Report: Dan Harmon Departs Starburns Industries

The Collider is reporting that they have source claiming that Dan Harmon, co-founder and co-creator of Rick and Morty, has departed Starburns Industries. There’s a lot to unpack here and we’ve actually done our own investigation with much higher sources and we can give you the lowdown.

Our Take

Starburns was founded by Dan Harmon, Dino Stamatopoulos, Joe Russo II, James Fino and Duke Johnson. I hear that Dan had taken himself out of the masthead due to the fact that during the production of Anomalisa, the studio had almost no money (Rick and Morty wasn’t quite the monolith it is now), so he did so that the studio could finish production on the film that would go on to be nominated for numerous film awards. Really not a lot to have to do with concentrating on Rick and Morty because Dan does that anyway.

As for Rick and Morty, the show is still being produced by Starburns Industries. Dan is still very much part of the production of the show and has been an integral resource for advice from young-and-coming producers like Justin Roiland and Mike McMahan who are becoming increasingly prominent producers for more original IP. That said, Dan can still be seen at the company’s dinners and holiday parties and from a personal standpoint I hear he’s doing as good now as he’s ever been (as can be seen in the Harmonious Claptrap vanity cards).