Linda Simensky

Simensky speaks in 2019

Linda Simensky is the creative executive for various works of animation. Simensky served as an executive for Nickelodeon[1][2] and Cartoon Network.[3][4] She is partly responsible for the development of shows such as Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Samurai Jack and Ed, Edd n Eddy.[5]

Early life

Simensky graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 1985.[6]

Career

Simensky received the June Foray Award in 2000.[7]

On October 28, 2003, the Public Broadcasting Service appointed Simensky the position of senior director of children's programming.[8]

In 2021, she joined Duolingo as head of animation and scripted content.[9]

Views of gender in animation

In the 2008 book, Art in Motion: Animation Aesthetics, Simensky stated that many male animators find difficulty in creating strong, positive female characters with substance that can serve as role models. When she questioned the creators of Rocko's Modern Life, one of the series which she produced, why the women in the series were invariably drawn to be well-endowed, she was told that the animators believed that drawing women "the traditional way" was easier. Simensky described the creators as "talented guys" who formed "a boy's club" and added that "we pushed them to be funny, but a lot of their women are stereotypical."[1]

Accolades

Simensky was named in Animation Magazine's "Top 10 Most Influential People in Animation" list in January 2002.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Furniss, Maureen. (February 5, 2008). 240 Art in Motion: Animation Aesthetics. Indiana University Press. Archived at Google Books. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  2. ^ "Lisa (Kiczuk) Trainor interviews Joe Murray, creator of Rocko's Modern Life", The Rocko's Modern Life FAQ
  3. ^ "Bio Archived 2008-02-13 at the Wayback Machine", Joe Murray Studio
  4. ^ "Tuned into toons: Linda Simensky turned her love for animation into Cartoon's success.(Cartoon Network)(Company Profile)(Biography) Archived 2008-06-14 at the Wayback Machine." Multichannel News
  5. ^ Deneroff, Harvey (November 8, 2004). "The State of the Art: An Interview With Linda Simensky". Skwigly.co.uk. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  6. ^ "Linda Simensky, C'85". University of Pennsylvania
  7. ^ "Juried Awards: June Foray Award" Archived 2012-07-02 at the Wayback Machine. Annie Awards.
  8. ^ "PBS APPOINTS LINDA SIMENSKY AS SENIOR DIRECTOR, PROGRAMMING, PBS KIDS". PBS
  9. ^ Wit, Alex Dudok de (2021-10-21). "Linda Simensky Leaves PBS To Oversee Originals At Language App Duolingo". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  10. ^ Desowitz, Bill (January 2002). "Top 10 Most Influential People in Animation". Animation Magazine. Vol. 16, no. 1. ISSN 1041-617X.
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