Don Hertzfeldt
An indie animation wizard who uses stick figures and surreal humor to explore memory, mortality, and the chaos of existence.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American animator·Birthday: August 1·Generation X
Biography
Don Hertzfeldt operates in a universe of his own making, one drawn with deceptively simple stick figures that carry profound emotional weight. Working almost entirely alone with traditional pen-on-paper techniques, he bypassed the Hollywood system to build a fiercely loyal following. His early works, like the cult favorite 'Rejected', showcased a uniquely absurdist and darkly funny voice. He later deepened his scope with the 'Everything Will Be OK' trilogy, compiled as the feature 'It's Such a Beautiful Day', a stunningly inventive and poignant study of a man's crumbling mind. His 'World of Tomorrow' series, blending his signature style with digital elements, won a new generation of fans and major awards for its sci-fi infused meditations on memory and legacy. Hertzfeldt’s career is a testament to the power of singular vision, proving that the most complex human feelings can be etched with a simple line.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Don was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Don Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Don's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for Short Film twice, a unique feat, for 'Rejected' and 'World of Tomorrow'.
- Created the critically acclaimed feature 'It's Such a Beautiful Day', a masterpiece of existential animation.
- Has had nine short films officially selected for the Sundance Film Festival, a record for any filmmaker.
- Received two Academy Award nominations for his 'World of Tomorrow' episodes.
Did You Know?
He traditionally animates all his films by hand on a 35mm animation stand he owns, avoiding digital software for the core process.
His short film 'Rejected' was inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2022.
He created a series of animated interstitials for the 2014 season of 'The Simpsons'.
He often voices characters in his own films, including the protagonist Bill.
“I'm so glad I finally got to meet you, and I'm sorry about the sun.”
