Andrew Armonaitis

Andrew Armonaitis, yeah, the name probably rang a bell if you’ve spent any time deep-diving into the world of animated films lately. He’s got his fingerprints all over Dog Man (2025) and, a bit earlier, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023). You might’ve caught one of those in theaters or, let’s be real, streaming in your pajamas at 2 a.m. Dog Man, based on the wild popular kids’ books, brings that goofy, over-the-top energy you’d expect from a half-dog, half-cop protagonist. There’s a weird blend of slapstick, heart, and just enough weirdness to keep adults awake. You get the sense Armonaitis just gets what makes these stories tick—he leans into the chaos and lets the characters breathe, which isn’t as easy as it sounds. Now, with Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, he took a pretty different turn. Instead of goofy dogs, you’re looking at an awkward, secretly powerful teenager figuring out how to juggle high school life with, uh, being descended from sea monsters. Classic coming-of-age, but with tentacles and underwater kingdoms. Andrew’s style seems to thrive on mixing the absurd with the relatable. Whether it’s wild canine antics or an underwater teen drama, he finds a way to sneak some genuine emotion in there, even when things are getting ridiculous. Not every director can walk that line—he pulls it off, somehow. His movies aren’t just for kids; there’s always a sly wink to the grown-ups, little in-jokes or deeper themes hiding beneath the surface.