David Feiss! Creator of “Cow and Chicken”!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece Of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today is the 28th anniversary of the cartoon, “Cow and Chicken”! To celebrate, I reached out to the show’s awesome creator, David Feiss!

David Feiss is an American animator, writer, and director best known for creating the quirky and unforgettable animated series “Cow and Chicken”. With a long career in animation that includes work on classics like “The Jetsons” and “The Ren & Stimpy Show”, Feiss brought a bold, offbeat sense of humor to everything he touched. His style is known for its exaggerated expressions, physical comedy, and a fearless approach to absurdity; all of which became central to the tone of “Cow and Chicken”.

“Cow and Chicken” was officially launched on Cartoon Network in 1997, but it actually began as a short for the network’s “What a Cartoon!” showcase. The short was so well received that it quickly got picked up as a full series. The show follows the surreal adventures of Cow, an overly cheerful and naïve bovine, and her grumpy, cynical older brother Chicken. What made the show stand out was its unique blend of slapstick comedy, bizarre characters (like the Red Guy), and a willingness to push boundaries while still remaining accessible to a younger audience.

David Feiss poured his creative energy into every aspect of the show, from the wild character designs to the fast-paced storylines and off-the-wall humor. He even voiced several characters himself. “Cow and Chicken” ran for four seasons and became a cult favorite, cementing Feiss’s place in animation history. The show’s oddball charm and fearless silliness helped shape the tone of late ‘90s cartoons and left a lasting impression on fans who still fondly remember its weird, wonderful world.

Bonus Questions:

Giancarlo: What is your favorite project you’ve worked on and why?

David Feiss: “Cow and Chicken”! When I created it, I had been working as an animator professionally for 15 years working on big studio productions. The  opportunity to write and design on my own creation was the best. A close second was “Yoo Hoo and Friends”, a Korean kid show I retooled; bringing in Flavor Flav as the main character. It was fun!

Giancarlo: What was the inspiration for “Cow and Chicken”?

David Feiss: It started as a bedtime story I told my daughter Sara when she was 6 years old. I was too tired to read, so I made up a spontaneous story of a cow and a chicken who were best friends. The next morning I drew it up like a children’s book.. Three weeks later I pitched it to Hanna-Barbara and sold the idea for a Cartoon Network 7 minute short.

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

David Feiss: The best advice was always strive to improve! Don’t ever fall in love with a particular drawing, you can always improve it; strive for humor and clarity, and push the pose as far as possible.

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing weekend and we will catch you again on Monday!

-Giancarlo