Animation producer Amanda Arellano knew at a young age that she wanted a career in cartoons. "I was definitely inspired by '90s cartoons, especially Nickelodeon shows like Hey Arnold!, Doug and The Wild Thornberrys," she recalls. "When I realized that it was actually someone's job to make drawings come to life, I started to take animation classes in high school, and then studied fine arts with an emphasis in animation at Cal State Fullerton."
After landing an internship on the Ultimate Spider-Man series, she found work on a variety of shows, including Glitch Techs, Santiago of the Seas and Koala Man. Next, she began work on the Fox series Krapopolis, premiering September 24. Set in a mythological version of ancient Greece, the adult-skewing comedy from Dan Harmon (Community, Rick and Morty) sits comfortably between the network's long-running Sunday-night favorites The Simpsons and Bob's Burgers. It also has the distinction of being renewed for a third season — months before its premiere date.
Arellano says she knew from the beginning that the series was going to be unique. "Not only is it very funny and complex, but the family dynamic is also really interesting. It's definitely not a normal family: there are humans, gods, different creatures and monsters, but at the same time, they are relatable," she says of the characters voiced by Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso), Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd), Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows), Pam Murphy (Mapleworth Murders) and Duncan Trussell (The Midnight Gospel). "There's an underlying diversity within the show, so I hope everyone can find a character they can relate to."
Arellano says she's proud to be part of the team at Bento Box Entertainment (the animation studio behind the series). "There's something very special about this group," she says. "Everyone — from scripts to storyboards to editorial, animation, production and post — is passionate about Krapopolis, and we are all excited to share it with the world."
As a Latina working in animation, Arellano says she appreciates the fact that the cartoon business has offered her many opportunities to grow. "From the beginning of my career, it has always been very inclusive, and I really appreciate everybody that came before me that has made this happen for us. I've always felt welcome and treated well. My grandparents came from Mexico, and they got married in downtown L.A. This is where my family has roots. It's really cool to see how the past generations have gotten us to where we are now and paved a path for me and my siblings, as they might not have had those opportunities during their time."
Krapopolis is owned by Fox Entertainment and produced by Fox's Bento Box Entertainment. The series was created by Dan Harmon, who is also an executive producer, along with Steve Levy and Jordan Young, who serves as showrunner of season one.
