Hanna-Barbera

Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc.
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Animation, television production
Predecessor	MGM Cartoons
Founded	July 7, 1957; 69 years ago in Los Angeles, California, United States
Founder	William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, George Sidney
Defunct	2001
Fate	Merged into Warner Bros. Animation
Headquarters	Los Angeles, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, George Sidney, Fred Seibert, David Kirschner
Products	Animated television series and films (e.g. The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, The Smurfs)
Owner	Taft Broadcasting (1966–1991), Turner Broadcasting System (1991–2001)
Parent	Turner Broadcasting System (1991–2001)

Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. (), widely recognized as Hanna-Barbera, was a prominent American animation studio and production firm operating from 1957 until its merger into Warner Bros. Animation in 2001. Established on July 7, 1957, by Tom and Jerry creators and former MGM Cartoons staff members William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, and George Sidney, the company was based in Los Angeles. Its offices relocated from Kling Studios (1957–1960) to Cahuenga Boulevard (1960–1998), and later to Sherman Oaks Galleria (1998–2001).

The studio was responsible for producing legendary animated series such as The Huckleberry Hound Show, The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo, and The Smurfs. These popular franchises enabled Hanna-Barbera to rival Walt Disney Animation Studios as a leading animation powerhouse, broadening its reach through extensive media exposure and merchandising.

During the 1980s, the company experienced reduced profitability as Saturday morning cartoons lost appeal to weekday syndication slots. After being acquired by Taft Broadcasting in 1966, Hanna-Barbera remained under their ownership until 1991, when it was purchased by Turner Broadcasting System. Turner utilized Hanna-Barbera’s vast content library to launch Cartoon Network in 1992, significantly boosting the company’s growth via international operations.

In 2001, Hanna-Barbera was completely absorbed into Warner Bros. Animation. Although it ceased to exist independently, the Hanna-Barbera name persists for copyright purposes as well as marketing and branding of its former intellectual properties now overseen by Warner Bros..

Tom and Jerry origins and company formation (1938–1957)

William Denby "Bill" Hanna and Joseph Roland "Joe" Barbera first crossed paths at MGM's animation division in 1938, forming a creative partnership that lasted over sixty years. Their initial hit was Puss Gets the Boot (1940), which led to the creation of Tom and Jerry in 1941, centered on the comedic antics between a cat and mouse.

Within their collaboration, Hanna supervised animation while Barbera crafted storylines and managed pre-production. Out of 114 shorts they produced, seven earned Academy Awards for Best Short Subject (1943–1953), with an additional five receiving nominations. However, these accolades were officially awarded to producer Fred Quimby, who did not participate directly in creative work.

Their contributions extended to sequences in feature films like Anchors Aweigh and short subjects including Swing Social and Gallopin' Gals. Following Quimby's retirement in 1955, Hanna and Barbera assumed leadership of production at MGM's animation studio.

They continued creating Tom & Jerry cartoons in CinemaScope format while overseeing the final seven installments of Tex Avery's Droopy series and producing the short-lived Spike and Tyke. Alongside animated shorts, they also developed title sequences and commercials for television programs such as I Love Lucy.

When MGM shut down its cartoon division in 1957—believing their existing shorts sufficed for re-releases—Hanna and Barbera shifted focus toward crafting animated advertisements for TV. During this time, they conceived a new idea featuring a cat and dog duo intended for television but failed to gain MGM’s support.

George Sidney, a collaborator from MGM film projects, joined them as a business partner and helped negotiate an agreement with Screen Gems. A coin toss granted Hanna the privilege of naming their new studio. Columbia Pictures president Harry Cohn acquired an 18% share in H-B Enterprises and provided financial backing.

Screen Gems acted as distributor and licensing agent for their characters. The studio officially commenced operations on July 7, 1957, at Kling Studios (formerly Charlie Chaplin Studios), exactly one year after MGM’s animation department closure.

Sidney along with executives from Screen Gems joined the board of directors while many former MGM animators—including Carlo Vinci, Kenneth Muse, Lewis Marshall, Michael Lah, Ed Barge—and layout artists Ed Benedict and Richard Bickenbach transitioned into the new company. Hoyt Curtin took charge of music production.

Achievements with animated series (1957–1969)

Hanna-Barbera made its television debut with The Ruff and Reddy Show, which premiered on NBC on December 14, 1957. This was followed by The Huckleberry Hound Show in 1958, notable for becoming the first animated program to receive an Emmy Award. The studio attracted prominent animation professionals, including former writers and artists from Warner Bros. Cartoons.

Reestablished as Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc., the company introduced The Quick Draw McGraw Show and Loopy De Loop in 1959. After Walt Disney Productions reduced its workforce following the release of Sleeping Beauty, numerous animators transitioned to Hanna-Barbera.

In 1960, the studio moved into a smaller office located at 3501 Cahuenga Boulevard West. That same year, The Flintstones premiered on ABC, becoming the first animated series broadcast during prime time. It achieved remarkable viewership and commercial success through merchandising, eventually becoming a syndication mainstay. Although it initially received mixed critical responses, it has since been recognized as an iconic classic.

Subsequent hits between 1961 and 1962 included The Yogi Bear Show, Top Cat, and The Jetsons. The studio also expanded its brand by creating animated advertisements featuring its characters.

By 1963, operations had relocated to a contemporary facility at 3400 Cahuenga Boulevard West, designed by architect Arthur Froehlich. New productions such as The Magilla Gorilla Show, Jonny Quest, and Secret Squirrel were introduced.

Following legal proceedings, Taft Broadcasting purchased Hanna-Barbera in 1966 for $12 million, incorporating it into its corporate framework while allowing the founders to maintain their involvement. Meanwhile, Screen Gems continued to hold licensing rights to earlier cartoons throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Between 1967 and 1969, Hanna-Barbera broadened its portfolio with shows like Wacky Races and The Banana Splits. The company also managed Hanna-Barbera Records, which partnered with Columbia Records for distribution. Plans for a collaborative project with the National Catholic Office for Radio and Television were developed but ultimately did not come to fruition.

Mysteries, spin-offs, and expansion (1969–1979)

In 1969, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! debuted on CBS, combining humor with mystery elements to become one of Hanna-Barbera's most enduring franchises, spawning numerous spin-offs that extended well into the 1990s.

Dominating Saturday morning programming and earning the moniker "The General Motors of animation," the studio produced many mystery-themed shows such as Josie and the Pussycats, The Funky Phantom, and Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels.

During the early 1970s, spin-offs like The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show as well as ensemble programs such as Laff-A-Lympics expanded their offerings.

In 1971, Hanna-Barbera collaborated with Avco Broadcasting Corporation to produce holiday specials and extended its reach internationally by establishing an Australian studio in 1972; this branch eventually evolved into Southern Star Group (currently part of Banijay Entertainment).

Among significant productions was Super Friends, which aired from 1973 through 1985 on ABC. The company also ventured into theatrical animation with films like Charlotte's Web, marking a shift beyond television projects.

Amid increasing competition from Filmation, Marvel Productions, DIC Entertainment, and others during the late 1970s, Hanna-Barbera diversified into live-action content under former MGM executive Herbert F. Solow.

By the end of the decade, production activities increasingly moved overseas. Key figures Joe Ruby and Ken Spears left in 1977 to establish Ruby-Spears Enterprises under Filmways.

Decline in Control and the Smurfs Period (1980–1991)

At the dawn of the 1980s, Hanna-Barbera launched shows such as Richie Rich and Space Stars. During this time, Taft Broadcasting expanded its holdings by acquiring Ruby-Spears Enterprises, thereby consolidating influence within affiliated companies.

Despite this, Hanna-Barbera’s stronghold on the children’s programming market diminished significantly, dropping from roughly 80% to near 20%, as competitors producing syndicated series based on licensed franchises gained momentum.

The debut of The Smurfs on NBC in 1981 marked a major milestone. Running for nine seasons, it became the longest-running Saturday morning cartoon of its era and ranked among NBC’s highest-rated shows. Throughout the mid-1980s, additional series such as Challenge of the GoBots, Snorks, and multiple versions of Scooby-Doo were introduced.

After an animators’ strike in 1982, production increasingly shifted overseas to studios in Asia and Australia. Financial challenges culminated in American Financial Corporation acquiring Taft Broadcasting in 1987.

During this era, Hanna-Barbera Poland managed local marketing and distribution until its separation in 1993. The company also launched its own home video division in 1989.

Leadership changes occurred in the late 1980s with David Kirschner appointed as CEO. The company expanded licensing agreements into video game development based on Hanna-Barbera properties.

By 1990–1991, even with new series like Tom & Jerry Kids and The Pirates of Dark Water, Great American Broadcasting aimed to sell off Hanna-Barbera along with Ruby-Spears.

Turner Broadcasting Acquisition and Integration into Warner Bros. Animation (1991–2001)

In 1991, Turner Broadcasting System purchased Hanna-Barbera and Ruby-Spears for $320 million to serve as foundational content for its upcoming all-animation channel aimed at children—Cartoon Network, which debuted in October 1992.

Fred Seibert took over leadership at Hanna-Barbera, reinvigorating creative direction by bringing in fresh talent including Craig McCracken and Genndy Tartakovsky. The studio was rebranded as H-B Production Co., producing shows such as Capitol Critters.

Turner gained full control by acquiring Apollo Investment Fund’s shares in 1993 for $255 million, shifting production focus exclusively toward Turner-owned networks with new programs like 2 Stupid Dogs and SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron.

After Turner merged with Time Warner in 1996, Hanna-Barbera experienced significant downsizing; numerous employees left, and despite efforts to preserve its legacy, its historic studio facilities were eventually demolished.

By 1998–1999, productions including The Powerpuff Girls were underway while Hanna-Barbera moved operations to Warner Bros.' Sherman Oaks location. Its final production was I Am Weasel. Following founder William Hanna’s passing in March 2001, the studio was fully integrated into Warner Bros. Animation.

Aftermath and Barbera's final years (2001–2006)

Following the acquisition, production duties were transferred to Cartoon Network Studios. In 2004, the Los Angeles City Council sanctioned preservation efforts for the former Hanna-Barbera headquarters location.

Joe Barbera died of natural causes in December 2006 at the age of 95. Warner Bros. Animation continues to create new projects utilizing Hanna-Barbera’s intellectual properties. In April 2021, Cartoon Network Studios Europe was rebranded as Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe to honor the historic brand.

Evolution of production methods

Faced with stringent television budgets—roughly $3,000 per episode compared to MGM’s $35,000 for theatrical shorts—Hanna-Barbera innovated limited animation techniques designed to optimize resources while preserving character appeal.

By simplifying character designs, they could recycle animation sequences; only vital movements were animated while other parts remained static on cels. This approach significantly cut down the number of drawings required—from approximately 14,000 to about 2,000 per seven-minute cartoon.

Although critics such as Chuck Jones dismissed this style as "illustrated radio," Hanna-Barbera’s method enabled large-scale content production tailored to television’s needs.

Criticism arose that this cost-efficient model led to repetitive narratives relying heavily on reused storylines rather than creative originality. Nevertheless, it provided a profitable framework during television’s rapid growth period.

To address concerns about the visual quality limitations of TV animation, Hanna-Barbera produced six theatrical feature films with enhanced animation quality, diversifying their revenue sources.

International collaborations were established early on; subsidiaries like Fil-Cartoons in the Philippines (founded in 1987) and Wang Film Productions offered overseas animation services that further lowered production expenses.

Adoption of digital technology

As early adopters of digital tools in animation, Hanna-Barbera initiated computerized digital ink-and-paint processes starting in 1979 under Marc Levoy’s guidance, streamlining coloring tasks for roughly one-third of their shows between 1982 and 1996.

They also experimented with video synthesizers such as Scanimate to create innovative cutout-style animations, advancing production capabilities ahead of industry standards.

Sound effects

Hanna-Barbera developed a unique collection of sound effects that became a signature element of their brand identity; these sounds have been showcased in exhibitions at venues like the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Ownership

After concluding its association with Screen Gems in 1966, Hanna-Barbera was owned by Taft Broadcasting until Turner Broadcasting System acquired it in 1991. Turner integrated Hanna-Barbera into Cartoon Network’s programming strategy. Following Turner’s merger with Time Warner in 1996, Hanna-Barbera became part of what is now the Warner Bros. Discovery corporate entity.

Bibliography

Lawrence, Guy (2006). Yogi Bear's Nuggets: A Hanna-Barbera 45 Guide. Spectropop.com.

External links