Template:Short description Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates
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 |