Don Hertzfeldt is an American animator, writer, and director known for his unique style of hand-drawn animation and dark humor. He gained recognition for his short films, including Rejected, which received an Academy Award nomination. Hertzfeldt's work often explores themes of existentialism and the human experience, using simple stick-figure characters and surreal storytelling. In addition to short films, Hertzfeldt created the feature film It's Such a Beautiful Day, which combines multiple short segments into a cohesive narrative. His distinctive approach has earned him a dedicated following and numerous awards in the independent animation community.