Interview: Ramy Youssef on Codeswitching, the Power of Animation, and Making ‘#1 Happy Family USA’

Ramy Youssef returns to television as the co-creator of #1 Happy Family USA, an animated series that looks at the Hussein family, whose members have to navigate the changing landscape in America in the immediate aftermath of September 11^th, 2001. Youssef voices both Hussein, the father who struggles to conceal his physical appearance that’s all too similar to that of the terrorists being pictured on TV, and his son Rumi, who suddenly sticks out as an outsider at school and has to learn how to codeswitch.

Awards Buzz spoke with Youssef about landing on animation as the critical storytelling device for this particular series and the advantages it presents. Watch the video above to hear how he feels the show deals with ignorance and overcompensation in a lighthearted but meaningful way.

Season one of #1 Happy Family USA is now streaming on Prime Video.