Michael Paraskevas
Michael Paraskevas (born 1961)[1] is an illustrator, cartoonist, and animation producer best known for co-creating along with his mother Betty the Canadian animated children's television series Maggie and the Ferocious Beast.[2] The program was based on the 1996 book The Ferocious Beast with the Polka-Dot Hide and its sequels, all of which were also created by the Paraskevases.[3] Together, they authored 20 children's books.[4] and created three very popular animated series: Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse, and The Kids from Room 402. They also produced and created The Tangerine Bear as a home video Christmas special.
Michael Paraskevas | |
---|---|
Born | 1961 (age 59–60) New Jersey, U.S. |
Alma mater | School of Visual Arts |
Occupation | Illustrator, cartoonist, animator |
Years active | c. 1985–present |
Notable work | Maggie and the Ferocious Beast Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse The Kids from Room 402 The Tangerine Bear |
Spouse(s) | Maria Bruno[1] |
Parent(s) |
|
Website | www |
Michael Paraskevas's illustration work has appeared in magazines all over the world, including Time, Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, Town & Country, Esquire, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.
Biography
Paraskevas graduated from the School of Visual Arts[1] (SVA) in 1984. Studying illustration and journalism, he received his MFA from SVA in 1986.[5]
The Paraskevas strip Junior Kroll ran weekly for ten years in Dan's Papers in Bridgehampton and New York. Junior Kroll also ran as a monthly feature for five years in United Airlines' Hemispheres magazine. Paraskevas's Green Monkeys is currently running in Dan's Papers as a weekly comic strip and is soon to be syndicated.
Until her death in 2010, Betty and Michael owned and operate The Paraskevas Gallery in Westhampton Beach.[1]
Bibliography
- With Betty Paraskevas, unless otherwise noted
- On the Edge of the Sea (Dial Books, 1992)
- Junior Kroll (HMH Books for Young Readers, 1993)
- Shamlanders (Harcourt Childrens Books, 1993)
- The Strawberry Dog (Dial Books, 1993)
- Junior Kroll and Company (Harcourt Brace & Company, 1994)
- A Very Kroll Christmas (Harcourt Childrens Books, 1994)
- Gracie Graves and the Kids from Room 402 (Harcourt Childrens Books, 1995)
- Cecil Bunions and the Midnight Train (Harcourt Childrens Books, 1996)
- The Ferocious Beast with the Polka-Dot Hide (Harcourt Childrens Books, 1996)
- The Tangerine Bear (Harpercollins Childrens Books, 1997)
- Hoppy and Joe (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 1999)
- Maggie and the Ferocious Beast: The Big Scare (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 1999)
- The Big Carrot: A Maggie and the Ferocious Beast Book (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2000)
- On the Day the Tall Ships Sailed (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2000)
- (solo) L.A. Times (Paraskevas Gallery, 2001)
- Nibbles O'Hare (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2001)
- Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2001)
- The Green Monkeys (Paraskevas Gallery, 2002)
- The Green Monkeys in the Hamptons (Paraskevas Gallery, 2012)
- (solo) The Green Monkeys' Daily Comics: The Daily Adventures of Spider and Flytrap (Kindle Edition, 2014)
- (solo) Mr. Moon (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2016)
- (solo) The Green Monkeys Making America Green Again (Kindle Edition, 2017)
Animation
Television series
- Maggie and the Ferocious Beast (Nickelodeon, now on Qubo) — co-creator, writer, producer
- Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse (PBS, now on Qubo) — co-creator, producer
- The Kids from Room 402 (Fox Family Channel) — co-creator, producer
- Zack Jungle Dodgers Playhouse Disney, now on APTN Kids — co-creator, writer, producer
Television specials
- The Tangerine Bear (ABC and Hyperion) - writer, creator, producers
Currently in development
- Jerolemon Street
- Junior Kroll (Paraskevas Studios)
- Green Monkeys (Paraskevas Studios)
- Peter Pepper Pet Spectacular
- Hoppy and Joe (Paraskevas Studios)
- Leo Spats Ratcatcher (Paraskevas Studios)
- Taffy Saltwater
- The Cheap Show (Plum TV)
References
- Weiner, Sue. "Hamptons Artist Michael Paraskevas On His New Book And His Inspiration: His newest children's book, Mr. Moon, is a collaboration with his wife, Maria," Patch (Aug 12, 2016).
- Stamler, Bernard (June 18, 2000). "Mother, Son and TV Animation". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
- "Inside Maggie and the Ferocious Beast". Parents-Choice.org. Parents' Choice Foundation. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
- Tagliaferro, Linda (May 19, 1996). "Writer Mother and Artistic Son Beget an Impish Offspring". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
- "About," Michael Paraskevas official website. Accessed Dec. 3, 2019.