Hanna-Barbera

William Hanna and Joseph Barbera launched their independent studio on September 23, 1957, just months after leaving Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. They brought the success of theatrical shorts like Tom and Jerry to the small screen by inventing a cost-saving method called limited animation. This technique reduced the number of frames drawn per second, allowing them to produce high volumes of content for networks without breaking the budget. The studio started in a small office at Kling Studios before settling into the Sherman Oaks Galleria, where it would operate for decades.

Their catalog reshaped American pop culture with franchises that defined generations. The Huckleberry Hound Show became the first hour-long animated series to hit prime time, followed closely by The Flintstones, the first animated sitcom to succeed in that slot. Later hits included Yogi Bear, The Jetsons, and Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!. By the late 1960s, the company dominated the market, churning out hundreds of episodes that filled Saturday morning schedules across the country.

Ownership shifted several times over the years. Taft Broadcasting bought the company in 1966, only to sell it to Warner Bros.-Seven Arts the following year. It eventually became part of Turner Entertainment Co. in 1991 before merging fully into Warner Bros. Discovery. Today, the brand functions as a legacy library within Warner Bros. Animation rather than an independent production house. Recent activity includes a live-action Scooby-Doo: Origins film wrapping production in August 2026 and a new Netflix series scheduled for release in 2027. [edit]