Christopher Mason Savino (born October 2, 1971) is an American writer, comic book artist and former animator. He is well-known as the creator of the animated series The Loud House. Savino has also worked on The Ren & Stimpy Show, Rocko's Modern Life, Dexter's Laboratory, Cow and Chicken, I Am Weasel, The Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, My Gym Partner's a Monkey, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Mickey Mouse and Johnny Test.

Chris Savino
Born
Christopher Mason Savino

(1971-10-02) October 2, 1971 (age 53)[1]
Occupation(s)Comic book artist, writer, animator
Years active
  • 1991–present
Known for
Children3
Websitechrissavinoauthor.com

Savino has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Annie Awards, and a Daytime Emmy Award. In May 2018, The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839 gave him a one year suspension due to sexual harassment allegations from Nickelodeon (which he was fired from in October 2017), leading to his animation career being put on halt. Since then, he has moved on to literature.

Early life

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Savino was born and raised in Royal Oak, Michigan, where he attended Dondero High School.[2] He is the ninth of ten children, having five sisters and four brothers.[3] His biggest influence in the animation world was Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures because of the way its animation style differed from that of the other 1980s animated series.[4]

Career

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He began his career in the animation industry in 1991 and has worked for Spümcø, Joe Murray Studio, Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Hanna-Barbera, Cartoon Network Studios and Disney Television Animation. He was originally the showrunner for the last two seasons of Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends and My Gym Partner's a Monkey.[5] He was also previously a writer for The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil, and Mickey Mouse. In June 2014, his short for Nickelodeon, The Loud House, was greenlit for a full series, and debuted on May 2, 2016.[6]

On November 1, 2019, Savino released his debut children's novel, Coal: A Cautionary Christmas Tale, through Amazon Publishing. Later on December of the same year he published the first installment of his graphic novel duology Bigfoot & Gray.

On March 3, 2020, he published his first non-fiction book, a guide to write cartoons entitled Writing Cartoons in 4 Acts (Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Midpoint).

Since January 5, 2020, he also publishes the Sunday strip For Brothers.[7]

Sexual harassment allegations

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On October 17, 2017, Cartoon Brew reported that Nickelodeon had suspended Savino from their studio due to multiple allegations of sexual harassment against him; rumors of Savino's inappropriate behavior had existed for "at least a decade".[8][9] As many as a dozen women accused Savino of sexual harassment, unwanted sexual advances, and threats of blacklisting female colleagues who no longer agreed to consensual relationships with him.[8][10] On October 19, a Nickelodeon spokesperson confirmed that they fired Savino, and that The Loud House would continue production without him.[10][11]

On October 23, Savino spoke for the first time since the allegations first appeared, saying he was "deeply sorry" for his actions.[12] On May 30, 2018, he was given a one-year suspension from The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839. As part of his plea bargain with The Animation Guild, Savino was ordered to donate $4,000 to a charity chosen by the guild, complete 40 hours of community service, undergo counseling, and obtain a certificate of sexual harassment training.[13]

The allegations and his union suspension process were featured in a March 2019 segment on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee titled "#MeToon" that was produced and animated by a crew of all women, and featured interviews with a few of the female animators that were involved in his successful union suspension campaign along with one of his alleged victims.[14]

Personal life

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In October 2019, Savino stated to be a born-again Christian.[15]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Director Producer Writer Animator Notes
1991–1996 The Ren & Stimpy Show No No No Yes layout artist
1993–1996 Rocko's Modern Life No No No Yes storyboard clean-up/prop designer/character designer
1995 The Baby Huey Show No No No Yes layout artist/character prop designer (Season 2)
1995 Hate No No No Yes layout artist
1996 The Mouse and the Monster No No No Yes character designer
1996–1997 Hey Arnold! No No No Yes storyboard director/prop designer/character designer
1997–2001 The Angry Beavers Yes No No No character designer
5 episodes only
1997 Space Goofs No No No Yes storyboard artist
Episode: "Time for a Change"
Duckman No No No Yes storyboard artist
1997–2003 Dexter's Laboratory Yes Yes Yes Yes storyboard artist/animation director
1998 Cow and Chicken No No No Yes storyboard artist
Episode: "Cow Fly"
I Am Weasel No No No Yes storyboard artist
Episodes: "I.R. in Wrong Cartoon" and "Unsinkable I.R."
1998–2005 The Powerpuff Girls Yes Yes Yes Yes storyboard artist
2000 The Cartoon Cartoon Show No No Yes Yes creator/storyboard director/model designer/animation layout "Foe Paws"
animation layout "Jeffrey Cat: Claw and Odor"
2002–2003 Samurai Jack Yes No No No
2002 Whatever Happened to... Robot Jones? No No No Yes Character and Prop models
2003 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy No No No Yes storyboard artist
Episode: "To Eris Human"
2004–2007 Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends Yes No Yes No animation director
2005–2006 Johnny Test Yes Yes No Yes storyboard artist; season 1
2005–2008 My Life as a Teenage Robot Yes No No No
2007–2008 My Gym Partner's a Monkey No No No Yes storyboard artist/sheet timer
2008 Ni Hao, Kai-Lan No No No Yes storyboard artist/storybook artist
2010–2012 Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil Yes Yes Yes No executive producer
2010–2011 My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic No No Yes No writer
Episodes: "Boast Busters" and "Stare Master"
2013 Mickey Mouse Yes No Yes Yes storyboard artist
Episode: "Bad Ear Day"
2015 Get Blake! No No Yes No writer
Episodes: "Get Snatched" and "Get Western"
2016–2018 The Loud House Yes Yes Yes Yes creator/executive producer/storyboard artist
2016 All in with Cam Newton No No No No Himself
Episode: "All In with Josh"

Film

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Year Title Director Producer Writer Animator Notes
1999 Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip No No Story Yes storyboard artist
2001 The Flintstones: On the Rocks Yes No Yes Yes storyboard artist/art director

Internet

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Year Title Role Notes
2016 Cartoons VS Cancer[16] Episode 9: "The One with Chris Savino" Podcast
2016–2017 Nickelodeon Animation Podcast Episodes (2 & 40): "Chris Savino", "Inside the Loud House Writers' Room" Podcast

Awards and nominations

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Date Award Category Work Shared with Result
2000 Annie Awards Outstanding Individual Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television Production The Powerpuff Girls (for "Dream Scheme")[17] Nominated
2004 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or More) The Powerpuff Girls: 'Twas the Fight Before Christmas[18][19] Craig McCracken, Brian A. Miller, Lauren Faust, Craig Lewis, Amy Keating Rogers, Robert Alvarez, John McIntyre, Randy Myers, James T. Walker, and Juli Murphy Nominated
2006 Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or More) My Life as A Teenage Robot: Escape from Cluster Prime Rob Renzetti, Fred Seibert, Scott D. Peterson, Alex Kirwan, Brandon Kruse, Heather Martinez, Chris Reccardi, Bryan Andrews, and Robert Alvarez Nominated
2010 Outstanding Short-Format Animated Program Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil Sandro Corsaro and Janelle Momary Nominated
2011 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Directing in an Animated Program Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil Sherm Cohen Nominated
2012 Annie Awards Directing in a Television Production Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil[20] Clayton Morrow Nominated

References

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  1. ^ The Loud House #1: There Will Be Chaos. Papercutz. 2017. ISBN 9781629919515. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  2. ^ Mekeisha Madden Toby (March 1, 2010). "Small Talk with Chris Savino". The Detroit News. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  3. ^ Liew, Sarah (August 10, 2016). "The Loud House creator grew up with 9 siblings". The star. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  4. ^ Hector Navarro (May 20, 2016). "Episode 2: Chris Savino – Nick Animation Podcast". YouTube. Retrieved June 3, 2016.[dead YouTube link]
  5. ^ The Powerpuff Girls: Who, What, Where, How, Why... Who Cares?. 2009.
  6. ^ Laura Prudom (March 28, 2016). "Nickelodeon Animated Comedy 'The Loud House' Sets Premiere Date – Get a First Look". Variety. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  7. ^ For Brothers Comic | by Chris Savino
  8. ^ a b Amidi, Amid (October 17, 2017). "UPDATED: Nickelodeon Suspends 'Loud House' Creator Chris Savino After Numerous Harassment Claims (EXCLUSIVE)". Cartoon Brew.
  9. ^ "Full Frontal Rewind: Oops, All Women Edition". YouTube. 17 March 2022.
  10. ^ a b Lesley Goldberg (October 19, 2017). "Nickelodeon Fires 'Loud House' Creator After Sexual Harassment Allegations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  11. ^ Nellie Andreeva (October 19, 2017). "'The Loud House' Creator Chris Savino Fired By Nickelodeon Following Sexual Harassment Allegations". Deadline Hollywood.
  12. ^ Denise Petski (October 23, 2017). "Fired 'The Loud House' Creator Chris Savino Says He's "Deeply Sorry" Over Sexual Harassment Allegations". Deadline Hollywood.
  13. ^ Amidi, Amid (May 30, 2018). "The Animation Guild Has Suspended 'The Loud House' Creator Chris Savino". Cartoon Brew.
  14. ^ "#MeToon: How Courageous Feminists United to Reshape the Animation Community - Ms. Magazine". msmagazine.com. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  15. ^ Amidi, Amid (October 1, 2019). "With Jesus By His Side, Fired 'Loud House' Creator Chris Savino Wants To Make A Comeback". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  16. ^ Cartoons VS Cancer - Ep. 9 (The One with Chris Savino)
  17. ^ "28th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (2000)". AnnieAwards.org. ASIFA-Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  18. ^ "Complete list of primetime Emmy nominations". USA Today. July 15, 2004. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  19. ^ "The Powerpuff Girls: Twas The Fight Before Christmas". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  20. ^ "39th Annie Awards". AnnieAwards.org. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
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