The animated film Hotel Translyvania—from Sony Pictures Animation—opens nationwide today (Sept. 28). Featuring the voices of Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg and Selena Gomez, the film focuses on the escapades of things that go bump in the night—in a hotel meant for monsters only.
The film marks the feature-length directorial debut for CalArts alumnus Genndy Tartakovsky (Film/Video 92), probably best known for creating two of Cartoon Network’s beloved programs: Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack.
From a recent Los Angeles Times profile of Tartakovsky:
After two years of studying film at Columbia College Chicago, Tartakovsky transferred to the elite animation program at the California Institute of the Arts, where he met “Brave” director Mark Andrews, who would later work as a storyboard artist on Tartakovsky’s shows “Star Wars: Clone Wars” and “Samurai Jack.”
“There’s very little dialogue in a Genndy show,” said Andrews. “It’s pure visual storytelling. That’s the great thing about Genndy that we don’t see in animated features.”
Tartakovsky’s first film at CalArts was a silent 4-1/2-minute movie called “Muffy Meets the Mafia” about a cat who saves a dog and then can’t shake the grateful canine. It was also at CalArts that he began creating the show that would become the Cartoon Network’s first original hit—Dexter’s Laboratory, about the adventures of a boy genius.
For his work in television, Tartakovsky has been nominated for 13 Emmys and has won three. And now, before Hotel Transylvania even opens this weekend, Sony Pictures Animation has already signed a two-picture deal with Tartakovsky, one of which will be an animated Popeye in 3D.