Preston Hazard

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Preston Hazard (born December 8, 2001) is an American filmmaker, photographer, and musician who created the animated series Fundamentally Cynical, which streamed on Amazon Prime Video. [1]

Contents

Preston Hazard
Preston Hazard Holding Leica Camera in 2025.jpg
Hazard in 2025
Born (2001-12-08) December 8, 2001 (age 24)
Education Lewis S. Mills High School CSB Media Arts Center
Occupations
  • Photographer
  • filmmaker
  • musician
Years active2015–present
Musical career
Genres Rock
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Website prestonhazard.com

Early life and education

Hazard was born in Nashville, Tennessee and grew up in Connecticut. He became interested in photography during elementary school after receiving a Canon point and shoot camera from his grandfather. He later experimented with video using a VHS camcorder. [1] Hazard attended Lewis S. Mills High School in Burlington, Connecticut. [2]

Career

Television Career and Prime Video

As a teenager, Hazard began uploading short animated videos to YouTube. One of his early projects, The Garbage Can Man Show, gained attention by Amazon Prime Video and was later made available on the platform. The series featured contributions from musicians including members of the Berks County rock band John Flywheel. [3]

Fundamentally Cynical

In 2019, Hazard created a second animated series, Fundamentally Cynical, which streamed on Amazon Prime Video for two seasons. [4] The series uses an intentionally surreal and off beat style. Hazard worked with several musicians on the project, including members of John Flywheel and Anthrophobia, the latter of which created the theme song for the series. [5] Seattle based musician Thomas Andrew Doyle, and member of the band TAD, contributed voice work and music for multiple episodes. [6]

Independent Work

After attending CSB Media Arts Center, he began working independently as a photographer and videographer. [1] He later established Machine Head Productions, a small production company that creates commercial and promotional video projects. [2]

Music career

Hazard plays guitar along with several other instruments. [1] He has played guitar since childhood and writes original material. [2] He has also worked with musicians outside his own projects, including former Pearl Jam drummer Dave Abbruzzese. [7]

Style and influences

Hazard’s animated work has been described as influenced by series such as Rick and Morty , Futurama , and Ren & Stimpy . [3]

In music, Hazard has cited The Doors as an influence both musically and for his personal style. [5] His approach to still photography heavily inspired by the nature focused images in National Geographic. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 McLoughlin, Pamela (December 10, 2025). "New CT business owner takes 'Gen Z' approach to career. Here's what he says that means". Hartford Courant . Hartford CT. Archived from the original on December 12, 2025. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Brewster, Sloan (June 18, 2025). "Self-taught Harwinton filmmaker, producer's animated show streaming on Amazon". CT Insider. Archived from the original on June 18, 2025. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Speese, Jim (April 5, 2018). "John Flywheel gets retro treatment on 'The Garbage Can Man Show'". Reading Eagle. Archived from the original on December 12, 2025. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  4. Archer, John (November 26, 2019). "Amazon Video Announces New Films And TV Shows For December (2019)". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 5, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Rasmussen, Tracy (April 5, 2020). "Amazon Prime series 'Fundamentally Cynical' with Berks County ties has cult following". Reading Eagle. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  6. Krovatin, Chris (November 4, 2020). "Grunge Legend Tad Doyle Lends Music to Horror Film 'The Boardwalk' and Animated Show 'Fundamentally Cynical' - The Pit". The Pit. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  7. Hanson, Rodeo Marie (September 29, 2021). "Date With The All-Stars memorial concert pays tribute to Berks musician Jeff Paul". Reading Eagle. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2025.