Hanna-Barbera Sculpture Unveiled Animation Legends Honored in Hall of Fame Plaza

L-R: John Shaffner, Vice Chair of the Television Academy; Sander Schwartz, President, Warner Bros. Animation; Joseph Barbera and Violet Hanna along with Hanna Barbera characters Jerry, Scooby-Doo and Tom

William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, creators of some of television's most memorable cartoon characters and animated series, were honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and Warner Bros. Animation at a wall sculpture dedication ceremony at the Television Academy's Hall of Fame Plaza in North Hollywood today.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the creativity and innovation of television legends William Hanna and Joseph Barbera with the dedication of this amazing work of art,” said John Shaffner, Vice Chair of the Television Academy. “These two gentleman are responsible for some of the most memorable animation series and characters and have created a legacy of timeless television programming that will entertain generations to come.”

Added Sander Schwartz, President, Warner Bros. Animation, “As pioneers of animation, Bill and Joe set the bar high from the outset and established themselves as architects of a whole new genre of animation. With Bill’s precise comedic timing and Joe’s amazing storytelling instincts, this powerful partnership created legendary work that continues to entertain people generation after generation. We are honored that they have been recognized by the Television Academy for their great contributions to animation and their lasting influence on media around the world.”

L-R: Sander Schwartz, President, Warner Bros. Animation; John Shaffner, Vice Chair of the Television Academy; Joseph Barbera and Violet Hanna.

Taking part in the ceremony were Joseph Barbera and his family; Mrs. William Hanna; John Shaffner, Academy Vice Chair; Phil Wayne, Chair of the Academy’s Sculpture Committee; Committee advisor and artist Dick Stiles; sculptor Richard Ellis; Sander Schwartz, President, Warner Bros. Animation along with some of Hanna-Barbera's favorite characters, including Scooby Doo and Tom & Jerry.

Barbera, who turns 94 next week, still works actively in the field, going to his office at Warner Bros. Animation daily, where he plays an important role in the creation of new animated entertainment for the people of the world to enjoy. William Hanna passed away in March 2001.

The recipients of many industry honors, including a Governors Award from the Television Academy, eight Emmy Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera were inducted into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame in 1993. The addition of this wall sculpture by renowned sculptor Richard Ellis marks the first time an art piece of this type has been added to the plaza, which is a showplace for close to 50 busts, life-sized castings and bas-reliefs of numerous Hall of Fame honorees. The bronze wall sculpture, measuring 7'1" high x 6" wide and weighing 1,200 lbs., has been installed on the west-facing wall of the Television Academy Foundation’s Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre and depicts both animation giants with some of their famous creations: Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, Scooby-Doo, Hucklebery Hound and Tom & Jerry.

Joseph Barbera and William Hanna created hundreds of beloved cartoon characters during their partnership of 60-plus years. Together they yielded more than 3,500 half-hours of animated programming and more than 350 different series, specials, television motion pictures and theatrical films. The duo formed their own production company in 1957 to create animated cartoons for television at a time when original animation for that medium was almost unheard of. With a limited budget and many animators out of work in Hollywood, they developed a team of great artists and writers that re-invented cartoons for television.

Hanna-Barbera's first television stars were Ruff and Reddy, followed by Huckleberry Hound in 1958. The Huckleberry Hound Show was the first cartoon to receive an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Children's Programming. In 1960, Hanna-Barbera created television’s first animated family sitcom, The Flintstones, a series that marked a number of other firsts—the first animated series to air in primetime, the first animated series to go beyond the prevalent six- or seven-minute cartoon format and the first animated series to feature human characters. The Flintstones ran for six years and became the top-ranking animated program in syndication history, with episodes currently airing around the world.

Among Hanna-Barbera’s other renowned characters are Scooby-Doo, Tom & Jerry, Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, The Jetsons, Top Cat, Quick Draw McGraw, Auggie Doggie and Doggie Daddy, Magilla Gorilla, and many more. Many of the Hanna-Barbera series are currently distributed worldwide in 175 countries in 45 languages. In addition, Cartoon Network airs many of the series available via cable or satellite in 160 countries across the globe.