Unlimited Imagination

Fred Seibert and Bill Burnett reflect on the importance of Bill Hanna and Joseph Barbera's limited animation technique. Work in TV? You can thank them...

By Fred Seibert and Fred Seibert | Thursday, January 31, 2002 at 12:00 am

(I wouldn't risk it if I were you.)

Fred Seibert is a partner in the Frederator Studios and executive producer of Nickelodeon's The Fairly Oddparents, ChalkZone and Oh Yeah! Cartoons. As president of Hanna-Barbera Cartoons from 1992 through 1996, he had the honor of learning from Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera.

Bill Burnett is the co-creator and executive producer of Nickelodeon's upcoming animated series ChalkZone. He also wrote the script, music and lyrics for that network's first feature-length animated musical The Electric Piper. Bill served as creative director at Hanna-Barbera before becoming story editor for the first two season's of Cartoon Network's Cow and Chicken. Bill is also a songwriter. His musical material has been performed and recorded by Bette Midler, Patti Lupone, Rodney Dangerfield, Pebbles Flintstone, Bamm-Bamm Rubble and Casper the Friendly Ghost -- to name but a few. Bill's live performances have been known to make grown men and women weep and laugh, often simultaneously.

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Comments

Dear Editor, Thank you for the article by Fred Seibert and Bill Burnett on Bill Hanna. I've said for years that Hanna-Barbera was never given its due for almost single-handedly saving animation from becoming a lost art during the 50's, 60's, and 70's. They kept the industry and those in it working and viable until the boom times came again. Their efforts are directly responsible for giving many people (myself included) the opportunity to make funny drawings come to life for a living. It's great to see two noted industry professionals feel the same way. Sincerely, Paul Naas