Butch Hartman

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox person Elmer Earl Template:NoboldButchTemplate:Nobold Hartman IV (born January 10, 1965) is an American animator, illustrator, writer, producer, director, and voice actor. He is best known for creating the animated television shows The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, T.U.F.F. Puppy, and Bunsen Is a Beast for Nickelodeon. He founded the company Billionfold Inc. in 2003 to produce the shows. Hartman was an executive producer on The Fairly OddParents for its 16-year run.

In February 2018, Hartman announced his departure from Nickelodeon after almost 20 years;<ref name="leave1">Template:Cite web</ref> this resulted in the end of Bunsen Is a Beast production after one season.<ref name="leave2">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021, he returned to the studio to produce The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder, a live-action Fairly OddParents sequel which premiered on Paramount+ the following year and aired for one season. In 2023, his first non-secular animated program, The Garden, premiered on the Christian streaming service Pure Flix.

Early life

Hartman was born in Highland Park, Michigan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He received the nickname Butch as a young boy and continued to use it as an adult. Hartman spent his childhood in Roseville, Michigan, and his teenage years in New Baltimore, Michigan.<ref name="newbaltimore">Template:Cite news</ref> He graduated from Anchor Bay High School in New Baltimore in 1983<ref name="newbaltimore" /> and subsequently attended the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As a young student, he appeared on The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour, winning nearly $3,000.<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref>

Career

Early career

While attending CalArts, Hartman interned as an in-between animator on the Don Bluth film An American Tail. Before graduating, he was a contestant on the Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour for three episodes, and shortly after graduating, he was hired as a character designer and storyboard artist for the 1986–1987 My Little Pony.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> As he had no previous experience with storyboards, he was soon fired.<ref name="Sheen">Template:Cite news</ref> Afterwards, he found work with Ruby-Spears, where he worked on It's Punky Brewster and Dink, the Little Dinosaur. He was also a member of the video reference crew for the Disney film Pocahontas.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the early 1990s, he was hired as an artist in the model department at Hanna-Barbera and was eventually contacted by studio president Fred Seibert to create the shorts Pfish and Chip and Gramps for his animated incubator series What a Cartoon!. Eventually, he became a writer, director and storyboard artist for several early Cartoon Network shows, including Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, and I Am Weasel. After his contract with Hanna-Barbera expired, he went to work with Seibert at his newfound Frederator studio, on his successor incubator series, Oh Yeah! Cartoons, for Nickelodeon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During his time working at Hanna-Barbera, he became acquainted with future Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. The two would later make the short Zoomates together for Oh Yeah! Cartoons. The character Dr. Elmer Hartman in Family Guy was named after Hartman. He also voiced various characters in the show's first season.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Working at Nickelodeon

File:Butch Hartman (3756233025).jpg

Hartman at a Fairly OddParents panel during Comic-Con 2009

His biggest success came in December 1997, when he created The Fairly OddParents. The series originally started as shorts on the anthology show Oh Yeah! Cartoons. Eventually, Nickelodeon decided to pick the shorts up as a full series. Premiering in 2001, the adapted series became a huge hit, second only in the ratings to SpongeBob SquarePants (and it briefly even passed SpongeBobTemplate:'s ratings).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following the third The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius crossover The Jimmy-Timmy Power Hour 3: The Jerkinators, the series ceased production in 2006, but it was announced on Hartman's forum on February 2, 2007, that 20 more episodes would be produced; the 6th season of Fairly OddParents began on February 18, 2008, starting with the one-hour special Fairly OddBaby. From May 1, 2009, to May 3, 2009, the three-part season 6 finale special Wishology aired.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> A tenth season was eventually ordered in 2015 before the show quietly ended production a year later.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Fairly OddParents is Nickelodeon's second-longest-running animated show behind SpongeBob.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Due to the success of The Fairly OddParents, Hartman was asked to create another show for Nickelodeon; Hartman says the President of Nickelodeon asked him if he had an idea, and before he could say the title, he was given the green light. The show would later become Danny Phantom.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hartman founded his own production company, Billionfold Inc., to produce the show in 2003, which he also used to produce his other projects. Danny Phantom ended production in early 2007 and amassed a cult following since its original run.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Sfn

Around 2008–2009, Hartman began production of his third show for Nickelodeon, T.U.F.F. Puppy, which premiered in 2010 alongside the Jimmy Neutron spin-off Planet Sheen.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The show ended five years later on Nickelodeon's spinoff network, Nicktoons.

His final show, Bunsen Is a Beast, aired on Nickelodeon and Nicktoons from January 16, 2017, to February 10, 2018. On February 8, 2018, Hartman announced on his Twitter and YouTube accounts that he had left Nickelodeon as of February 2 after a 20-year run.<ref name="leave1" /><ref name="leave2" />

Other works

In 2015, Hartman launched a "kid-safe [online] network of live shows and cartoons" called The Noog Network.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In October 2017, Hartman launched the podcast Speech Bubble, on which he talks about pop culture. Several voice actors have appeared on the podcast, including Rob Paulsen, Tara Strong, Jerry Trainor, Grey Griffin, and Vic Mignogna. After initially posting excerpts on his primary YouTube channel, the podcast videos were later moved to their dedicated YouTube channel, now including full episodes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In June 2018, Hartman started a Kickstarter campaign for OAXIS Entertainment, a "family-friendly" streaming service. A number of online personalities since alleged that OAXIS was planned to be a Christian-themed network. Hartman, however, asserted that, while faith would continue to be a part of his personal life,"Oaxis Entertainment is not faith-based".<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> As of 2025, Hartman has yet to give any updates on OAXIS.

On June 22, 2019, Hartman released the animated web series HobbyKids Adventures. This series, produced by PocketWatch Inc., was created for the YouTube channel HobbyKidsTV.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> On 13 July, Hartman released a book, Mad Hustle, which details the ins and outs of pitching and selling a show in Hollywood.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2019, Hartman created the Christian animated web series The Garden, which he co-produced with his wife Julieann. Hartman has planned at least two seasons of the series and will launch a subscription-based app for The Garden in late 2022. Hartman's further plans for the property include creating a VBS curriculum for churches and illustrating a children's Bible published by Thomas Nelson, titled The Garden Children's Bible, which stars the characters from The Garden and was scheduled to release in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="the garden bible"/> The series premiered on Pure Flix on January 1, 2023.<ref>Template:Cite instagram</ref>

In February 2021, Hartman was accused of plagiarism when he published his commissioned artwork of Attack on Titan character Mikasa Ackerman, in which similarities were noted to a 2018 artwork of a Japanese artist.<ref name="Asarch">Template:Cite web</ref>

Hartman was credited as an executive producer on The Fairly OddParents revival series, The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish.

Personal life

As of 2025, Hartman lives in Bell Canyon, California, with his wife, Julieann, and daughters, Carly and Sophia Hartman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also has three younger brothers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hartman is an openly devout born-again Christian<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and young-Earth creationist,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> converting in 2000 after hearing a sermon by Frederick K. C. Price.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Dead YouTube link

In 2005, Hartman, along with his wife, co-founded Hartman House, a non-profit organization which supports those in developing nations, as well as poverty-stricken areas in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By 2017, Hartman House had built two homes for families in Guatemala, fed nearly 7,200 families with Thanksgiving meals in the U.S., and funded aid projects for orphanages in Uganda and Haiti.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At Hartman House events, Hartman usually draws and autographs items related to his work for children.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Key

Template:Dagger

Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1986	An American Tail		In between artist
1992	California Hot Wax	Eddie	Credited as "Shiloh Pettibone"
1994	Scooby-Doo! in Arabian Nights		Character designer
1995	Pocahontas		Video reference cast
1997	Annabelle's Wish		Storyboard artist Direct-to-video
1998	Adventures in Odyssey: Baby Daze		Storyboard artist
	Adventures in Odyssey: A Stranger Among Us
2006	Doogal		Writer and Voice Director
2011	A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!	Writer	Writer and executive producer
2012	A Fairly Odd Christmas	Christmas Caroler, GingerFred, GingerEd, GingerNed and GingerJed
2014	A Fairly Odd Summer	Crazy Guy
2025	A Garden Cartoon Movie: The Greatest Thing Ever!		Creator/director/executive producer/story editor/writer<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
	The Christmas King! A Garden Cartoon Movie	Delivery Man / Mr. Toothacher / Cuckoo Charlie / Various Animals	Creator/director/executive producer/story editor/writer/voice actor<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1984	Match Game Hollywood Squares Hour	Contestant
1985	Body Language	Contestant
1985–1986	It's Punky Brewster		Models
1987	Growing Pains	Robert Jordan	Episode: "Michaelgate"
1988	Just the Ten of Us	Rod Grossman	Episode: "Close Encounters"
	Police Academy		Models
1988–1989	Days of Our Lives	Henry Jake	7 episodes
1989	Dink, the Little Dinosaur		Storyboard artist
1990	Piggsburg Pigs!		Key model designer
1990–1991	Generations	Sean Masters	16 episodes
1991–1993	Tom & Jerry Kids		Character designer
1993	Droopy, Master Detective		Designer
1995	What a Cartoon!		Creator: "Pfish & Chip", & "Gramps"; writer/director "Hillbilly Blue"
1996–1999	Jumanji		Storyboard artist: 3 episodes
1996–1997	Dexter's Laboratory		Storyboard artist/background designer/layout artist
1996–1998	The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper		Storyboard artist
1996	Timon & Pumbaa		Storyboard artist: "Beast of Eden", 1 episode, credited as Elmer Hartman
1997–1999	Johnny Bravo		Storyboard artist/writer: story/director
1997	Cow & Chicken		Models/storyboard artist
1997	I Am Weasel		Models/storyboard artist
1997	101 Dalmatians: The Series		Character/storyboard design
1997	The Weird Al Show	Pizza delivery guy	Episode: "Bad Influence"
1998–2002	Oh Yeah! Cartoons		Creator: "The Fairly OddParents" and "Dan Danger"; director/producer: "Terry and Chris"; director/storyboard artist: "Zoomates"
1999–2002	Family Guy	Jonathan Weed (pilot pitch only) / Additional voices	8 episodes
1999	The New Woody Woodpecker Show		Storyboard artist: "Temper, Temper", 1 episode
2001–2017	The Fairly OddParents	Dr. Rip Studwell / Additional voices	Creator/story/writer/director/storyboard artist/voice actor/theme music composer/executive producer
2002	The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius		Writer: "See Jimmy Run"
2004–2007	Danny Phantom	Football Announcer 1 (episode: "What You Want")	Creator/story/writer/storyboard artist/voice actor/director/theme music composer/executive producer
2010–2015	T.U.F.F. Puppy	Agent Weaselman / Agent Rodentski / Escape Goat / TV Voice	Creator/story/music composer/voice actor/executive producer/writer/storyboard artist/director
2010, 2013	Big Time Rush	Himself	Episode: Guest animator on "Big Time Christmas" "Big Time Cartoon"
2014-2020	Eliab Gets Grounded		Creator/writer/storyboard artist/executive producer/theme music composer
2017–2018	Bunsen Is a Beast	Fido / Beast Ball / Pete / Memory Pete / Kitten	Creator/writer/storyboard artist/executive producer/theme music composer
2022	The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder		Executive producer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2024	The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish		Executive producer

Internet

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2017	The Fairly Odd Phantom		Internet short that reunites characters from all Butch Hartman shows created for Nickelodeon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2019–2020	HobbyKids Adventures	SlobbySnake (episode: "The Drawing Board")	Creator/executive producer/director/writer/designs/voice actor
2019, 2023–present	The Garden	Mr. Toothacher / Cuckoo Charlie / Employee #101 / Various Animals	Creator/story/writer/storyboard artist/director/executive producer/story editor/voice actor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2024	The Big Blue Book	Oven Mitt	Executive producer/director/writer/lyrics by/background designer/set designer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Written works

Year	Title	Publisher	ISBN	Notes	Template:Ref heading
2017	Butch Hartman: Sketchbook 1: Stuff I've drawn or am drawn to.	CreateSpace	Template:ISBNT	Author and illustrator	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
	3 O'Clock Club Vol. 1: School's Out... of Control!	ROAR Comics	Template:ISBNT	Co-author with Jordan B. Gorfinkel	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
2018	Vision: Possible!	CreateSpace	Template:ISBNT	Co-author with Julieann Hartman	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
2020	Hannah and the Beanstalk: A True Story of Faith	Harrison House Publishers	Template:ISBNT	Illustrator	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
	Mad Hustle: How to pitch & sell shows in Hollywood	CreateSpace	Template:ISBNT	Author	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
2023	The Garden Children's Bible	Thomas Nelson	Template:ISBNT	Illustrator	<ref name="the garden bible">Template:Cite book</ref>

External links

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