Samurai Jack Creator Genndy Tartakovsky Leaks Epic “Black Knight” Test Reel — Promises Weekly Drops
Genndy Tartakovsky, the creator of Samurai Jack, leaked a test reel for his dormant project Black Knight on Instagram at the end of September. The footage was made to show that a more adult animated action film could work, but the project has not been greenlit by Sony Animation despite earlier creative approval.
What was leaked
The reel shows a lone fighter facing a roughly 20-foot medieval knight, animated in Tartakovsky’s recognizable, fast-paced style. Tartakovsky said he created the footage around six years ago as a test to prove the project’s viability. The clip was posted directly to his Instagram account.
Why Tartakovsky leaked it
Tartakovsky said he released the material after watching recent animation hits and feeling frustrated that his original project remained stalled. He pointed to titles like Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and other recent successes when explaining his decision. He said, “How long am I just going to sit there and have all these projects come out?”
Industry response and Sony
According to Tartakovsky, Sony Animation — where he had been set up to direct two original films — did not approve a full production of Black Knight. He added that executives asked questions such as, “They just go, ‘Where’s the audience?’ Or ‘Who is the audience?’”
After he posted the reel, Tartakovsky said Sony did not object to the leak. “They weren’t yelling at me. They were like, ‘OK, I guess if this is what you want to do, go ahead.’ And now the reaction’s great,” Tartakovsky said.
Next steps
The test reel quickly picked up traction online, with Tartakovsky noting a particularly strong response in Latin America. He said he plans to publish new material regularly: “I plan to release new material ‘every week until it gets made,’” he told reporters.
Context and background
Tartakovsky is known for shows such as Samurai Jack, Primal, and Dexter’s Laboratory, and has previously worked with Sony on projects like Hotel Transylvania. He emphasized his target audience and the broader appeal of animation to younger viewers, saying, “Most people younger than my generation like animation and don’t treat it as just for kids. That’s who I’m making this for.”
