What happens when a studio doubts the audience, but the creator refuses to let go? Genndy Tartakovsky has given us the answer. The man behind Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Primal, and Unicorn: Warriors Eternal just dropped a proof-of-concept promo for Black Knight, a project he’s been developing with Sony Pictures Animation since 2018.
He didn’t release it through official channels. Instead, Tartakovsky went rogue, posting the clip to his Instagram earlier this week. His words: “Well, this might get me in trouble… but gotta try a new strategy.” It’s an unusual move, but one that feels almost punk rock in the buttoned-down corporate world of studio animation. And it might be exactly what this story—this medieval fever dream—needed.
What Is Black Knight?
The premise is straight out of myth but anchored in Tartakovsky’s taste for grit: after failing to protect his king, a loyal knight transforms into the Black Knight to save his kingdom. It’s set in the 14th century, and yes—the armor is massive, twenty feet tall, operated from within using ropes, pulleys, and levers. Think steampunk ingenuity meets medieval carnage.
This isn’t your sanitized fairy tale knight. The clip shows a hulking figure in blackened steel, towering over the battlefield. A machine of flesh and gears, driven by guilt. Tartakovsky said he’s been working on it for over six years, alongside writer Patrick Burleigh (Eternals, Peter Rabbit 2). Sony initially liked the concept but hesitated, unsure whether an audience exists for an “adult animated action movie” of this kind. Hence the guerilla release.
Why This Trailer Matters
Animation has always been cornered into binaries: kid-friendly adventures or hyper-stylized arthouse. Black Knight aims for something rarer—a brutal, operatic, R-rated medieval action film made with the freedom of animation. Tartakovsky has already proven that blood and poetry can coexist in his Emmy-winning Primal. The trailer suggests he’s pushing even further here.
Studios play cautious with “adult animation,” but the appetite exists—look at the reception to Castlevania on Netflix or the cult love for Heavy Metal. The question isn’t whether audiences want it; it’s whether executives are willing to take the gamble. Tartakovsky is betting that viewers, not algorithms, will carry the proof-of-concept into momentum.
Genndy’s Frustrated Pattern
This isn’t the first time Tartakovsky has had projects stalled in limbo. His recent film Fixed was dropped by Sony before Netflix scooped it up and released it earlier this year (2025). Years before, his long-gestating Popeye reboot collapsed in development despite enthusiastic test footage.
Black Knight feels like the culmination of that frustration—a creator tired of corporate hesitance, showing the world what he’s capable of even if the gatekeepers won’t open the door. In his own words: “We made a down and dirty test, and still no go. So to try something different I thought I would share the test to see if it can get a ground swell of excitement that would change the studio’s mind.”
5 Takeaways from the Black Knight Proof-of-Concept
Tartakovsky’s bold gamble – He bypassed studio channels and posted the trailer himself.
Six years in the making – Development began around 2018, only to stall despite positive studio feedback.
A towering knight – The Black Knight armor stands 20 feet tall, operated with ropes and pulleys.
Adult animation territory – Tartakovsky envisions a violent, gritty, more mature story than studio norms.
The fate is uncertain – Sony holds the project, but fan reaction could shape its future.
Genndy Tartakovsky has always thrived in spaces where others see risk. Black Knight might never ride into theaters—or it might, if audiences make enough noise. The proof-of-concept is more than a trailer; it’s a dare.
So, would you watch a full feature of Black Knight if Sony gave Tartakovsky the green light?
