Einstein Kristiansen
A Norwegian creative whirlwind who transformed bright, chaotic cartoons into a global children's media empire.
Born 1965 (age 61)·Norwegian cartoonist and designer·Birthday: September 12·Generation X
Biography
Øistein Kristiansen, who once worked under the memorable alias Einstein, is a force of cheerful chaos. Emerging from Norway's design scene, his signature style—a riot of neon colors and gleefully distorted characters—felt like a sugar rush on paper. This wasn't just art for galleries; it was a visual language built for engagement. With a sharp entrepreneurial mind, he co-founded Earthtree Media, turning that vibrant aesthetic into a factory of joy for kids worldwide. His cartoons and designs became the backbone of television programming for giants like Nickelodeon in Asia, and he stepped in front of the camera himself, hosting shows that encouraged children to draw and create. Kristiansen's career is a masterclass in building a brand from a single, explosive idea, proving that a pen and a wildly imaginative palette can build bridges across continents.
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.
Einstein was born in 1965, 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 Einstein Was Born
The biggest hits of 1965
#1 Movie
The Sound of Music
Best Picture
The Sound of Music
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Einstein's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1965Born
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1970Started school
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1978Became a teenager
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Could drive
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
1983Could vote
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Turned 21
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1995Turned 30
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 40
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 50
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 60
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 61 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded Earthtree Media AS, a production company creating children's content for international networks.
- Developed and hosted television programs that teach children drawing and creative skills.
- Created image campaigns and animated content for major broadcasters including MTV Asia and Nickelodeon.
- Built a recognizable global brand from his distinctive, colorful cartooning style.
Did You Know?
He changed his professional name from his birth name, Øistein Kristiansen, to 'Einstein' as an artist alias early in his career.
His work often features fantastical animals and characters with exaggerated, drooping features.
He has authored and illustrated numerous children's activity books focused on drawing and creativity.
He is a frequent speaker and workshop leader at educational and creative conferences for youth.
“My drawings are a party for your eyes, and everyone is invited.”
