William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, creators of some of television's most memorable cartoon characters and animated series, will have a wall sculpture of them dedicated during a ceremony at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Hall of Fame Plaza in North Hollywood on at 11:00 am on March 16, 2005.
"We are thrilled to celebrate the creativity and innovation of television legends William Hanna and Joseph Barbera with the dedication of this amazing work of art,” said John Shaffner, vice chair of the Television Academy. "These two gentleman are responsible for some of the most memorable animation series and characters and have created a legacy of timeless television programming that will entertain generations to come."
"As pioneers of animation, Bill and Joe set the bar high from the outset and established themselves as architects of a whole new genre of animation,” added Sander Schwartz, president, Warner Bros. Animation. “With Bill’s precise comedic timing and Joe’s amazing storytelling instincts, this powerful partnership created legendary work that continues to entertain people generation after generation. We are honored that they have been recognized by the Television Academy for their great contributions to animation and their lasting influence on media around the world.”
This wall sculpture, by renowned sculptor Richard Ellis, is the first of its type to be added to the plaza, which is a showplace for close to 50 busts, life-sized castings and bas-reliefs of numerous Hall of Fame honorees. The bronze wall sculpture, measuring 7'1" high x 6’ wide, weighs 1,200 lbs. and has been installed on the west-facing wall of the Academy Foundation’s Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre. It depicts both animation giants with some of their famous creations, including Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, Scooby-Doo, Huckleberry Hound and Tom & Jerry.
Joseph Barbera and his family are expected to take part in the ceremony along with Mrs. William Hanna; Shaffner, Phil Wayne, chair of the Academy’s Sculpture Committee; committee advisor and artist Dick Stiles; sculptor Richard Ellis; and Schwartz along with some of HB’s favorite characters, including Scooby-Doo and Tom & Jerry.
Barbera, who turns 94 next week, goes to his office at Warner Bros. Animation almost daily where he helps create new animated entertainment. His partner Hanna passed away in March 2001.
The veteran animators are recipients of many industry honors, including a Governors Award from the Television Academy, eight Emmy Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and were inducted into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame in 1993.
They created hundreds of beloved cartoon characters during their partnership of 60-plus years. They are responsible for more than 3,500 half-hours of animated programming and more than 350 different series, specials, television motion pictures and theatrical films. Many of the HB series are currently distributed worldwide in 175 countries in 45 languages. In addition, Cartoon Network airs many of the series available via cable or satellite in 160 countries across the globe.
The duo formed their own production company in 1957. With a limited budget and many animators out of work in Hollywood, they developed a team of great artists and writers that re-invented cartoons for television. They first sold the studio in the late sixties to Taft Broadcasting Co., but continued to run it for decades. Through many changes of ownership, it finally became part of Time Warner, which owns Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network.
Hanna-Barbera's first TV stars were Ruff and Reddy, followed by Huckleberry Hound in 1958. THE HUCKLEBERRY HOUND SHOW was the first cartoon to receive an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Children's Programming. In 1960, HB created television’s first animated family sitcom, THE FLINTSTONES, a series which marked a number of other firsts – the first animated series to air in primetime, the first animated series to go beyond the prevalent six- or seven-minute cartoon format and the first animated series to feature human characters.
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