The Garden (animated series)

The Garden
Genre
Created byButch Hartman
Directed byButch Hartman
Voices of
Theme music composerMoon People Soundtracks
Opening theme"In The Garden"
No. of seasons2
Production
Producers
  • Butch Hartman
  • Julieann Hartman
Original release
Network
ReleaseJanuary 1, 2023 (2023-01-01) –
present

The Garden (Also known as The Garden Cartoon) is an American-Christian children's musical animated web series created in 2019 by Butch Hartman, who co-produced it with his wife Julieann. Released on January 1, 2023 on Pure Flix, the series centers around a duo of anthropomorphic animals composed of a lion named Lenny and a lamb named Lucy, who do a variety of daily tasks and receive advice from the Boss, a disembodied voice that is represented as a rainbow.

Cast and characters

Episodes

Episode List 1. Truth is the Mane Thing / Where Your Treasure Is

TV-Y • 21 min • May 1, 2024

2. Humble Bee / Cloud Nine

TV-Y • 22 min • May 1, 2024

3. Prehistoric Papa / Finding Joy

TV-Y • 21 min • May 1, 2024

4. Banana Burgers / Stake Out, Fake Out

TV-Y • 21 min • May 1, 2024

5. The Wanderer / Spots and Stripes

TV-Y • 24 min • May 1, 2024

6. Rocket Riter / Lots of Lennys

TV-Y • 24 min • May 1, 2024

7. Double Trouble / Fish and Ship

TV-Y • 22 min • May 1, 2024

8. Amazing Space / Brush with Fame

TV-Y • 25 min • May 1, 2024

9. Shear Happiness / Party of One

TV-Y • 24 min • May 1, 2024

10. Seeds of Love / Three's a Crowd

TV-Y • 24 min • May 1, 2024

Production and release

After creating The Garden in 2019, Hartman planned to produce at least two seasons, launch a subscription-based app for the series in late 2022, create a VBS curriculum for churches, and illustrate a children's Bible published by Thomas Nelson titled The Garden Children's Bible, which was released in 2023.[6][‡ 3][‡ 4] The series premiered on Pure Flix on January 1, 2023.[‡ 5] Season 1 has since aired on The Garden Cartoon App, Prime Video, Apple TV, Angel, Google Play, and other streamers.[‡ 6]

Season 2 is scheduled to premiere exclusively on Angel with weekly episodes starting March 25, 2026.[7]

Films

The first compilation film adaptation of The Garden, A Garden Cartoon Movie: The Greatest Thing Ever!, had a home release in July 2025.[1][‡ 7] Angel Studios partnered with Butch Hartman to produce The Christmas King! A Garden Cartoon Movie, which was released later that year.[2][‡ 8]

Reception

Critical reception

Jose Solís of Common Sense Media said, "It's hard to resist an animated film that truly wants to entertain without talking down to its audience. In A Garden Cartoon Movie: The Greatest Thing Ever!, the filmmakers strike a smart balance between catchy songs, quirky humor, and simple life lessons."[8]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2023 Voice Arts Awards Outstanding Animation Character - Film or TV - Best Voiceover Cristina M. Medina as Lucy Nominated [‡ 9]
2025 Faith in Film Festival Best Animation The Garden Cartoon, "Shear Happiness" Nominated [‡ 10]
2026 International Christian Film & Music Festival Best Animated Film The Garden Cartoon Nominated [‡ 11]
The Greatest Thing Ever! A Garden Cartoon Movie Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 Milligan, Mercedes (June 24, 2025). "Butch Hartman's Faith-Based 'The Greatest Thing Ever: A Garden Cartoon Movie' Sets July Home Release".
  2. 1 2 Taylor, Drew (November 24, 2025). "Angel Studios Partners With Butch Hartman for 'The Christmas King: A Garden Cartoon Holiday Movie' Exclusive".
  3. ↑ "Butch Hartman | GospelTruth.TV On Demand". GospelTruth.TV. Archived from the original on July 6, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  4. ↑ "TV & Streaming Bytes: 'The Croods: Family Tree' S6, 'Sealook' Makes a Splash, Butch Hartman Plants 'The Garden' & More". www.animationmagazine.net. March 21, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  5. ↑ McCarty, India (April 18, 2026). "AMERICAN IDOL Alum-Turned-Worship Star Scores Role on Kids' Show". Movieguide | The Family Guide to Movies & Entertainment. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  6. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (May 25, 2022). "Butch Hartman Launching Pre-K Bible Toon 'The Garden'". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Angel to Exclusively Stream Butch Hartman Studios' 'The Garden Cartoon' Season 2". Standard Newswire. March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  8. ↑ "A Garden Cartoon Movie: The Greatest Thing Ever! Movie Review | Common Sense Media". www.commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved March 18, 2026.

Primary sources

In the text, these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):

  1. ↑ "The Garden Cartoon".
  2. 1 2 www.imdb.com https://www.imdb.com/title/tt25700570/fullcredits. Retrieved April 21, 2026. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ↑ "The Garden website". Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  4. ↑ Nelson, Thomas (March 7, 2023). ICB, The Garden Children's Bible, Hardcover: International Children's Bible. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 978-0785241812.
  5. ↑ Butch Hartman [@butchhartman]; (January 1, 2023). "My new Christian cartoon "THE GARDEN" just dropped on @pureflix TODAY!". Retrieved January 2, 2023 – via Instagram.
  6. ↑ "The Garden Cartoon". The Garden Cartoon. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  7. ↑ Kalmar, Nick; Picher, Stephen, A Garden Cartoon Movie, the Greatest Thing Ever! (Animation), James Arnold Taylor, Cristina Milizia, Katie Leigh, Garden Productions, retrieved January 27, 2025
  8. ↑ Fawesome. Watch The Christmas King! A Garden Cartoon Movie Full Movie Free Online - Fawesome TV. Retrieved November 15, 2025 – via fawesome.tv.
  9. ↑ "2023 Nominees – Sovas". Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  11. ↑ "International Christian Film & Music Festival". ICFF. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
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