Unveiling Krapopolis: Exciting Insights from the Show's Supervising Director & Lead Character Designer

Summary

Krapopolis is a new adult animated series set in ancient Greece and created by Dan Harmon, known for shows like Rick and Morty.

The show has already been renewed for seasons 2 and 3, signifying a bright future. Krapopolis boasts a cast filled with acclaimed stars and delves into the trials of transforming the time period and mythology of ancient Greece into an animated series tailored for adults.

Krapopolis, the latest series from Dan Harmon, creator of Community and co-creator of Rick and Morty, brings the world of ancient Greece to life in adult animation. The highly anticipated FOX animated series will have its two-episode premiere on September 24, 2023, marking the beginning of this exciting new show. Remarkably, before the completion of its first season, Krapopolis has already been renewed for seasons 2 and 3, indicating a promising future.

Overseeing Krapopolis as the supervising director is Pete Michels, renowned for his work on acclaimed shows such as The Simpsons and Family Guy. Joining him is Andy Ristaino, the lead character designer, who has previously lent his talent to beloved animated series like Adventure Time and the DuckTales reboot. As part of promoting the series, both members of the Krapopolis crew made appearances at the SCAD AnimationFest 2023, treating attendees to an early screening of episode 3 and hosting an engaging Q&A panel.

Screen Rant recently interviewed supervising director Pete Michels and lead character designer Andy Ristaino at SCAD AnimationFest 2023 for an exclusive discussion about Krapopolis. During the conversation, Michels and Ristaino provided intriguing insights into the conception of Krapopolis, its connection to other Dan Harmson shows, and what lies ahead for the series.

Pete Michels & Andy Ristaino On Krapopolis

The inclusion of Dan Harmon, renowned for his work on shows such as Rick and Morty, in Krapopolis raises curiosity. How has his involvement and the anticipation surrounding his distinct style of content influenced the development of Krapopolis?

Andy Ristaino: Personally, I believe that the direction of the art style was mainly tailored to my skills and expertise in character design. One of the primary directives from the main directors was to ensure that our work didn't resemble Rick and Morty. This greatly influenced our approach. Consequently, we decided to take a distinct route, opting for a slightly more authentic and less exaggerated cartoon style.

Regarding the time period and mythology, there were certainly challenges involved in incorporating them into an adult animated show's world.

Andy Ristaino: It involves a great deal of research on costumes, time periods, and available fruits.

Pete Michels: We lacked pumpkins and coffee, although we had some form of coffee. Additionally, the technology presented its own challenges. Dan prioritizes ensuring that the gadgets and creations appear practical, just like in Rick and Morty where I also collaborated with him. He wanted to ensure that any invention by Rick would have a realistic appearance. The same approach applies to all our work. However, we are limited to Bronze Age technologies, utilizing bronze, tin, leather, wood, rocks, and even sheep stomachs.

Andy Ristaino: Was historical research a significant aspect when constructing a flamethrower, or was it primarily about creating a sense of believability and making adjustments whenever necessary to enhance the story?

Andy Ristaino expressed that there was a greater emphasis on historical research in the early stages.

Pete Michels acknowledged that, particularly in design, minimal research was conducted on the background. However, many of the murals present in the palace or temple were influenced by findings from Messinian and Minoan archaeology. Our prop designers also engage in extensive research when faced with a challenge, exploring the appearance and technological capabilities of various objects.

Andy Ristaino: However, the show is set in a time period prior to the establishment of Greek civilization. This allows us some flexibility in creating fictional elements.

Pete Michels: Another rule of the show is that written language has not yet been invented. This presents a challenge as we cannot incorporate any sign gags. For instance, if we want to depict a medical office, we need to find alternative ways to convey this without using the phrase "doctor's office."

The star-studded cast plays a significant role in the show. How much did the actors influence the designs, writing, and personality of their characters?

Andy Ristaino: The characters definitely changed based on the actors. If a casting didn't work out, the design would be altered to fit the voice actor. We also made an effort to match the ethnicity of the characters to the voice actor. This was the main focus.

Pete Michels: The design of a character should also capture the unique personality that an actor brings to them. If the voice does not align with the appearance, we will make adjustments.

Andy Ristaino: Deliria was intended to possess an elegant yet intimidating look.

Pete Michels: The word elegant plays a crucial role here. Not only the poses and the designs, but also the intention is to make her appear more dignified and self-assured. She exudes a great deal of self-confidence.

Which skills and elements from your past projects do you believe greatly assisted you in the creation of Krapopolis, and what distinct difficulties did you encounter during the production of the show?

Pete Michels: Drawing is the most crucial skill for anyone working in animation. It is essential to have the ability to draw. I have previously collaborated with Dan Harmon on Rick and Morty, so I was familiar with his preferences and dislikes. My experience primarily lies in adult animation for prime time shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Rick and Morty. Adult animation possesses specific sensibilities. For example, characters avoid exaggerated poses and prolonged eye closures, and they do not exhibit excessive bouncing or stretching. Therefore, bringing a sitcom-like feel, resembling realistic human behavior, was a significant focus.

Andy Ristaino: Pete, I believe you served as a valuable link for us when we began developing the show. Once you joined the team, everything felt more grounded in realism and aligned with the sensibilities of prime time shows.

Pete Michels: Furthermore, in terms of the background, we have a clear understanding of how to position the horizon line and set up the camera angles. Our goal is to create an immersive experience where viewers feel like they are watching a live television show with actual cameras and live actors.

Excitingly, Krapopolis has already received approval for seasons two and three. We are thrilled about this opportunity. Looking ahead, we would like to discuss the direction of the show and if there are any specific details you can share regarding the upcoming two seasons.

Pete Michels: They do meet a lot of new characters in the upcoming seasons and a lot of new locations also.

Andy Ristaino: Go to a lot of cool places. We visit more gods and stuff.

Pete Michels: You've created an impressive number of gods, haven't you? I believe it's around 120 or so.

Andy Ristaino: Yes, I've designed numerous gods, creatures, and mythological beings, many of which were never even mentioned.

Pete Michels: Indeed, in addition to the gods, goddesses, and humans, there exist a plethora of captivating monsters. Animation immerses itself in the creation of these fascinating creatures, making them a joy to bring to life on paper.

About Krapopolis

Taking place in the fabled realm of ancient Greece, Krapopolis unravels the escapades of a disordered clan comprising humans, gods, and monsters as they strive to govern one of history's inaugural metropolises without succumbing to fratricidal urges. The stellar cast encompasses the voice talents of Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso, Game of Thrones), Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd), Matt Berry (What We Do in The Shadows), Pam Murphy (Mapleworth Murders), and Duncan Trussell (The Midnight Gospel).

New episodes of Krapopolis release Sundays on FOX.