–2005
|''Adam Android''
|
|Creator
|-
|2006–2008
|''Spookyville USA''
|Sal J. Beauregarde, Jake O'Brien
|Creator
|-
|2007–2009
|''Jerry''
|Jason, Junior
|Creator
|-
| rowspan="3" |2010
|''Wacky Game Jokez, 4 Kidz!''
|Mickey the Dick, June, Eric, The Boss
|Creator
|-
|''[[Eddsworld]]''
|The Delivery Guy
|Episode: Hammer & Fail (Part 1)
|-
|''NiN10Doh!: To the 64th Power!''
|Ness' Dad
|Voice role
|-
|2010–2012
|''Wisenheimers''
|Self
|Podcast, co-host, 48 episodes
|-
|2011
|''The Northern Incident''
|
|Animator
|-
|2011–2013
|''PONY.MOV''
|[[Spike (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic)|Spike]], [[Applejack (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)|Applejack]], [[Rainbow Dash (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)|Rainbow Dash]], [[Fluttershy (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)|Fluttershy]], [[Pinkie Pie]], various
|Creator
|-
| rowspan="2" |2014
|''Luigi's Day Out''
|[[Mario]], [[Luigi]], [[Waluigi]]
|Animator
|-
|''Skeff's Saturday''
|The Dog
|Voice role
|-
|2015
|''Fazbear & Friends''
|[[Freddy Fazbear]], [[Foxy the pirate|Foxy the Pirate]]
|Animator
|-
|2016
|''Isabelle Ruins Everything''
|Mayor, various
|Animator
|-
|2016–2022
|''Brain Dump''
|Max G (voice), Goofball, various
|Creator
|-
|2017
|''A Cuphead Cartoon''
|[[Cuphead]], [[Mugman]]
|Animator
|}
Sourced from Gilardi's IMDb page and YouTube channel.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Max Gilardi|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5709592/|access-date=2024-09-29|website=IMDb}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://hotdiggedydemon.com/ Official website]
* {{IMDb name|5709592}}

{{Newgrounds}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilardi, Max}}
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:American storyboard artists]]
[[Category:21st-century American comedians]]
[[Category:American male comedians]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Animators from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:YouTubers from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:American comedy YouTubers]]
[[Category:Flash artists]]
[[Category:YouTube animators]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Surreal comedy]]
[[Category:YouTube channels launched in 2007]]
[[Category:Newgrounds people]]
[[Category:Comedians from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ comedians]]
[[Category:Bisexual comedians]]