Who Is Craig McCracken? Age, Biography and Wiki
Craig McCracken was born on March 31, 1971, making him 54 years old in 2025. He is widely recognized as a pioneering American cartoonist and animator, best known for creating iconic shows such as The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. With a unique artistic style and storytelling ability, McCracken has significantly influenced the animation industry, garnering recognition for both his work in television and feature films.
His innovative approach and imaginative worlds continue to attract audiences of all ages. More on his life can be found on his Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | Film Producer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 31, 1971 |
| Age | 54 Years |
| Birth Place | Charleroi, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Craig McCracken's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
As of 2025, Craig McCracken stands tall at approximately 6 feet (183 cm) and weighs around 180 pounds (82 kg). His body measurements reflect a healthy lifestyle, emphasizing a balance between work and personal care.
He began drawing at an early age. He attended California High School in Whittier, California, and the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he met his friend and future collaborator, Genndy Tartakovsky.
During his first year, he created a series of short cartoons featuring a character named No Neck Joe, which were picked up by Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation. While at CalArts, he also created a short entitled Whoopass Stew!, which would later become the basis for The Powerpuff Girls.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Currently, Craig McCracken is happily married to fellow animator and writer Lauren Faust, whom he met while they were working in the animation industry. The couple shares a deep bond and passion for creativity, often collaborating on projects. Their relationship is characterized by mutual respect and support for each other's endeavors. As far as dating history goes, Craig kept his personal life under wraps prior to his marriage, focusing predominantly on his career.
In 1993, McCracken was hired by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons as an art director on the Turner Broadcasting System series 2 Stupid Dogs, alongside Tartakovsky. As his first job in the animation industry, he was "never really happy with how that [show] worked".
While McCracken was at Hanna-Barbera, studio president Fred Seibert began a new project: an animation incubator consisting of 48 new cartoons running approximately seven minutes each. Dubbed What a Cartoon!, it motivated McCracken to further develop his Whoopass Girls! creation.
He recalled that the network could not market a show with the word "ass" in it, so two of his friends came up with The Powerpuff Girls as a replacement for the original title.
His new pilot, "The Powerpuff Girls in: Meat Fuzzy Lumkins", premiered on February 20, 1995, on Cartoon Network's World Premiere Toons-In, and a second short, "Crime 101", followed on January 28, 1996. The first short to be picked up by the network was Tartakovsky's Dexter's Laboratory, which McCracken would contribute to in early seasons.
McCracken's Powerpuff Girls was the fourth cartoon to be greenlit a full series, which premiered on November 18, 1998, with the final episode airing on March 25, 2005. The show has won Emmy and Annie awards. In 2002, McCracken directed The Powerpuff Girls Movie, a prequel to his series.
The film received generally positive reviews but was a box office failure. McCracken left The Powerpuff Girls after four seasons, focusing on his next project, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. It premiered with the 90-minute television special "House of Bloo's" on August 13, 2004, on Cartoon Network.
He developed the series with wife Lauren Faust and Mike Moon. The show ran for six seasons, all directed by McCracken, and concluded on May 3, 2009. It also won Emmy and Annie awards.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Craig McCracken's net worth is estimated to be around $20 million. His earnings come from various sources, including his work on television series, merchandise, and licensing deals. With continued success in the animation field, McCracken's financial standing reflects his talent and hard work.
Career, Business and Investments
Craig McCracken's career spans over three decades, starting from his early days as a student at the California Institute of the Arts to becoming a prominent figure in animation. His most notable creations—The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, and Kid Cosmic—have not only been commercially successful but have also received numerous awards.
In addition to his work in television, McCracken has made strategic investments in indie animation projects and has collaborated with various studios to promote emerging talent in the industry. His vision for the future of animation includes supporting diverse narratives and innovative storytelling techniques.
In April 2008, he became executive producer of a new Cartoon Network showcase project called The Cartoonstitute. After 17 years of employment, he resigned from Cartoon Network in 2009, after it shifted focus to live-action and reality shows. He created Wander Over Yonder for Disney Television Animation and Disney Channel in August 2013.
After Wander Over Yonder was cancelled, McCracken pitched a new show to Disney, based on his 2009 comic strip The Kid from Planet Earth. Disney ultimately passed on the project, and he eventually left the company in 2017. He then pitched his idea to Netflix and it was greenlight under the name of Kid Cosmic.
The show premiered on February 2, 2021, and ended on February 3, 2022. It is the first of McCracken's original works to have a serialized format and his return to the superhero genre since The Powerpuff Girls. He pitched 10 projects to Netflix in August 2021, but eventually left by April 2022 due to mass layoffs at Netflix Animation.
Social Network
Craig McCracken is active on several social media platforms, where he shares insights into his work, personal life, and thoughts on the animation industry. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram to stay updated on his latest projects and creative endeavors.
Education
Craig McCracken graduated from the California Institute of the Arts in 1993, where he honed his skills in animation and storytelling. This educational background laid the foundation for his successful career, allowing him to explore various artistic styles and techniques that would later influence his iconic shows.
On July 18, 2022, it was announced that McCracken began developing reboots of The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends at Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe. Foster's Home will take form in a pre-school show focused on new characters.
In 2023, McCracken received the Winsor McCay Award at the Annie Awards ceremony for his "unparalleled achievement and exceptional contributions to animation". The Hollywood Reporter also named him one of the most powerful people in kids entertainment, in pair with Lauren Faust.
