Butch Hartman

Butch Hartman
Hartman in 2009
Born Elmer Earl Hartman IV
(1965-01-10) January 10, 1965
Highland Park, Michigan, U.S.
Education Anchor Bay High School
California Institute of the Arts
Alma mater California Institute of the Arts
Occupation Animator, voice actor, YouTuber
Years active 1986–present
Spouse(s) Julieann Hartman
Children 2

Elmer Earl "Butch" Hartman IV (born January 10, 1965) is an American animator, voice actor, and YouTuber best known for creating the Nickelodeon cartoons The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, T.U.F.F. Puppy and Bunsen Is a Beast. Hartman also owns a production company, Billionfold Inc., which he uses primarily to produce his shows. Hartman was an executive producer on The Fairly OddParents for the entirety of its 16-year run.

Hartman's latest animated program, Bunsen Is a Beast, aired in 2017.[1] On February 8, 2018, Hartman announced in a YouTube video that he had left Nickelodeon on February 2 after having worked at the studio since December 1997.[2] He confirmed in the video that this resulted in the end of production on Bunsen Is a Beast after just one season.[3]

Early life

Hartman was born in Highland Park, Michigan. He received the nickname Butch as a young boy and continued to use the name professionally as an adult. Hartman spent his childhood in Roseville, Michigan and his teenage years in New Baltimore, Michigan.[4] He graduated from Anchor Bay High School in New Baltimore in 1983.[4] He subsequently attended the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California.[5]

Career

Early career

While still attending CalArts, Hartman received the chance to intern as an in-between animator on the Don Bluth film An American Tail. Shortly after graduating from CalArts, Hartman was hired as a character designer and storyboard artist for an unidentified My Little Pony animated series. It was the first time he had worked with storyboards, and because of this, he was soon fired from the job.[6] Afterwards, Hartman 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.

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 make the shorts Pfish and Chip and Gramps for the What a Cartoon! Show. Eventually, he became a writer, director and storyboard artist for several of the 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 on the Oh Yeah! Cartoons show for Nickelodeon.

During his time working at Hanna-Barbera, he became friends with future Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. The two would later go on to 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 few seasons.

Working at Nickelodeon

His biggest success came in December 1997, when he created The Fairly OddParents. The series originally started out as a series of 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 ended up becoming a huge hit, second only in the ratings to SpongeBob SquarePants (and it briefly even passed SpongeBob's ratings). 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 aired on February 18, 2008, starting with the 1-hour special Fairly OddBaby. From May 1, 2009 to May 3, 2009, the 3-part special Wishology aired; although that too was originally intended as a series finale, the series was renewed for another season. A tenth season was eventually ordered in 2015.[7] The Fairly OddParents is Nickelodeon's second longest-running animated show behind SpongeBob.

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 greenlight. The show would later become Danny Phantom.[8] To produce the show, in 2004, Hartman founded Billionfold Inc., which he also used, and still uses today, to produce his other projects. Danny Phantom received critical acclaim and is considered Hartman's best show, with Hartman himself acknowledging it as perhaps the best of his programs. Danny Phantom ended production in early 2007.

Around 2008–2009, Hartman began production his third show for Nickelodeon, T.U.F.F. Puppy, which premiered in 2010 alongside the Jimmy Neutron spin-off Planet Sheen.[9] The series received mixed to positive reviews and ran for 3 seasons before being cancelled.

His fourth 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.[2][3]

Future projects

After Hartman announced that he was leaving Nickelodeon, he said in the same video that he was working new projects to be released in the future. He announced that he is working on a show called Elf Detective for his YouTube channel as well a secret project with Pocketwatch, Inc.

On June 18, 2018, Hartman launched a Kickstarter campaign for his own streaming service for family entertainment called OAXIS. It reached its goal of $250,000 on July 18, 2018.[10]

Other works

His other TV work includes voicing various characters on the animated series Family Guy and playing the character Sean Masters on the short-lived series Generations in 1991. He also appeared on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives during the late 1980s. In 2012, it was announced that Hartman was set to serve as the director on the film adaptation of ALF for Sony Pictures Animation.

In 2015, Hartman launched a "kid safe network (app) of live shows and cartoons" called the Noog Network.[11][12] In August 2016, Hartman showed on YouTube the short sequences of his Cartoon Network's pilot episode dating back to 2011, called Dynamice!.[13] He's also working on a comic book called "The 3 O'Clock Club", as revealed on a YouTube live stream on his channel.[14][15] A comic was released in 2017.[16]

In October 2017, Hartman started a podcast called Speech Bubble, on which he talks about cartoons, movies, pop culture, and various other topics. 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 its own dedicated YouTube channel, now including full episodes.[17][18]

Personal life

Hartman currently lives in Bell Canyon, California, with his wife, Julieann, and daughters, Carly and Sophia Hartman. Hartman is also an openly devout Christian.[19]

Hartman's younger brothers are: Mike, Keith and Timothy.[20] The character Timmy Turner from The Fairly OddParents, was named after his younger brother, Timothy, and the character of Mikey from Bunsen is a Beast was, as he explained, his chance to name a lead after his brother Mike.

In 2005, Hartman, along with his wife, founded Hartman House, a non-profit organization that travels to developing nations and some of the most poverty stricken areas in the United States.[21] Hartman House has built two homes for families in Guatemala, fed nearly 7,200 families with Thanksgiving meals in the U.S., and is in the midst of funding a school in Uganda. At Hartman House events, Hartman usually draws and autographs items related to his work for children.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1986 An American Tail In between artist
1992 California Hot Wax Eddie
1994 Scooby-Doo! in Arabian Nights Character designer
1995 Pocahontas Video reference cast
1997 Annabelle's Wish Storyboard artist
Direct-to-video film
1998 Adventures in Odyssey: Baby Daze Storyboard artist
Adventures in Odyssey: A Stranger Among Us Storyboard artist
2004 Channel Chasers Co-writer, director, and animator for "Channel 297" scene
2005 Doogal Writer: United States screenplay (later rewritten without his knowledge, only about 3% of his script remained)[22]
2011 A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner! Waiter Writer: series and characters
2012 A Fairly Odd Christmas Christmas Caroler Story, screenplay, writer: series and characters
2014 A Fairly Odd Summer Crazy Guy Story, screenplay, writer: series and characters

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Body Language Contestant Appeared on 4 episodes (broadcast March 27–29 and April 1, 1985), winning a total of $17,650
1985–86 It's Punky Brewster Models
1987 Growing Pains Robert Jordan Episode 3.5: "Michaelgate"
1988 Just the Ten of Us Rod Grossman Episode 1.4: "Close Encounters"
Police Academy Models
1988–89 Days of Our Lives Henry
Jake
1989 Dink, the Little Dinosaur Storyboard artist
1990 Piggsburg Pigs! Key model designer
1991–93 Tom & Jerry Kids Character designer
1993 Droopy, Master Detective Designer
1995 What a Cartoon! Creator: "Pfish & Chip", & "Gramps"; writer/director "Hillbilly Blue"
1996–97 Dexter's Laboratory Writer/storyboard artist/background designer/layout artist
1997–99 Johnny Bravo Storyboard artist/writer: story/director
1997 Cow & Chicken Models/storyboard artist
1997 I Am Weasel Models/storyboard artist
1998–2001 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
Additional voices
2001–17 The Fairly OddParents Dr. Rip Studwell
Dr. Bender (Seasons 4–5)
Francis (episode: "Manic Mom Day")		 Creator, story, writer, director, storyboard artist, voice actor, theme music composer, and executive producer
2003 Pet Star Judge Episode 1.11
2004–07 Danny Phantom Football Announcer 1
(episode: "What You Want")		 Creator, story, writer, storyboard artist, director, theme music composer, and executive producer
2010–15 T.U.F.F. Puppy Agent Weaselman
Agent Rodentski		 Creator, story, music composer, voice actor, executive producer, writer, storyboard artist, and director
2011 Dynamice! Creator, writer, storyboard artist, and executive producer
2013 Big Time Rush Himself Guest star on "Big Time Cartoon",
guest animator on "Big Time Christmas"
2013 Jinxed Additional artist
2017–18 Bunsen Is a Beast Creator/writer/storyboard artist/executive producer/theme music composer

Internet

Year Title Role Notes
2016–17 Nickelodeon Animation Podcast Episode 10: Butch Hartman

Episode 36: Bunsen Is a Beast Cast & Creator

 Podcast
2017 Sanders Sides Episode 9: Becoming a Cartoon Appears as himself and animates a cartoon sequence

Others

References

  1. ↑ Flores, Terry (2017-02-16). "How Animator Butch Hartman Created His New Nickelodeon Show 'Bunsen Is a Beast'". Variety. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  2. 1 2 Hartman, Butch (February 9, 2018). "Why I Left Nickelodeon". Retrieved February 10, 2018 – via SoundCloud.
  3. 1 2 Hartman, Butch (February 8, 2018). "Why I Left Nickelodeon". Retrieved February 9, 2018 – via YouTube.
  4. 1 2 Larese, Katelyn (July 10, 2014). "With Video: Cartoon creator Butch Hartman leaves his mark". The Voice. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  5. ↑ "'Fairly OddParents' is not just for kids". The Augusta Chronicle. February 12, 2004. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  6. ↑ Fletcher, Alex (September 7, 2012). "TUFF Puppy' Butch Hartman interview: 'I want Charlie Sheen character". Digital Spy. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  7. ↑ "'The Fairly OddParents' Is Getting A New Character -- And A Tenth Season [Exclusive]". Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  8. ↑ Ball, Ryan (April 8, 2004). "Butch Hartman Talks Danny Phantom". Animation Magazine. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  9. ↑ Lloyd, Robert (October 2, 2010). "Television reviews: 'T.U.F.F. Puppy' and 'Planet Sheen'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  10. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qhwNAMgX6ms
  11. ↑ "Animator Butch Hartman Launches the Noog Network | Strange Kids Club". Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  12. ↑ "Butch Hartman Launches Noog App". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  13. ↑ "Unreleased Cartoon Network Pilot: Dynamice! - YouTube". youtube.com. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  14. ↑ "My First Comic Book!". Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  15. ↑ Johnston, Rich (2016-05-22). "3 O'Clock Club To Keep The Monsters At Bay In August". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  16. ↑ "3 O'Clock Club To Keep The Monsters At Bay In August - Bleeding Cool News And Rumors". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. 2016-05-22. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  17. ↑ "Speech Bubble by Butch Hartman on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  18. ↑ "YouTube". Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  19. ↑ Frost, AJ (September 29, 2015). "Noog Network creates safe online place for kids". Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  20. ↑ Hartman, Butch (September 1, 2015). "Fun Facts About My Shows: Fairly Odd Parents, Danny Phantom, & TUFF Puppy!". Retrieved November 8, 2017 – via YouTube.
  21. ↑ White, Stefanie (November 24, 2006). "Nickelodeon cartoon creator Butch Hartman visits McKinney". McKinney Courier-Gazette Star. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  22. ↑ "let's talk about DOOGAL". YouTube. November 10, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
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