Dan Harmon

Dan Harmon is recognized as a prominent figure in American television, known for creating the popular sitcom "Community" and co-creating Adult Swim's animated series "Rick and Morty." Before his television career, Harmon developed his skills in the Milwaukee comedy scene and co-founded Channel 101, an alternative television network and short-film festival in Los Angeles that has served as a platform for emerging comedic talent. His early work in Hollywood includes co-writing the screenplay for the animated film "Monster House" and co-creating Comedy Central's "The Sarah Silverman Program."

"Community" drew from Harmon's experiences attending community college and is noted for its meta-humor, pop culture references, and inventive storytelling. The show received multiple Emmy nominations, Critics Choice Awards, and other industry accolades. During this period, Harmon co-founded Starburns Industries, a production company that produced a stop-motion episode of "Community" which earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animation. Despite a complicated relationship with the network, Harmon's reputation among fans and critics remained strong.

"Rick and Morty" premiered on Adult Swim and quickly achieved high ratings, becoming the top comedy in key demographics and earning consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program. The series was renewed for additional episodes, and Harmon later became the sole showrunner. In addition to his work on these flagship shows, Harmon starred in the documentary "Harmontown," which chronicled his live podcast tour, and served as executive producer for the animated feature film "Anomalisa."

Harmon is also known for developing the "Story Circle," a narrative framework adapted from Joseph Campbell's hero's journey, which he tailored for television writing. This model has influenced numerous writers and showrunners in the television industry. Harmon has spoken openly about his personal experiences with neurodiversity and mental health, including his realization of possibly having Asperger syndrome while writing for "Community."

Harmon expanded his creative portfolio with "Krapopolis," an animated series set in ancient Greece that explores the dynamics of a dysfunctional family of humans, gods, and monsters. The series has been renewed for multiple seasons on Fox. Harmon's body of work spans live-action sitcoms, animated series, podcasts, documentaries, and feature films, establishing him as a significant contributor to television writing, animation, and narrative structure.