Michael Cusack (animator)

Australian animator and voice actor (born 1990) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael R. Cusack (born 25 October, 1990[1][2]) is an Australian animator, writer, producer, director, musician, and voice actor. He is known as the co-creator, co-star, and co-leader of the Adult Swim animated series Smiling Friends (2020–2026), in which he voices the characters Pim, Allan, and various others. He is also the creator, director, and writer of the Adult Swim animated series YOLO (2020–25) and the Hulu animated sitcom Koala Man (2023).

Born (1990-10-25) 25 October 1990 (age 35)
Occupations
  • Animator
  • writer
  • producer
  • director
  • musician
  • voice actor
Yearsactive2012–present
Quick facts Born, Occupations ...
Michael Cusack
Cusack in 2024
Born (1990-10-25) 25 October 1990 (age 35)
Occupations
  • Animator
  • writer
  • producer
  • director
  • musician
  • voice actor
Years active2012–present
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Early life

Cusack was born and raised in Dapto, New South Wales, and later moved to Melbourne.[3]

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.[4] They began to collaborate online, then later in person when Cusack traveled to meet Hadel in Burbank, California.[5]

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.[6] The success of Bushworld Adventures led him to create YOLO and Smiling Friends for the network, the latter alongside Hadel.[7] He also voiced Knifey in the video game High on Life,[8] Nugget in the television film The Paloni Show Halloween Special, and Mammon in the online series Helluva Boss. He reprised his role as Knifey, in High on Life 2.

Personal life

Cusack continues to reside in Melbourne although he regularly divides his time between Melbourne and Los Angeles, California, U.S.[3][9]

Works

Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
2018 Rick and Morty Rick Sanchez, Morty Smith, Various Episode: Bushworld Adventures

Writer, director, producer, animator, compositor

Fresh Blood Koala Man, Damo, Darren, various Episode: Koala Man
2020–2025 YOLO Lucas the Magnificent, various Creator, director, writer, executive producer, animator, storyboard artist
2022–2026 Smiling Friends Pim, Allan, various Co-creator, director, writer, storyboard artist, storyboard revisionist, art director, character design supervisor, designer, animator
2023 Koala Man Koala Man, Liam, Damo, Darren, various Creator, co-developer, writer, executive producer
2024 Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy Servo Mini-series
2025 Big City Greens Jim Owner Episode: "Flexed"
Kiff Old Crumb Episode: "Ye Olde Candy Shoppe of Horrors"
TBA Dad's House [10]
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Video games

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
2022 High on Life Knifey Voice
2026 High on Life 2
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Web

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
2012 Question for Ted Various 2 episodes
YOLO Sarah Short
2013–2015 Weedheads Various 2 episodes
2014–2025 Damo and Darren Damo, Darren, various 7 episodes
2014 YOLO 2 Sarah and Some Crazy Happy Woman Short
2018 OneyPlays Himself 1 episode
Shrek Retold Donkey Animator
2019 The Cyanide & Happiness Show Aladdin 1 episode
2021 Smiling Friends: Free Draw Self Adult Swim special
2020-2022 The Official Podcast Podcast, Guest
2022 The Create Unknown 2 episodes
2023–2024 Helluva Boss Mammon 2 episodes
2025–present Crocodile and Cube: In The Studio Crocodile Also creator, writer, director
2026 Gameoverse Snappers Pilot episode
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References

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