Kenn Navarro's childhood in Manila, Philippines, was marked by an insatiable fascination with cartoons, a passion that would ultimately define his lifelong pursuit of animation. As a teenager, he found himself unable to resist the allure of a captivating animated sequence, and this innate curiosity would guide his professional journey.
Following his graduation from San Francisco State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Design with an emphasis in Animation, Kenn began his career by working on independent music videos and small-scale animation projects at 6'2 Studios in Larkspur, California.
When Kenn joined MondoMedia in 1998, the company was rapidly expanding into a full-fledged studio, dedicated to creating and distributing original Internet content. As he honed his skills on various video game projects, Kenn was eventually entrusted with the opportunity to bring his talents to Mondo's distinctive brand of irreverent Internet shows, including "The God & Devil Show," "Thugs on Film," and "Like, News," where he contributed his expertise as an animator.
It was during his tenure at Mondo that Kenn, along with his friends Rhode Montijo and Aubrey Ankrum, conceptualized the idea for Happy Tree Friends, which debuted in 2000. This innovative series quickly became an Internet sensation, garnering over 15 million hits per month. Subsequently, the show evolved into a television series in 2006, and has since sold an impressive 5 million DVDs worldwide.
