With over 30 years of experience as a professional artist, Michael Grassia began his creative journey in 1994 at the age of 18. His first role was as a concept artist and animator for a local educational software company. Since then, his career has spanned a wide range of creative fields, including illustration, animation, graphic design, video production, and puppetry. In 2005, he earned his Master’s in Studio Art from The College of New Rochelle.
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Michael’s passion for cartooning began early—he’s been drawing since he could hold a pencil and began seriously studying the craft by the age of eight. That lifelong passion continues to inspire his work and fuels his belief in the power of cartoons to tell stories, spark imagination, and connect with audiences of all ages.
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Over the years, he has created and contributed to a variety of comic projects. He is best known for Plunger Pup, a lighthearted adventure featuring a crime-fighting dog with a magic plunger, and The Wiz, a weekly newspaper-style comic strip that returned from hiatus and now updates every Wednesday on Facebook and Instagram.
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In addition to his creative work, Michael is a dedicated educator. Since 2001, he has taught and guest lectured at the college level, developed art courses, and led professional workshops for both students and faculty. He is also the creator of GET IN TOON!—an educational cartooning program that brings the joy of drawing to schools, libraries, camps, and more, encouraging children of all ages to create their own characters and stories.