Elmer Earl "Butch" Hartman IV (born January 10, 1965) is an American animator, illustrator, writer, producer, director, and actor.

In 2023, his first non-secular animated program, The Garden, premiered on the Christian streaming service Pure Flix.

[7] While still attending CalArts, Hartman interned as an in-between animator on the Don Bluth film An American Tail.

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 at his newfound Frederator studio, on his successor incubator series, Oh Yeah!

[9] During his time working at Hanna-Barbera, he became acquainted with future Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.

[11][12] 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 one-hour special Fairly OddBaby.

[19][20] 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.

[21][22] In June 2018, Hartman started a Kickstarter campaign for OAXIS Entertainment, a "family-friendly" streaming service.

[23] However, Hartman later claimed that, while faith would continue to be a part of his personal life, OAXIS would not be a faith-based service.

[26] In 2019, Hartman created the Christian animated web series The Garden, which he co-produced with his wife Julieann.

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 is scheduled to release in 2023.

[34] Hartman is an openly devout born-again Christian[35] and young-Earth creationist,[36] converting in 2000 after hearing a sermon by Frederick K. C.