There are few modern animators as influential and impactful as Genndy Tartakovsky. Cutting his teeth on series such as Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack, he has crafted unique stories in a style all his own. With a career spanning decades, each new project has been fresh, innovative and exciting, bridging the gap between standard animated films and TV shows and more complex visual narratives.
We last spoke with him before the premiere of Primal, a show that is still going strong and celebrating its third season. Now, Netflix is bringing his latest creation, Fixed, to the streaming service — crude jokes, heart and all. While he may be known for a wide range of shows, few have pushed the limits like Fixed, which follows a dog on his journey to experience life before he is neutered (who would have guessed it). Taking time out of his busy schedule, Tartakovsky spoke to CGMagazine about his career, bringing Fixed to Netflix, and telling the story the way he wanted — while still making something unique and fun to enjoy.
Fixed on Netflix is your latest project. What draws you to animation above working with live action?
Genndy Tartakovsky: I think I fell in love with the drawings, and I really fell in love with the movement. When I was a kid, I would do the flip books in my textbooks, and to have a little stick figure jump or fall down and have people watching and then laughing, it made it so amazing that I could just make that so quickly. And so, I just fell in love with it. And then from there…because I was never actually that great at drawing, but I had a knack for animation, so it started to grow from there.
Fixed features a very stacked cast. Was this your dream cast for this project, or was there anyone you missed out on or were surprised you snagged?
Genndy Tartakovsky: No, I think I’m surprised they got this cast, [laughs], because as raunchy and as pushed as it is, I think, for them to trust me and put their voices into a place where I’m not going to do harm, right? And also deliver the humour.
I think for comedians, especially, it’s important that it’s funny. Right? So it just doesn’t fall flat all the time. And so, having experience working on the Hotel Transylvania movies, also having great casts, I was very comfortable. And I think from that experience, they trusted me to deliver.
Fixed is a very adult-oriented movie, as you mentioned. But you’ve also done everything from kids’ shows like Dexter’s Lab to others like Primal, which is a bit more violent. Is there something that you prefer working within, or do you like trying everything?
Genndy Tartakovsky: I like trying everything. And it usually starts from what feel do I want, right? And what story am I trying to tell? And, this [Fixed] was always a character comedy, a lot of laughs, audacious, pushed, physical humour, dialogue humour, dog observation humour, all that stuff. So it was the perfect vehicle for adults, you know?
And also, the kid business has been changing, and then you’re very limited to what you can do in the family space. And so, from where I’m at story-wise, subject-wise, you’re put into a box. But for adults, it’s really everything, right? And it’s still early enough that you could try a lot of different things. So this [Fixed] was me trying to push as far as I can push.
Your career has spanned decades. Do you have any projects that are considered your favourite, or is it always the next coming project, such as Fixed, that has your heart?
Genndy Tartakovsky: Well, I think the success of Dexter’s Lab that got my career going and that Dexter is still relevant today, and people recognize it and, you know, somewhat talk about it. To create a character that lives is the greatest accomplishment, you know? And then the same with Samurai Jack.
And I’m listing everybody now with my favourite, but technically, the biggest accomplishment is to have these 30 episodes of Primal that we have that we just finished the third season of, at that quality, with that kind of storytelling, is probably the thing that I’m most proud of. You know, I think it’s, hopefully, in history, it’ll be looked back on as quite a piece of work.
Awesome. I watched Fixed and loved it, and I’m a big fan of Primal. Thank you so much for your time.
Genndy Tartakovsky: I appreciate it. Thank you. I.Fixed releases only on Netflix on August 13, 2025.
