Genndy Tartakovsky to Helm 'Conan the Barbarian' Animated Series for Prime Video and Cartoon Network Studios
Acclaimed animation visionary Genndy Tartakovsky is set to bring his signature kinetic storytelling to the sword-and-sorcery genre. Tartakovsky is officially developing a new animated Conan the Barbarian series, a high-profile collaboration between Cartoon Network Studios and Amazon’s Prime Video. The project marks a major creative homecoming for the director, signaling his firm re-establishment within the Warner Bros. Discovery ecosystem after several years focusing on feature film development at Sony Pictures Animation, where he directed the highly successful Hotel Transylvania franchise.
Tartakovsky’s return to Warner Bros. follows his recent success with the critically acclaimed, Emmy-winning prehistoric saga Primal on Adult Swim, as well as the fantasy-action series Unicorn: Warriors Eternal. Known for his minimalist dialogue, atmospheric world-building, and highly stylized action sequences in iconic series like Samurai Jack and Star Wars: Clone Wars, industry insiders view Tartakovsky as the ideal auteur to adapt Robert E. Howard’s legendary fantasy hero. The visceral, brutal nature of Primal in particular serves as a spiritual proof-of-concept for how Tartakovsky might handle the harsh, unforgiving Hyborian Age of Conan.
"Robert E. Howard's Conan is the quintessential fantasy warrior, and adapting his world has been a passion project of mine for years," Tartakovsky said in a statement regarding the announcement. "To be able to tell these epic, visceral stories with the creative freedom allowed by Cartoon Network Studios and the global reach of Prime Video is an incredible opportunity. We want to honor the classic, raw pulp energy of the original stories while pushing the boundaries of what modern action animation can achieve."
The distribution and production structure of the new series also highlights a shifting landscape in television animation. The partnership between Cartoon Network Studios and Amazon’s Prime Video mirrors other recent high-profile deals—such as Batman: Caped Crusader moving to Amazon—where Warner Bros. Discovery has opted to co-produce and license its premium animated content to rival streaming platforms to maximize reach and profitability. For Prime Video, the series bolsters an expanding slate of mature, high-concept animated offerings, securing a legendary creator to spearhead one of fantasy fiction's most enduring intellectual properties.