The Story of Hanna-Barbera: From Early Days to Their First Feature Film
The legendary animation duo William Hanna and Joseph Barbera first crossed paths at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in the late 1930s.
While working at the studio’s animation department, they created Tom and Jerry in 1940, a series that would go on to win seven Academy Awards and become one of the most beloved animated franchises of all time. Despite their success, MGM shut down its animation division in 1957, leaving Hanna and Barbera without a studio.
The Birth of Hanna-Barbera Productions
Rather than parting ways, Hanna and Barbera decided to form their own studio, Hanna-Barbera Productions, with financial backing from Columbia Pictures’ television subsidiary, Screen Gems. Their goal was to create quality animated programming for television—a bold idea at the time, as TV animation was still in its infancy.
In 1958, they launched The Huckleberry Hound Show, which became a massive success, winning the first-ever Emmy Award for an animated series. This was followed by The Quick Draw McGraw Show (1959) and The Yogi Bear Show (1961), further cementing their dominance in television animation.
But their true breakthrough came with The Flintstones (1960-1966), the first prime-time animated sitcom, which became a cultural phenomenon. Modeled after The Honeymooners, the show followed a Stone Age family dealing with modern suburban life, and it ran for six seasons, setting the stage for future animated sitcoms like The Simpsons and Family Guy.
Expanding to Theatrical Animation
After conquering television, Hanna-Barbera set their sights on the big screen. Their first full-length animated feature was Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear! (1964), based on their popular Yogi Bear character.
The film retained the charm and humor of the TV series while featuring higher-quality animation and an expanded storyline. Though not a box-office smash, it proved that Hanna-Barbera could successfully transition from TV to feature films.
This was just the beginning of their foray into theatrical animation, as they would go on to create films such as The Man Called Flintstone (1966) and numerous Scooby-Doo and Jetsons films in later decades.
Hanna-Barbera in the Late 1960s: Reinventing the Cartoon Landscape
As the 1960s rolled into its latter half, Hanna-Barbera had already revolutionized television animation. They had pioneered limited animation techniques that made it possible to bring high-quality cartoons to TV on a tight budget, creating iconic shows like The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, and The Jetsons. But the late ’60s brought new challenges—and new opportunities—for the legendary duo.
A Changing TV Landscape
By the mid-1960s, television was evolving. The success of The Flintstones had proven that animation could thrive in prime time, but as live-action sitcoms took center stage, animated series found themselves pushed into Saturday morning time slots.
Sensing this shift, Hanna-Barbera adapted, doubling down on creating shows specifically for children’s weekend programming.
In 1966, they released The Space Ghost and Dino Boy Adventure Hour, ushering in a new era of superhero-style animation.
This was followed by Birdman and the Galaxy Trio (1967), and the futuristic action-adventure series The Herculoids (1967). These shows marked Hanna-Barbera’s expansion into more action-packed, science-fiction storytelling, a stark contrast to their earlier comedic sitcom-style cartoons.
But it wasn’t just superheroes and space-faring creatures that Hanna-Barbera had up their sleeves.
The Birth of Scooby-Doo
and the Mystery Solving Craze
One of the most significant creations of the late ’60s came in 1969 with the debut of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!. At a time when parents’ groups were voicing concerns about violence in children’s programming, networks sought to tone things down.
In response, Hanna-Barbera developed a spooky yet comedic mystery-solving show featuring four teenagers and their lovable, cowardly Great Dane.
Scooby-Doo became an instant hit, combining lighthearted humor with eerie but non-threatening mysteries. The show’s success not only ensured its longevity (with countless spin-offs and reboots) but also laid the foundation for a new genre of animated detective-style cartoons that dominated the 1970s.
Feature Films and Expanding Beyond TV
After the release of their first animated feature film, Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear! (1964), Hanna-Barbera saw potential in theatrical animation. In 1966, they followed up with The Man Called Flintstone, a James Bond-inspired adventure starring Fred Flintstone in a secret agent role.
The late 1960s also saw the studio experimenting with different media, including animated TV specials and crossovers. They began working with pop culture icons of the time, bringing musical acts like The Beatles and The Jackson 5 into animated formats.
A New Era on the Horizon
By the end of the 1960s, Hanna-Barbera had cemented itself as the dominant force in television animation. But the industry was shifting yet again, with the 1970s bringing new challenges, including increasing competition and changing audience tastes.
Still, with Scooby-Doo leading the way and a growing portfolio of action-adventure and comedy series, the studio was more than ready to take on the new decade.
Hanna-Barbera in the 1970s: The Kings of Saturday Morning
By the time the clock struck 1970, Hanna-Barbera was no longer just an animation studio—it was an empire. They had shaped television’s golden age of cartoons, bringing characters like The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, and The Jetsons into millions of living rooms. But the winds were changing, and the next decade would bring both challenges and triumphs.
The Rise of Saturday Morning Cartoons
While the 1960s saw Hanna-Barbera pioneering prime-time animation, the 1970s firmly placed cartoons in the realm of Saturday morning television. Networks had realized that kids were glued to their screens on weekend mornings, making it the perfect time to air colorful, action-packed shows.
At the forefront of this movement was Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, which had debuted in 1969 and exploded in popularity in the early ’70s.
Its mix of spooky mysteries, slapstick humor, and a lovable Great Dane turned it into a cultural phenomenon. Seeing its success, Hanna-Barbera doubled down on the formula, spawning similar mystery-solving teams like The Funky Phantom (1971), Josie and the Pussycats (1970), and Speed Buggy (1973).
A Wave of Superheroes and Sci-Fi
The 1970s also saw the rise of Hanna-Barbera’s superhero and sci-fi adventure shows. While Marvel and DC Comics ruled the comic book world, Hanna-Barbera brought action-packed animation to the small screen.
They had already experimented with heroes like Space Ghost in the ’60s, but in 1973, they took it to the next level with Super Friends. Featuring Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and other DC heroes, the show introduced an entire generation to comic book superheroes in animated form.
Alongside the Super Friends, Hanna-Barbera launched a lineup of futuristic and supernatural adventure series, including:
The Herculoids (revived in the early ’70s)
Thundarr the Barbarian (1980, bridging into the next decade)
Valley of the Dinosaurs (1974)
These shows helped define the era of Saturday morning action cartoons, blending fantasy, sci-fi, and adventure into thrilling 30-minute episodes.
Hanna-Barbera Meets Rock ‘n’ Roll
Music had always played a role in Hanna-Barbera’s storytelling, but the 1970s saw them fully embrace rock and pop culture. Inspired by the real-world success of bands like The Archies, they created Josie and the Pussycats (1970), a show about an all-girl rock band that traveled the world solving mysteries.
The success of Josie led to The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan (1972) and even an animated adaptation of The Jackson 5 (1971) and The Harlem Globetrotters (1970). These collaborations blurred the lines between animation and mainstream pop culture, making cartoons an essential part of music-driven entertainment.
The Challenge of Cheap Knockoffs
Success often breeds imitation, and the 1970s saw countless studios trying to copy the Hanna-Barbera formula.
Networks wanted more, and sometimes, they wanted it fast. The studio found itself under pressure to churn out more shows, sometimes sacrificing originality for efficiency.
This led to an era of Scooby-Doo clones, where every show seemed to feature a group of kids solving mysteries alongside a quirky sidekick.
Hanna-Barbera still had creative gems, but as the decade wore on, some of their shows began to blend together, and critics started calling them out for repetition.
The End of an Era… and the Start of Something New
By the late ’70s, Hanna-Barbera was still the undisputed king of TV animation, but the industry was shifting.
The rise of syndication meant that older cartoons could be rerun indefinitely, reducing the need for brand-new shows.
At the same time, new competitors like Filmation and Ruby-Spears (founded by former Hanna-Barbera animators) started making waves.
But Hanna-Barbera wasn’t finished yet. As the 1980s loomed, they were already laying the groundwork for their next big innovations, from The Smurfs to their eventual dominance in syndicated animation.
The 1970s had been a whirlwind—filled with mystery-solving teens, superhero adventures, rock ‘n’ roll cartoons, and an explosion of animated storytelling.
Though their formula was starting to wear thin, one thing was clear: Hanna-Barbera had cemented its legacy in the hearts of millions, and their influence would last for generations.
Hanna-Barbera in the 1980s:
Reinventing a Legacy
As the 1980s dawned, Hanna-Barbera stood at a crossroads. For over two decades, they had ruled television animation, churning out beloved characters and pioneering the Saturday morning cartoon boom.
But times were changing. The rise of cable television, new competitors, and shifting audience tastes meant that the kings of cartoons had to evolve—or risk becoming relics of the past.
The Smurfs Take Over the World (1981)
In the early ’80s, Hanna-Barbera needed a fresh hit. The Scooby-Doo formula had been copied to exhaustion, and superhero cartoons like Super Friends were beginning to feel outdated. Then came The Smurfs—a charming, whimsical show based on a Belgian comic series.
Premiering in 1981, The Smurfs was unlike anything Hanna-Barbera had done before. Set in a magical forest, the show followed a tiny blue race of creatures led by the wise Papa Smurf as they faced off against the bumbling sorcerer Gargamel.
What set The Smurfs apart was its tone. Unlike the action-packed and mystery-driven shows of the 1970s, it focused on gentle humor, heartwarming stories, and an expansive fantasy world.
Audiences—especially younger kids—loved it. The show became a massive success, running for nine seasons and spawning merchandise, movies, and cultural catchphrases. Suddenly, Hanna-Barbera was back on top.
The Rise of Syndication and Afternoon Cartoons
The 1980s also saw the rise of syndicated animation—cartoons aired on local stations rather than just Saturday mornings.
This shift created a huge demand for daily animated programming, and Hanna-Barbera stepped up with a new strategy.
They began producing action-packed adventure shows for the booming afternoon cartoon block, including:
The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show (1983) – A refreshed take on their classic formula.
The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985) – The final iteration of their long-running Super Friends franchise, incorporating more serious comic book storylines.
The Flintstone Kids (1986) – A trend-following attempt to reintroduce The Flintstones with a younger audience by making them kids, much like Muppet Babies and A Pup Named Scooby-Doo.
But one of their boldest moves came in 1985.
Hanna-Barbera Meets Toy Cartoons
The 1980s weren’t just about TV shows—they were about toys.
With the rise of toy-driven cartoons like Transformers and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, networks and toy companies saw animation as a way to sell action figures.
Hanna-Barbera wasn’t about to be left behind. In 1985, they launched The Biskitts, a show about tiny medieval dogs—heavily merchandised but short-lived. They also worked on Galtar and the Golden Lance (1985), a He-Man-esque fantasy adventure. However, these shows struggled to compete with bigger toy-backed franchises.
Rocking into Prime Time:
The Return of The Jetsons (1985)
One of their most nostalgic plays of the decade was reviving The Jetsons in 1985.
Originally airing for just one season in 1962-63, the futuristic family sitcom had found a second life in reruns. Seeing its renewed popularity, Hanna-Barbera produced new episodes, bringing George, Jane, Judy, and Elroy back to the screen with an updated look.
While it never matched the Flintstones’ success, The Jetsons revival kept the characters alive for a new generation, eventually leading to Jetsons: The Movie (1990).
The Decline of Hanna-Barbera’s Golden Age
Despite successes like The Smurfs and The Jetsons, the late 1980s brought new challenges.
Cable TV had exploded, and Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and upstart animation studios were creating bold, new content.
Studios like Disney (with DuckTales) and Warner Bros. (with Tiny Toon Adventures) were bringing high-quality animation back into focus, while Hanna-Barbera’s limited animation style was beginning to feel outdated.
At the same time, their longtime dominance over television animation was being threatened by former Hanna-Barbera animators who had launched their own companies—such as Ruby-Spears Productions and Filmation—producing direct competition.
Hanna-Barbera in the 1990s:
The Birth of a New Animation Era
By the time the 1990s began, Hanna-Barbera was no longer the undisputed king of television animation.
The landscape had changed. Disney was dominating feature animation with The Little Mermaid (1989) and Beauty and the Beast (1991), while Warner Bros. was pushing high-quality TV animation with Tiny Toon Adventures (1990) and Batman: The Animated Series (1992).
Hanna-Barbera, once the undisputed ruler of Saturday morning cartoons, now found itself in unfamiliar territory. But change was on the horizon, and the studio was about to help usher in a brand-new era—one that would redefine television animation for a new generation.
The Turner Buyout and the Rise of Cartoon Network (1991-1992)
In 1991, media mogul Ted Turner made a game-changing move by acquiring Hanna-Barbera as part of his expanding media empire. Turner had one big idea: to create the world’s first 24-hour cartoon network.
On October 1, 1992, Cartoon Network was born. Suddenly, Hanna-Barbera’s vast catalog of classic cartoons—The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, The Jetsons, Yogi Bear—had a permanent home, reaching new audiences in reruns. The network became a nostalgia goldmine, keeping the studio’s legacy alive while also creating opportunities for new animation.
A Last Attempt at the Big Screen:
Jetsons: The Movie (1990)
Before fully transitioning into the Cartoon Network era, Hanna-Barbera made one last attempt at theatrical animation. In 1990, they released Jetsons: The Movie, a feature-length film bringing back George, Jane, Judy, and Elroy for a futuristic adventure.
Despite hopes that it would be a hit, the movie struggled at the box office and received mixed reviews. It was a sign that the Jetsons brand, while beloved, couldn’t quite compete with Disney’s animated renaissance.
Still, it marked the end of an era—Hanna-Barbera’s final theatrical release before shifting its focus entirely to television.
The Dawn of the Cartoon Cartoons (1994-1999)
While Cartoon Network kept Hanna-Barbera’s classic characters alive, the studio faced a critical question: What’s next?
Enter the "What a Cartoon!" project—a bold experiment led by Fred Seibert, the new head of Hanna-Barbera.
Instead of churning out full series right away, the studio produced a showcase of animated shorts, allowing new creators to test out ideas.
The result? A goldmine of fresh animation talent that would shape the future of TV cartoons. Some of the shorts became full-fledged series, leading to the rise of what would later be known as "Cartoon Cartoons", including:
Dexter’s Laboratory (1996) – Created by Genndy Tartakovsky, this quirky show about a boy genius became a smash hit and set the tone for modern animation.
Johnny Bravo (1997) – Created by Van Partible, this Elvis-inspired, muscle-bound goofball became a pop culture icon.
Cow and Chicken (1997) – A bizarre, surreal comedy by David Feiss that pushed boundaries in children’s animation.
The Powerpuff Girls (1998) – Created by Craig McCracken, this show mixed superhero action with adorable, pastel-colored visuals and became one of the decade’s biggest hits.
These new shows marked a massive shift—Hanna-Barbera was no longer relying on Scooby-Doo clones or revivals of old franchises. Instead, they were helping shape the next generation of animation, giving complete creative freedom to young, experimental animators.
The End of Hanna-Barbera Studios (1999-2001)
By the late 1990s, Hanna-Barbera was no longer the dominant force it once was, but it had successfully reinvented itself as a launchpad for fresh talent.
However, one major event signaled the end of an era:
In 1996, Ted Turner’s media empire (including Cartoon Network and Hanna-Barbera) was bought by Time Warner, bringing Hanna-Barbera back under the same corporate umbrella as Warner Bros. Animation.
Then, in 2001, the studio was officially shut down, with its operations merged into Cartoon Network Studios. The legendary Hanna-Barbera name was no longer a functioning studio, but its influence remained.
The Legacy of the 1990s: A Bridge to the Future
The 1990s were a transition period for Hanna-Barbera—a time when it shifted from an aging animation powerhouse into a mentor for modern animation.
The studio didn’t just survive the decade; it helped launch the creators who would go on to define cartoons in the 2000s and beyond.
Even though the Hanna-Barbera name faded, its legacy lives on through Cartoon Network Studios, which continues to produce some of the most influential animated series today.
And with characters like Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones, and The Powerpuff Girls still entertaining new generations, it’s clear that the magic of Hanna-Barbera will never truly disappear.
Hanna-Barbera’s Lasting Influence on Animation
Hanna-Barbera revolutionized animation in ways that still shape the industry today. Their impact can be seen in TV animation techniques, storytelling formats, character design, and the modern animation industry itself. Here’s how their legacy lives on:
The Birth of Limited Animation (1950s-1960s)
Before Hanna-Barbera, most animation was done in the style of Disney: fluid, highly detailed, and time-intensive—ideal for theatrical shorts but too expensive for television.
Hanna-Barbera pioneered limited animation, a technique that used:
Fewer frames per second to save time.
Repeated character movements (walk cycles, running loops).
Static backgrounds with minimal animation (only the mouth or arms moving).
Exaggerated sound effects and voice acting to bring characters to life.
These techniques became the foundation of TV animation, making it possible to create high-quality, cost-effective cartoons on a weekly schedule. Shows like The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, and Scooby-Doo popularized this style, which is still used in modern 2D animation today—especially in comedy shows like The Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy.
The First Prime-Time Animated Sitcoms (1960s)
Hanna-Barbera didn’t just create kids’ cartoons—they invented the animated sitcom.
The Flintstones (1960) was the first prime-time animated show, directly inspired by The Honeymooners.
The Jetsons (1962) imagined the future in the same format.
These shows paved the way for modern adult animation like The Simpsons (1989), Family Guy (1999), and Rick and Morty (2013). The idea that cartoons could be structured like live-action sitcoms—with recurring characters, family dynamics, and cultural satire—started with Hanna-Barbera.
The Saturday Morning Cartoon Boom
(1960s-1980s)
Before Hanna-Barbera, cartoons were mostly shorts shown in movie theaters. But they helped invent the Saturday morning cartoon format, creating a space where animation could dominate television.
Shows like:
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969)
The Super Friends (1973)
The Smurfs (1981)
Defined entire generations of childhoods. The idea of long-running, episodic, character-driven animated series—which later evolved into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987), Batman: The Animated Series (1992), and Pokémon (1997)—started with Hanna-Barbera’s TV empire.
The “Shared Universe”
Approach to Characters (1970s-1980s)
Long before Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, Hanna-Barbera was connecting characters in shared worlds.
The Laff-A-Lympics (1977) was basically the first cartoon crossover event, bringing together characters from different HB shows.
Scooby-Doo met Batman, the Harlem Globetrotters, and even the Addams Family.
The Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10 movies (1987-1988) gave classic characters like Yogi Bear and The Jetsons new adventures in TV movies.
This crossover formula is still a major part of animation today—seen in shows like Teen Titans Go! (which often crosses over with other cartoons) and even The Simpsons meeting Family Guy.
The Cartoon Network Revolution
(1990s-Present)
Hanna-Barbera didn’t just create classic cartoons—they paved the way for the next generation.
With Cartoon Network (founded in 1992), their studio became a launchpad for modern animation, introducing:
Dexter’s Laboratory (1996)
Johnny Bravo (1997)
The Powerpuff Girls (1998)
These shows directly influenced the modern animation boom of the 2000s—leading to Adventure Time, Regular Show, and Steven Universe. Many of today’s biggest animators, like Genndy Tartakovsky (Samurai Jack) and Craig McCracken (Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends), started at Hanna-Barbera.
The “Talking Animal”
Comedy Formula (1960s-Present)
From Yogi Bear to Scooby-Doo, Hanna-Barbera perfected the funny animal sidekick—a trope still used in animation today.
Scooby-Doo led to characters like Brian from Family Guy.
The Jetsons’ Astro set the stage for talking animal pets like Perry the Platypus (Phineas and Ferb).
Hanna-Barbera’s comedy duo formula (Yogi & Boo-Boo, Tom & Jerry, Wally Gator) inspired later animated buddy teams like SpongeBob & Patrick.
Their influence on comedic cartoon dynamics is everywhere.
The Merchandise-Driven
Cartoon Model (1980s-Present)
By the 1980s, Hanna-Barbera had perfected the toy-driven cartoon strategy with shows like:
The Smurfs (1981) – Huge merchandise empire.
The Jetsons revival (1985) – Marketed heavily.
The Flintstone Kids (1986) – Capitalized on the “babyfication” trend.
This directly influenced the 1980s explosion of toy-driven shows like He-Man, G.I. Joe, and Transformers—and today’s franchise-heavy animated series like Pokémon, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Comedy-Focused Animation (1990s-Present)
Before Hanna-Barbera, most animated characters came from comic strips or theatrical shorts (Mickey Mouse, Looney Tunes). But HB created entirely new, TV-specific cartoon worlds built around original comedy-driven storytelling.
Shows like Dexter’s Laboratory and Johnny Bravo led to:
SpongeBob SquarePants (1999)
The Fairly OddParents (2001)
Gravity Falls (2012)
Their focus on wacky humor, exaggerated expressions, and fast-paced storytelling shaped modern animation.
Hanna-Barbera’s Legacy in Animation Today
Although the Hanna-Barbera studio closed in 2001, their impact never faded.
Their biggest influences still seen today:
✅ TV animation exists because of their limited animation techniques.
✅ Adult animated sitcoms (like The Simpsons and Family Guy) follow the Flintstones model.
✅ Saturday morning and weekday cartoons built on their formula.
✅ Cartoon Network wouldn’t exist without them, shaping modern TV animation.
✅ Comedy-driven animation (SpongeBob, Adventure Time) follows their blueprint.
✅ Talking animal sidekicks, crossover specials, and toy-driven shows all stem from their work.
Hanna-Barbera didn’t just change animation—they built the foundation of modern cartoons.
Comentarios