William Hanna and Joseph Barbara first met while working for Fred Quimby at MGM Studios. The Oscar nomimated short "Puss Gets the Boot", the first Hanna-Barbera collaboration, featured the precursors to Tom and Jerry. Between 1943 and 1953 Hanna-Barbera's Tom and Jerry would earn them a record breaking seven Oscars for MGM's animated shorts.

Face with the end of an era when MGM eliminated the studio's animation department in 1957, Hanna and Barbara formed their own production company to create animated cartoons for television. At the time, original animation for television was almost unheard of. Hanna and Barbara face the challenge of creating orginal animation programming on a very limited budget.

Hanna-Barbara's first television stars wer Ruff and Reddy, followed by Huckleberry Hound in 1958. Huckleberry Hound was the first cartoon to recieve an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Children's Programming. Amoung Hanna-Barbera's other renowned characters are Yougi Bear, Quick Draw McGraw, Auggie Doggie and Doggie Daddy, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Yogi and Boo Boo Bear, Scooby Doo, and many more.

Hanna-Barbera's quick gags and comedic wit allowed the duo to create the worlds first half-hour animated situation comedy--"The Flintstones",based on "The Honeymooners". The "Flintstones" would become one of the most watched and loved animated families remaining in prime time for six years. Two years later, in 1962, America would meet George Jetson and his wife Jane in the futuristic based situation comedy "The Jetsons"

Hanna-Barbara's lifetime of achievement has provided some of telelvision's most memorable cartoon characters. Having produced well over 3,000 cartoons, the team of William Hanna and Joseph Barbara have created an extensive legacy guarenteed to delight generations yet to come.