Butch Hartman, the creator of two of Nickelodeon’s most famous kids shows in “The Fairly OddParents” and “Danny Phantom,” is going in a new direction for his next animation venture.
Hartman is set to launch Butch Hartman Studios, which will be an independent animation studio with the goal of producing and financing uplifting and original faith-based animated projects for both kids and families. The studio bills itself as a full-service production studio employing over 40 animation crew members, many of whom have worked on his past shows. Hartman’s longtime colleague Taylor Bradbury is a senior producer at the company.
The studio already has four different projects in development, and Hartman has even secured distribution deals with Angel Studios, which released the animated “The King of Kings” last month, and BMG-Global, which has also released a variety of faith-based movies and series. Butch Hartman Studios is privately funded, and all the faith-based properties on the initial slate include positive messages and characters.
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The first project under the new banner is expanding the franchise “The Garden Cartoon.” The first season of the animated series, which was created by Hartman and executive produced by his wife Julieann, is already available via Angel Studios and is available through other streamers via N Circle Entertainment. Production is now underway on Season 2, and BMG-Global will release a handful of “Garden Cartoon” movies timed to Christian holidays.
The other projects in the works are “Little Harps,” which is aimed at kids between ages 3-8 and follows a Guardian Angel school that prepares new recruits to help kids down on Earth. Next is “Dragon Drive-Thru,” aimed at ages 5-8, and it follows three little dragons who run a fast-food stand in a medieval town. Finally is “Family Fusion,” aimed at kids between 6-11, and it follows two super-science families who try to live next door to each other without destroying the neighborhood.
“Our stories and shows are created and curated with families in mind,” said Hartman. “We’re working with some of the best animators in the business, many of whom I’ve worked with on other shows, to offer an enriching experience suitable for children of all ages. Our mandate is to provide safe entertainment where kids can be enthralled, excited, and encouraged to set their imaginations free. My Christian faith has convinced me that in a world of almost unbearable uncertainty, the importance of fun and empowering kids’ entertainment has never been more profound.”
Hartman has been nominated for four Primetime Emmys (and three Daytime Emmys) for his work on “The Fairly OddParents,” which ran for 10 seasons on Nickelodeon beginning in 2001 and through 2017, the second longest-running Nick series behind “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Some of his other series include “Danny Phantom,” “T.U.F.F. Puppy,” and “Bunsen Is a Beast,” all for Nickelodeon. He and his wife are also founders of Hartman House, a charitable, non-profit organization that benefits needy children and families around the world, as well as The Butch Hartman Art Academy, which provides a community and courses for new artists.
Hartman is represented by The Gotham Group and attorney Noël Lohr Arbaut.
