Bryan Joseph Konietzko (born June 1, 1975) is an Americananimator, writer, producer and director. He is best known, together withMichael Dante DiMartino, as the co-creator andexecutive producer of the animated seriesAvatar: The Last Airbender andThe Legend of Korra.
Bryan Konietzko | |
|---|---|
 Konietzko at the 2012San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Born | Bryan Joseph Konietzko (1975-06-01)June 1, 1975 (age 49) or (1976-05-26)May 26, 1976 (age 48) Georgia, United States |
| Alma mater | Rhode Island School of Design (BFA) |
| Occupation(s) | Animator, producer, writer, director |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Known for | Co-creator ofAvatar: The Last Airbender andThe Legend of Korra |
| Title | Co-Chief Creative Officer,Avatar Studios |
| Spouse | |
Career
editKonietzko has worked as a character designer atFilm Roman forFamily Guy and as assistant director forMission Hill andKing of the Hill. He was a storyboard artist and art director for theNickelodeon animated seriesInvader Zim.
Between 2001 and 2014, Konietzko, together withMichael Dante DiMartino, was mainly occupied with writing and producing the animated seriesAvatar: The Last Airbender and its sequelThe Legend of Korra for Nickelodeon. Konietzko's and DiMartino's long-standing creative partnership is collectively referred to as "Bryke" by fans, in reference to "shipping" naming conventions.[1]
As of 2015, Konietzko was working on writing and illustrating asci-figraphic novel series,Threadworlds, that is to be published byFirst Second Books, but there is no release date.[2]
In September 2018,Netflix announced that Konietzko and DiMartino would serve as executive producers and showrunners for the live-action series based onAvatar: The Last Airbender, which released in 2024.[3] On August 12, 2020, Konietzko and DiMartino revealed on social media that they had both departed the show, due to creative differences with the Netflix team.[4]
In February 2021,ViacomCBS announced the formation ofAvatar Studios, a division ofNickelodeon centered on developing newer animated series and movies set in the same universe asAvatar: The Last Airbender andThe Legend of Korra, with both DiMartino and Konietzko helming the studio as co-chief creative officers reporting toNickelodeon Animation Studio president,Ramsey Ann Naito.[5] The first project of the studio is an animated film that is currently set to release on January 20, 2026.[6][7]
Personal life
editKonietzko graduated fromRoswell High School inRoswell, Georgia, a suburb north ofAtlanta. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from theRhode Island School of Design in 1998.[8][9] He resides inLos Angeles,California with his wife Lisa.[10]
Konietzko is also active in photography and has a band, Ginormous,[11] with which he has released several albums. These includeOur Ancestors' Intense Love Affair andAt Night, Under Artificial Light.
References
edit- ^Hoffman, Mike (8 January 2015)."Four Ways The Legend of Korra Respected Its Younger Viewers".The Escapist. Archived fromthe original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved8 January 2015.
- ^Towers, Andrea (6 July 2015)."Avatar: The Last Airbender and Korra creator previews new graphic novel Threadworlds -- exclusive".EW.com.Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved6 July 2015.
- ^Hipes, Patrick (18 September 2018)."'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Live-Action Series in Works at Netflix".Deadline.Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved19 September 2018.
- ^"Bryan Konietzko on Instagram: "Well, friends... There you have it. Big sigh. 💔⬇️💔 I'm sure many of you will understandably want to know more and will ask me questions in the comments, here and on subsequent posts and live-streams and in-person encounters and everywhere else ad infinitum. I wish I could explain things in greater detail, but the above statement is really all I can say about the matter so I won't be answering any of those. I encourage you to head over to my partner Michael DiMartino's account to get his take on our departure too: @mike_dante_d Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of the Avatar: The Last Airbender fans, and I'm sorry our involvement in the live-action project did not work out. Time to get on with my life. Onward and upward. 💙 Love, Bryan #avatarthelastairbender #cocreators #michaeldimatino #bryankonietzko #bryke #atla #liveactionseries #netflix"".Archived from the original on 2020-08-13. Retrieved2020-08-12.
- ^Zorrilla, Mónica Marie (February 24, 2021)."Nickelodeon Launches Avatar Studios, Will Expand World of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender,' 'The Legend of Korra'".Variety.Penske Media Corporation.Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. RetrievedFebruary 24, 2021.
- ^D'Alessandro, Anthony (2022-11-10)."Paramount Sets Dates For New 'SpongeBob' & 'Aang Avatar' Animated Movies".Deadline. Retrieved2024-03-14.
- ^Rubin, Rebecca (2024-04-18)."'Aang: The Last Airbender' Delayed to 2026, 'Transformers One' Moves Back a Week".Variety. Retrieved2024-04-18.
- ^Konietzko, Bryan."About"Archived 2017-07-25 at theWayback Machine,bryankonietzko.com. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ^"Nickelodeon Establishes Avatar Studios, Brand-New Content Division Devoted to Expanding the World of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra".Paramount Global. February 21, 2021.Archived from the original on January 11, 2024. RetrievedJanuary 11, 2024.
- ^"Bryan konietzko". 9 April 2012.Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved13 April 2012.
- ^"Ginormous :: Music". Archived from the original on 2017-06-19. Retrieved2009-09-05.