Dan Paladin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dan Paladin
Paladin at the 2007 Game Developers Conference
Born	(1979-09-14) September 14, 1979 (age 45) Ohio, United States
Other names	Synj
Occupation	Video game art designer, developer
Years active	2001—present
Employer	The Behemoth
Known for	Alien Hominid Castle Crashers BattleBlock Theater Pit People Alien Hominid Invasion BEHEMOTH

Daniel Joseph Paladin, also known as Synj, is a talented American video game artist and designer. He is also one of the people who started the video game company called The Behemoth. He is famous for his unique 2D art style seen in popular games like Alien Hominid and Castle Crashers.

About Dan Paladin

Starting His Journey

Dan Paladin began working with Newgrounds creator Tom Fulp in the early 2000s. Newgrounds is a website where people can share their animations and games. Dan helped design several games that were played in web browsers, like Dad n' Me and the very popular Alien Hominid.

In 2002, Dan, Tom Fulp, John Baez, and Brandon LaCava decided to create their own video game company. They named it The Behemoth.

Famous Games

Dan Paladin designed the updated version of Alien Hominid. He also designed the art for the exciting game Castle Crashers. This game is a "hack-and-slash" game, which means players fight many enemies using close-up attacks. Dan's special 2D art style became very well-known because of these games.

Other Projects

Besides working for The Behemoth, Dan Paladin has also worked for other game companies. These include Gratuitous Games and Presto Studios. He even created a polka-style song that was used in the ending credits for the Cyanide & Happiness animated shorts.

Life in San Diego

Dan Paladin lives in San Diego, California. This is also where The Behemoth company is located. He was an active member of the online community Newgrounds for a long time.

Games Dan Paladin Worked On

Here are some of the video games Dan Paladin has worked on:

• 2004: Alien Hominid
• 2008: Castle Crashers
• 2013: BattleBlock Theater
• 2018: Pit People
• 2023: Alien Hominid Invasion
• 2024: BEHEMOTH

Awards for His Work

Castle Crashers, a game where Dan Paladin was the art director, won two important awards in 2007. These awards were from the Independent Games Festival. The game won "Excellence In Visual Art" for its amazing look. It also won the "Audience Award," which means it was a favorite among the people who watched the festival.