Founded in 1957 by creators and former Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer animation directors William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the studo lasted for decades giving us iconic characters we all know that will be around forever. The studio closed in 2001 and the properties were absorbed by Warner Bros, but we not gea to discuss that. We’re here to celebrate the amazing characters created over fifty years.
One of the best rides was ever on was the Hanna Barbara ride in Universal Studios. It isn’t there anymore, but the clip is on YouTube. I loved it, I was smiling the whole ride! So let’s run down the 10 favorite characters. And yes lots will be missing here like Birdman (who liked that?), Popeye (not a H&B creation), and Top Cat. Because no one remembers Top Cat (just kidding),
#10.Tom and Jerry
I seriously forgot they were created by Hanna and Barbera. I guess when H&B left MGM they took these two with them. It was classic cartoon slapstick and we loved every crash and scream of AARRRGHHH!! These classic cartoons are great examples of how strong H&B’s animation was. True they are still around, being shoehorned into other franchises, but the classic cartoons will always be the best.
#9.Casper
I guess he was not created by H&B, but they acquired the rights at some points or something because they did produce specials he was in such as Casper’s First Christmas and one awful Saturday morning show in the 70’s. While its true Casper was not the strongest character, always needing a sidekick to help him, his good heart and endearing nature makes him a very popular ghost indeed.
#8.Huckleberry Hound
There are a lot of characters that had their own shows in the old days but have been kind of forgotten. Kind of existing as backup characters for Yogi Bear. Snagglepuss, Quick Draw McGraw (whose show also featured Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy), Magilla Gorilla, and Atom Ant. Of all of these characters why single out Huckleberry Hound? Honestly he was the only one who made an impact on me. Small as it was. His show featured a decent supporting cast including a smarter than the average bear I’ll get back to in a bit.
#7.Pac-Man
This one is, weird. But to be fair H&B did a nice job of taking an absurd concept, a cartoon based on the video game, and making it watchable. Check out Rubik the Amazing Cube for an example of bad show. A lot of H&B were forgotten very fast (Partridge Family 2200 A.D.??). This is one that most people remember because it was more well done than it needed to be.
#6.The Jetsons
Yeah kinda high, but I was never the biggest fan of this show. I really can’t say why. But when I was kid it was always on, and everyobe watched it. George Jetson was a great guy who had a nice family.
#5.Superfriends
This is the Hanna Barbera show no one remember being a Hanna Barbera show (seriously even Wikipedia forgot!). A lot of superheroes came out of the studio from Space Ghost to Captain Planet to Johnny Quest. Josie and the Pussycats and yes, the old Fantastic Four (for some reason Wikipedia forgot that one too!). I’ve talked about this show so much there is no point in going on. I watched and loved it, enough said.
#4.Yogi Bear
The funny thing is, as I alluded to, Yogi debuted on Huckleberry Hound’s show. A case of the spin-off character being more successful than the original! Yogi was a one joke character, he stole picnic baskets, but somehow the character went beyond that with his big heart. Of course he had his sidekick Boo Boo. Yogi’s First Christmas is one of the more nostalgic Christmas specials I used to watch, but I discussed that elsewhere. Yogi has kind of faded despite attempts to reboot the concept (including a live action movie).
#3.The Smurfs
Hanna-Barbara embraced Saturday morning’s big time and was still going strong into the 80’s. No better example than this one. Let’s forget those live action movies and just remember the awesome cartoon. The great thing about it is that it wasn’t afraid to world build. The smurfs were lovable guys (and one girl) and of course the show had one of the best cartoon villains ever.
#2.The Flintstones
This show is special because it was the first animated show to be featured in prime time. That still seems odd to me. The show is pretty much “Honeymooners” just in Bedrock. But the characters manage to stand out. Everything from Fred yelling “Yabba Dabba Doo” to Betty’s laugh, we remember this show and these characters. There have been a ton of spin-off shows and movies, and even a live action movie which wasn’t to bad. The original series had its ups and down, starting slow and jumping the shark big time toward the end, but The Flintstones live on in more revival’s and reboot’s than I can possibly count. Did I mention they even inspired a vitamin?
#1.Scooby-Doo
Oh hey, guess who’s turning 50 this year? Yeah I bet you guys thought I’d forgotten about this one. Scooby first came around in 1969 and is still going strong! The first show, and one I mostly watched, was Scooby-doo, Where are You? I still remember watching the show and then discussing it with my friend later. I’d be here all day listing all the proceeding spin-offs, specials, animated direct to video movies and live action movies (I like to pretend that awful live action movie never happened). Why not do a list just based on Scooby? I’d have to really re-watch the cartoons and not only has it been awhile, but there are a LOT of cartoons. The latest series harking back to the old days by including celebrities. Also the characters vary for every episode. Even our main five of Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby tend to be mixed up depending on which show you’re watching. At one point Scooby had a cousin along, who remembers him?, and of course Scappy. This franchise works because of the stories, which are usually decent mysteries and the challenges of trying to solve the mystery with the gang I think is what helps keep Scooby Doo a step ahead of a lot of these other characters who aren’t around so much anymore. Scooby-Doo Happy Anniversary to you!
So many others I didn’t mention. Shirt Tales, The Dukes, Fonzie and the Happy Days Gang, Snorks, and Captain Caveman who I wanted to put on here. Sure some ideas weren’t so great (Biskitts? Harlem Globetrotters??) but overall the studio managed to produce hour after hour of wonderful animated entertainment from the 60’s through the 90’s. Plus specials and live action productions I didn’t even try to get into.
Did I miss your favorite? Comment and let me know.
I remember Top Cat, and I prefer him over Yogi Bear and Scooby-Doo. Then again, that is probably because I just adore cats.
ReplyDeleteHuckleberry Hound always reminded me of my father's best friend, when I was a kid. Which is kind of sad these days, when both my father and his best friend are gone. :(
And wow, since when is "The Smurfs" from Hanna-Barbera? Because I can only think of them as a Belgian production (which the original comic books were).