Posted on 12/18/2006 3:37:09 PM PST by Borges
LOS ANGELES - Joe Barbera, half of the Hanna-Barbera animation team that produced such beloved cartoon characters as Tom and Jerry, Yogi Bear and the Flintstones, died Monday, a Warner Bros. spokesman said. He was 95.
Barbera died of natural causes at his home with his wife Sheila at his side, Warner Bros. spokesman Gary Miereanu said.
With his longtime partner, Bill Hanna, Barbera first found success creating the highly successful Tom and Jerry cartoons. The antics of the battling cat and mouse went on to win seven Academy Awards, more than any other series with the same characters.
The partners, who had first teamed up while working at MGM in the 1930s, then went on to a whole new realm of success in the 1950s with a witty series of animated TV comedies, including "The Flintstones," "The Jetsons," "Yogi Bear," "Scooby-Doo" and "Huckleberry Hound and Friends."
Their strengths melded perfectly, critic Leonard Maltin wrote in his book "Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons." Barbera brought the comic gags and skilled drawing, while Hanna brought warmth and a keen sense of timing.
"This writing-directing team may hold a record for producing consistently superior cartoons using the same characters year after year - without a break or change in routine," Maltin wrote.
"From the Stone Age to the Space Age and from primetime to Saturday mornings, syndication and cable, the characters he created with his late partner, William Hanna, are not only animated superstars, but also a very beloved part of American pop culture. While he will be missed by his family and friends, Joe will live on through his work," Warner Bros. Chairman and CEO Barry Meyer said Monday.
Hanna, who died in 2001, once said he was never a good artist but his partner could "capture mood and expression in a quick sketch better than anyone I've ever known."
The two first teamed cat and mouse in the short "Puss Gets the Boot." It earned an Academy Award nomination, and MGM let the pair keep experimenting until the full-fledged Tom and Jerry characters eventually were born.
Jerry was borrowed for the mostly live-action musical "Anchors Aweigh," dancing with Gene Kelly in a scene that become a screen classic.
After MGM folded its animation department in the mid-1950s, Hanna and Barbera were forced to go into business for themselves. With television's sharply lower budgets, their new cartoons put more stress on verbal wit rather than the detailed - and expensive - action featured in theatrical cartoon.
Just damn.
A sad day for we folks that appreciate the cartoons of old.
Here's to having a 'yabba-dabba-doo time' up their with your partner, Mr Barbera. May you rest in peace!
Rest in Peace and thank you for making me laugh!
All of the classics I watched as a kid. Heavens to Murgatroid! Exit, stage heaven!
"... success in the 1950s with a witty series of animated TV comedies, including "The Flintstones," "The Jetsons," "Yogi Bear," "Scooby-Doo" and "Huckleberry Hound and Friends."
As a TV reviewer called it 35 years ago, "The Hanna-Barbera garbage factory. He was right.
You just said it best. Thanks. Heavens to Murgatroid!!
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If they had done nothing but 'Tom and Jerry' they would still be immortal. And they made do with the budgets they had to make animation work on TV.
Criminy, who'll be the 3rd?
Yeah, WFT is up with that???
Top Cat/Smurfette/Scooby Doo/Fred Flintstone/Bill Hanna/Joe Barbera/Yogi Bear/Judy Jetson/Huckleberry Hound
Snagglepuss/Peneleope Pitstop/Quick Draw McGraw/George Jetson/Barney Rubble/Jonny Quest/Boo Boo Bear/Scrappy Doo (bleh)
Space Ghost/Muttley/Astro/Snork/Doggy Daddy
Jane Jetson/Magilla Gorilla/Betty Rubble/Gilgamesh/Pixie & Dixie
Don't know!/Shaggy/The Cat from Pixie & Dixie/Elroy Jetson/Papa Smurf/Pebbles & Bamm Bamm/Augie Doggie/Jabberjaw
Dino/Don't know again!/Ranger Smith/Don't know/Captain Caveman/Villain from Wacky Races (don't know name!)/Wally Gator
Hong Kong Phooey/Don't know/Don't know/Tom & Jerry!
Does anyone know whether this man was a liberal or a conservative? I've never heard one way or the other about Messrs. Hanna & Barbera.
~ Blue Jays ~
More memories from my yute:
Flintstones, Jetsons, Yogi, Huckleberry Hound
Condolences to his family.
I wonder how many Freepers can name all of those characters? I managed to identify all but those related to Smurfdom.
When I heard about this on Fox the first thought I had was "Thank you, Mr. Barbera."
I wonder if men like this ever know how much joy they gave to so many children...and adults.
A Boo-Boo Bear farewell...........
So long,
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