Introduction
Lauren Faust (born July 25, 1974) is an American animator and writer, best known as the creator of the animated series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic for Hasbro, as well as for working frequently with her husband Craig McCracken. Faust has also worked as an animator on television series such as The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, and with companies like Cartoon Network Studios, Warner Bros., Hasbro, Disney, and DreamWorks Animation.
Career
Faust attended the California Institute of Arts from 1992 to 1994, working as a layout artist at Rough Draft Studios. She then worked as an animator at Turner Feature Animation for two years and then as an animator for Warner Bros. Feature Animation for two years. Faust started working at Cartoon Network Studios in 1999. She worked as a storyboard artist and screenwriter at Cartoon Network Studios for four years and then as a supervising producer and story supervisor.
Faust's early career focused on animated feature films, working on Cats Don't Dance, Quest for Camelot, and The Iron Giant as an animator. She shifted to television animation in the 2000s, working on The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Super Best Friends Forever, and Wander Over Yonder. She is also the creator and developer of the toy line Milky Way and the Galaxy Girls.
Sony Pictures Animation announced in June 2014 that Faust would direct an animated comedy feature film titled Medusa, created by Todd Alcott and Holly Golden. The film tells a new story about the character fromGreek mythology, in which a young lady named Medusa sets out on a quest to revert the curse she earned from a jealous goddess. In November 2015, Faust announced that she was no longer involved with the project or with Sony.
Faust worked with Hasbro to develop the company's My Little Pony property, resulting in the series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. The series proved to be a major success not only with the primary young audience, but also significantly among adults and teenagers, who became popularly known as "bronies".
Awards
In 2004, Faust was nominated for an Emmy Award. In 2005, she was nominated for an Annie Award. In 2009, she shared a Primetime Emmy for the Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends special, "Destination: Imagination".
Personal life


Faust is married to Craig McCracken, creator of The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, and Wander Over Yonder. They met while they were working on the third season of The Powerpuff Girls. Faust has worked with her husband on all of his shows. She considers herself a lifelong feminist. Faust took maternity leave in mid-2016 to take care of her newborn daughter.
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Home, Honey, I'm High | Voice |
| 1997 | Cats Don't Dance | Animator – "Sawyer" |
| 1998 | Quest for Camelot | Animator – United States |
| 1999 | The Iron Giant | Animator |
| 2002 | The Powerpuff Girls Movie | Story, screenwriter, storyboard artist, character designer, character layout supervisor |
| 2013 | Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony | Executive Producer, herself |
| 2015 | The Iron Giant: Signature Edition | Animator |
| 2016 | Open Season: Scared Silly | Special thanks |
| 2017 | My Little Pony: The Movie | Received "Based on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic" Credit |
| 2018 | #TheLateBatsby | Short film; Director, writer, story, character design |
Television
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Maxx | Character layout artist |
| 2001 | Codename: Kids Next Door | Walk cycles Episode: No P in the OOL |
| 2001–2005 | The Powerpuff Girls | Storyboard artist, Story, Writer, Director, Supervising director |
| 2004–2009 | Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends | Developer, Supervising producer (Seasons 3-4), Writer, Story, Story supervisor, Storyboard artist, Character designer, Animation director, Story editor |
| 2010–2011 | My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic | Creator Season 1: Executive producer, Writer, Character designer, Creative director, Story supervisor, Story editor Season 2: Executive producer on The Return of Harmony, Consulting producer All episodes: Received "Developed for Television by" Credit |
| 2012 | Super Best Friends Forever | Creator, Director, Writer, Storyboard artist, Producer |
| 2013–2014 | Wander Over Yonder | Developer, Co-producer, Story editor, Writer, Director, Character designer (Season 1 only) |
| 2019 | DC Super Hero Girls | Developer, Writer, Executive Producer |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Them's Fightin' Herds | Contributor |