How Planet-Hungry Toddlers Sparked an Animated Epic

Operation: Hathor didn’t begin as a film.

It started as something far more personal, a quiet mission to nurture the endless curiosity of my children, Cassius and Harlee.

Harlee and Cassius In The Lab looking at J1407b

When Cassius was just two, he would walk through the house chanting, “Saturnoooo…” for hours. Drove his mom crazy, but, something about the planets had captured his imagination completely.

And then there was Harlee. At three years old, after watching countless space videos, she was devastated to learn that the glowing planets she saw on-screen weren’t actually shining in our sky. She couldn’t shake it. One night, she said over and over again:

“I can’t see Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and all the planets of the Solar System, because they’re so far away.” Yes. That whole sentence. Exactly like that. Each time.

That heartbreak hit me deeply. So I made something for them. A jazz-lullaby video tour of the Solar System. I layered in ancient planetary names to spark their future research about the multitude of cultures past and present. It became a bedtime staple.

We downloaded the SkyView app to place those planets into our sky, just as Harlee had wished. And yes, she also asked for her very own pink telescope. So we made that happen too.

Wonder Kids

What began as a way to comfort my kids grew into something much bigger.

I’ve loved comics and science fiction since I was their age. I’ve been writing these kinds of stories since the second grade. But watching Cassius and Harlee fall in love with science and superheroes reminded me what storytelling is really about:

Wonder. Discovery. Identity.

Science Kids

How the Story Grew

For the next five years, I began writing what would become Operation: Hathor building out a full world, character arcs, backstories, and an overarching mythos. The ultimate vision has always been an animated series.

But I had no idea how I would ever bring it to life.

Animation is expensive. Even the Korean animation studio I contacted quoted $150,000 per 20-minute episode and that’s without music, voiceovers, sound design, or post-production.

So in the meantime, I focused on what I could do.

First Place!

I wrote the book that introduces this world and these characters. A way to make the story real before the screen ever lit up. Still, the question loomed: How could I ever produce a full animated series?

Beyond cost, there’s the wall of the entertainment industry itself, gatekeepers, connections, access. None of which I had.

But then came Creative AI.

With the rapid rise of generative tools, those walls began to crack, and then crumble. Suddenly, I could write, design, generate visuals, create voices, compose music, and animate...all by myself. The tools were in my hands.

This is for them. And it’s for anyone who’s ever looked at the sky and felt like something was missing.

And thankfully, I’m not doing this alone.

A few extremely talented friends, actors and creatives have lent their voices, their energy, and their belief in this vision. Because of them, and because of my kids, Operation: Hathor is now real.

Cassius and Harlee love what they’ve seen so far. That’s the ultimate sign of approval. For them, it’s playtime with Daddy. For me, it’s the most meaningful project of my life.

Whether one person sees it or a million, I’m honored to be creating it.

The story is full of cosmic adventure, yes, but it’s also rooted in history and science. It’s got humor, heart, and a vibrant cast of characters to love, hate, grow with, and learn from. And I look forward to bringing it all to you. -Belton

Official Sneak Peek of the animated film!

Shameless (but Necessary) Promotion

If any of this resonates with you — the love of science, the hunger for forgotten stories, the belief that storytelling should belong to everyone — I’d be honored to have your support.

Subscribe to the official Operation: Hathor channel - Catch a glimpse of what we’re building with Operation: Hathor and where the journey begins. Like! Share! Subscribe!

Read the Book - Operation: Hathor – Book One: SunRise introduces the world, characters, and mythology behind the film.

Purchase The Book

Curious About Creative AI? - If you’re interested in how tools like Midjourney, Runway, and Eleven Labs are changing the future of filmmaking, design, and storytelling — reach out. I teach creatives, educators, and teams how to harness AI without losing the human soul in the process.