Summary
- Hanna-Barbera's iconic cartoons span from delightful classics like Scooby-Doo to forgettable titles like Magilla Gorilla.
- The cultural impact of Hanna-Barbera's cartoons is key when valuing each show, from the popular Yogi Bear to lesser-known characters like Magilla Gorilla.
- Characters like Scooby-Doo and Tom & Jerry are deeply rooted in pop culture, while others like Magilla Gorilla haven't had the same lasting impact.
From Scooby-Doo to Superfriends, the Hanna-Barbera animation studio developed some of the most iconic cartoons of all time, though they range significantly in quality. William Hannah and Joseph Barbera were animators initially known for co-creating Tom & Jerry in the 1940s. After running their show for nearly 20 years and developing dozens of unforgettable shorts with the famous cat and mouse duo, the pair set out to establish their own production company, Hanna-Barbera.
From their heyday in the 1960s all the way to the turn of the century, Hanna-Barbera produced timeless cartoons that are still prevalent in the cultural vernacular. Titles like Scooby-Doo and Yogi Bear are still widely known in modern culture, with the works of Hanna-Barbera spawning several multimedia franchises. Judging how they've aged in their cultural impact is a significant factor when valuing each cartoon, on top of their quality and ratings at the time of their release.
15 Magilla Gorilla (1964–1967)
A gorilla living in a pet shop gets up to various misadventures.
Magilla Gorilla was an entertaining cartoon for its era, with a catchy theme song and an endearing character as its lead. However, with a 6.2 on IMDb, The Magilla Gorilla Show is one of the most mediocre Hanna-Barbera cartoons, and it's fair to say Magilla never resonated as other classic characters did. There've never been any modern reboots of the show, and Magilla Gorilla hasn't been as influential as characters like Fred Flintstone or Huckleberry Hound. Ultimately, Magilla is a Hanna-Barbera character most audiences forgot about.
14 Hong Kong Phooey (1974–1975)
A crime-fighting, martial arts pooch faces off against urban villains.
Hong Kong Phooey was another Hanna-Barbera cartoon that provided fitting entertainment for its era but hasn't stood out well in the test of time. Decades after the original cartoon, Hong Kong Phooey almost had a modern reboot film in 2009, but the project was ultimately scrapped. The character has appeared in various media, reminding modern audiences of the classic crime-fighting martial arts hero. As a '70s Saturday morning cartoon, Hong Kong Phooey's humor and action gave it a memorable appeal, but it lacked the franchise-spawning popularity of similar shows.
13 The Smurfs (1981–1989)
The classic Belgian comic is brought to life in an '80s cartoon.
The Smurfs are pretty widely known characters, with a franchise spawning from Belgian comics in the 1950s. In the '80s, Hanna-Barbera developed an American cartoon adaptation, and while it deserves some credit for being a long-running, decently-rated kids cartoon, it didn't match the quality of some of their more famous shows. With a 7.1 rating on IMDb, The Smurfs was an average-quality cartoon, and the cultural reverence for the characters corresponds more to their broader franchise appeal.
12 Johnny Quest (1964–1965)
A pivotal superhero adventure cartoon.
Action/adventure superhero cartoons weren't Hanna-Barbera's specialty at first, but Johnny Quest set a precedence for future shows like Space Ghost and Super Friends. The original show was fairly popular with both ratings and critics, performing well enough to merit spin-off shows and appearances in other media. As a lead character, Johnny Quest hasn't stood the test of time like other Hanna-Barbera icons, but his archetype was foundational for future series of similar concepts.
11 Top Cat (1961–1962)
A mix of urban satire and Saturday morning cartoon.
Top Cat wasn't as famous as successful as other Hanna-Barbera cartoons, but it gets some leeway for its innovative use of animated storytelling. Unlike other shows, which were explicitly geared toward children, Top Cat was modeled after sitcoms of its era and aired on prime time instead of solely as a Saturday morning cartoon. Despite its intelligent, satirical humor, the show wasn't successful as a prime-time segment. In concept, Top Cat may have been ahead of its time in the '60s and a better fit among the great animated TV shows from the past thirty years.
10 Josie and the Pussycats (1970–1972)
A cartoon based on the musical Archie Comics characters.
Another Hanna-Barbera cartoon based on other media, Josie and the Pussycats, is based on characters from Archie Comics. Like with The Smurfs, the cultural value of the Archie Comics characters helps Josie and the Pussycats stand out as a series, and though the series wasn't particularly innovative, it offered some light social progression. An all-girl lead cast was outstanding for a '70s cartoon, and Josie and the Pussycats was also the first US cartoon to feature an African American female lead, allowing it to stand out among classic cartoons.
9 Wacky Races (1968–1969)
Wacky Races was a Hanna-Barbera with a fun, unique premise.
Wacky Races mainly earned positive reviews and stood out for its zany race adventures.
One of the more unique Hanna-Barbera cartoons, given that its title isn't focused around a particular character or group, Wacky Races was one of the most uniquely entertaining shows from the production company. The character Dick Dastardly is the show's standout, becoming the archetypal "mustache-twirling villain" and appearing across other Hanna-Barbera cartoons and media following the one Wacky Races season. As for the show itself, Wacky Races mainly earned positive reviews and stood out for its zany race adventures.
8 Space Ghost (1966–1968)
An original superhero show set in outer space.
While many Hanna-Barbera cartoons focused on humor, Space Ghost was a cool, powerful hero who made for exciting, action-packed adventures.
The '60s cartoon Space Ghost was a hugely popular series about a space-traveling superhero and his teenage sidekicks and pet monkey. While many Hanna-Barbera cartoons focused on humor, Space Ghost was a cool, powerful hero who made for exciting, action-packed adventures. Space Ghost was so popular that he had multiple spin-offs in various media, including his own talk show in the '90s. The original cartoon wasn't a masterpiece but established a lasting character who'd rise to new heights years later.
7 The Huckleberry Hound Show (1958–1961)
A laid-back dog and his various comedic adventures.
One of Hanna-Barbera's first productions as a company, The Huckleberry Hound Show, follows its titular character in fun comedic adventures. The character and show haven't aged as well as other cartoons, but The Huckleberry Hound Show was vital to subsequent animated programs. Yogi Bear was introduced as a supporting character, resulting in another, more successful show directly spinning off. Notably, The Huckleberry Hound Show was also the first animated show nominated for an Emmy, establishing the foundation for future cartoons.
6 The Jetsons (1962–1963, 1985–1987)
Hanna-Barbera's futuristic counterpart to The Flintstones.
The Jetsons
- Cast
- George O'Hanlon , Penny Singleton , Janet Waldo , Daws Butler , Mel Blanc , Don Messick , Jean Vander Pyl
- Release Date
- September 23, 1962
- Seasons
- 3
- Network
- ABC
- Franchise(s)
- The Jetsons
Hanna-Barbera's The Jetsons show created one of the most famous cartoon families, and while it's an excellent production, it only falls short due to repeating much of The Flintstones' formula. While the latter saw a comical Stone Age family, The Jetsons established a similar paradigm in future society. Ultimately, the imaginative portrayal of the future, relatable characters, and whimsical humor make The Jetsons a timeless classic, and it even had one of the best TV crossovers of all time with its prehistoric counterpart.
5 Super Friends (1973–1986)
Hanna-Barbera's silly but popular rendition of famous DC superheroes.
For many audiences growing up in the '70s and '80s, Super Friends was the definitive animated portrayal of famous DC characters like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. The original 1973 cartoon only ran for one season, but it continued to see various incarnations from 1977 through 1985, providing cartoon lovers with silly renditions of comic book heroes. Various DC heroes and villains formed across the various Super Friends titles, allowing for constant battles between the Justice League and the Legion of Doom.
Super Friends may be far less serious than modern DC animation, but it's an endearing interpretation that excelled in its era.
Super Friends may be far less serious than modern DC animation, but it's an endearing interpretation that excelled in its era. The '70s cartoon has some credibility docked due to racial stereotype characters like Apache Chief and El Dorado, but it's still a classic cartoon and considered one of the best from Hanna-Barbera. As recently as the Arrowverse and The Lego Batman Movie, popular DC media still references the cartoon, honoring its longstanding cultural significance.
4 The Yogi Bear Show (1961–1962)
Yogi Bear is a classic cartoon about a bear who just wants some snacks.
The titular character in The Yogi Bear Show is known for having one of the most iconic cartoon voices, which allowed him to stand out enough for his own series. The classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon ran for two seasons, mainly centered around Yogi and Boo-Boo's exploits in the fictional Jellystone Park. The show also involved segments for the character Snagglepuss, who had a similar premise. The Yogi Bear show was one of the most iconic Hanna-Barbera works, spawning dozens of spin-offs, movies, and more, allowing it to remain relevant for decades.
3 The Flintstones (1960–1966)
The Flintstones was a monumental family-centric cartoon comedy.
One of the quintessential cartoons of its era, The Flintstones paved the way for dozens of subsequent cartoons, from The Jetsons to the various Flintstones spin-offs. From its catchy theme song to its unforgettable characters, the '60s cartoon has become a timeless cultural touchstone, with phrases like "Yabba dabba doo!" transcending television. The series hasn't had many modern reboots, which only speaks to the strength and significance of the original that it's still such a well-known cartoon.