Cartoon Network, Warner Bros strike cross-studio deal with Genndy Tartakovsky

Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal S2 debuts this summer on Adult Swim

Cartoon Network Studios (CNS) and Warner Bros Animation (WBA) have signed an overall cross-studio deal with Primal, Samurai Jack and Dexter’s Laboratory creator Genndy Tartakovsky.

The exclusive multi-year deal will see the creator, producer and director develop, create and produce original animated programming at both CNS and WBA for a variety of audiences and for all television platforms.

These include streamer HBO Max, which like CNS and WBA is part of Warner Bros Discovery, as well as external streaming services, cable and broadcast networks.

CNS and WBA said the cross-studio overall deal they have developed provides creators with maximum creative flexibility to develop original material and access to the extensive character and franchise libraries at each studio.

Tartakovsky, who is represented by WME, is currently in production on Unicorn: Warriors Eternal, an animated supernatural adventure family event series coming soon to HBO Max and Cartoon Network.

Meanwhile, season two of his Emmy-winning series, Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal, premieres this summer on Adult Swim.

Tartakovsky created Dexter’s Laboratory, Cartoon Network’s first series, during his time at Hanna-Barbera, where he also helped produce and directed The Powerpuff Girls. He then moved to CNS, where he created Samurai Jack and Sym-Bionic Titan as well as produced and directed the animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars.

In 2012, Tartakovsky made his feature directorial debut with Hotel Transylvania and later directed its two sequels.

In 2017, after a 12-year hiatus, Tartakovsky returned to his roots, bringing back Samurai Jack. Tartakovsky later reunited with Adult Swim for Primal, which debuted in 2019.

Sam Register, president of CNS and WBA, said: “Genndy is a true visionary who embodies the creator spirit of Cartoon Network Studios. As he continues to push the boundaries of storytelling and animation, we are excited to have a front row seat both here and now also at Warner Bros Animation.”