Dr. Toon: Nuts and Bolts With Rob Renzetti

Dr. Toon talks to producer/writer/director/animator Rob Renzetti about his career, his influences, and that spunky Robotic Global Response Unit XJ9 (a.k.a Jenny Wakeman), star of My Life as a Teenage Robot. The show’s first one-hour special airs on Nickelodeon August 13.

By Martin Goodman | Thursday, July 21, 2005 at 12:00 am

Posted In | Magazines: AnimationWorld | Columns: Dr. Toon

Renzetti has been gratified with the success of Robot so far. He is working on the third season now.

DT: Last year Teenage Robot was honored at the Ottawa Animation Festival as “Best New Children’s Show of the Year.” Are you pleased with the show’s success thus far?

RR: I’m very gratified. It seems to be very popular and it certainly has a rabid core of fans that are frequenting the Internet and coming on to our blog site. We’re going to be down at the San Diego Comic-Con signing limited edition posters promoting the special. The last time we went down there the show wasn’t on the air, and now that it is I’m interested in meeting our fans in person and seeing what they think of the show.

We’re working on the third season right now, and there are a few episodes that are going to be fun for the viewers. The show has gotten progressively stranger, in a good way. Now that we know the characters, we can play with them a lot more and do stranger storylines. I’ve been blessed from the beginning to have a really good crew of people working on the show. Everybody seems to get along well, and we hang out with each other after work. And they all do incredible work for me, every day. I’ve truly been lucky in that regard.

DT: We know that human slaves make the exquisite treat “Clustard” for their cruel robot masters on Cluster Prime. Any particular flavors you’d recommend?

RR: It depends on what they’re making the Clustard out of. If they’re actually making them out of humans then I don’t know that I’d recommend any flavor! Let’s assume that the humans are just powering the machine and not contributing to the ingredients. I’d have to go with Rum Raisin’ Hell, Rocky Road to Ruin, Martial Lawberry Cheesecake or Chocolate.

DT: I understand that Jenny Wakeman was sighted in public recently with Optimus Prime of the Transformers. I think he might be a little old for her, don’t you think?

RR: I would agree! I hope that this is just platonic and that Jenny isn’t making a mistake. I’m still waiting for Jenny and Sheldon to get together. You’d think I’d have a little influence with Jenny, but she is one stubborn robot.

Martin “Dr. Toon” Goodman is a longtime student and fan of animation. He lives in Anderson, Indiana.

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Comments

Wonderful! I have always wanted to know know more about the amazing Mr Renzetti and the background of MLaaTR. I am one of that core of rabid fans that contribute to the blog and a faithful veiwer of the show. I did not know that RoB R had such an illustious background in such popular shows however, My thanks to Dr Toon. I look forward to several more seasons of Jenny and the "Escape from Cluster Prime"

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The Great One (not verified) | Fri, 07/22/2005 - 00:00 | Permalink

I am a really big fan of your show an I really thought about how it would look in 3D I. As a artist and also a lover of Astroboy's design I think I fell upon a look you may like for Jenny. You can see a peek of what how I create Britney and Tiffany. I made them as if they were auditioning Girls for Cheerleading behind a desk. You have to go to http://fanart-central.net/pic-243671.html Jenny and Sheldon http://fanart-central.net/pic-243674.html There are other's I have done so I hope you go here so you can see what I have created When I first seen your show I knew it would be a big fan show and I hope you keep it up please write back and tell me what you think of my art. Some day I would like to see them done in this manner not because I know some people would like working toys of her. she is really cool take care and keep up the good work http://homepage.mac.com/henryblackshearjr

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Henry Blackshear (not verified) | Fri, 07/22/2005 - 00:00 | Permalink

What a pleasant surprise to read a special interview with Rob Renzetti! I have always been a fan of his works (as well as his fellow 'comrades' McCracken's and Tartakovsky's ever) since I first watched PPG many years ago. What really interests me is their creative drawing skills as well as the evolution of the shows they have helped created. My Life As A Teenage Robot is no exception and it has all the great qualities that Rob has implanted from his inspirations (mainly the classic Popeye shows). Aside from strange (yet cool) artwork, MLAATR also features some innovative ideas that are unlike any typical Saturday Cartoon Shows you can think of (my personal favorite is a scene in which Jenny the girl robot competes with the Krust cousins in a 'costume competition'.). Ever since I watched lots of cartoons made by Tartakovsky's disciples (as I normally call them), I begin to add some new creative directions through influences in some of my works while still trying to implement some personal touches from my own experiences. So I just wish to say thanks to Rob and his gangs for creating some of the most revolutionary cartoons ever made!