William Hanna
- You may also be looking for William Hanna (character).
William Hanna | |
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Born | William Denby Hanna July 14, 1910 Melrose, New Mexico Territory |
Died | March 22, 2001 Los Angeles, California |
Nationality | American |
Occupation(s) | Animator Cartoonist Voice Actor |
Years active at MGM | 1940-1958 |
Years active at Hanna-Barbera | 1957-2001 |
Characters played | Tom Cat Jerry Mouse Himself |
Hanna guesting on I Yabba-Dabba Do! |
William Denby Hanna (July 14, 1910 – March 22, 2001) was an American animator, voice actor, cartoonist, and an occasional musician who was the creator of Tom and Jerry, as well as the voice artist for the two titular characters. He was also one of the two founders behind the animation studio and production company Hanna-Barbera, along with Joseph Barbera.
Hanna began his career at the Harmin and Ising animation studio in 1930 and steadily built his skills into prominence while working on cartoons. In 1937, Hanna was employed at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's cartoon department, in which he met Barbera and co-created the Tom and Jerry. 1957, they co-founded Hanna-Barbera, which not only became the most successful television animation studio in the buisness, but also created or produced various programs for more than 40 years.
Hanna passed away from throat cancer on March 22, 2001, at the age of 90.
Crew credits
Roles
20th century
- I Yabba-Dabba Do! (1993)
- The Flintstones (1994)
- Boardroom executive
- The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000)
- Wedding guest
Behind the scenes
- Despite his long-time partnership and friendship with Joseph Barbera, Hanna rarely socialized with him out of their work environment. They had different tastes in recreational activities, and hang out in different social circles.
- Before entering animation, he had a strong background in music. He claimed that this aided in his mastery of animation timing and direction.
Tributes
- In the Red Razors arc of the comic 2000AD, a group of Sov-Block mercenary enforcers called themselves the Spooky Doo Gang, due to owning a dog called Spooky who resembled a green Scooby-Doo. Daphne's doppelganger is called Hannah, in reference to Hanna.
- Hanna was one of three contestants in a 1975 episode of To Tell the Truth, where the panelists had to guess the correct Hanna.
- There is a character resembling Hanna at the beginning of the film Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf.
- In the film I Yabba-Dabba Do!, Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm put Barbera and Hanna's names on an invitation to their wedding reception, with them showing up and voicing themselves. In the sequel, Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby, they sent flowers to the couple after the birth of their twins, Roxy and Chip.
- In the Animaniacs segment "Back in Style," Thaddeus Plotz, the CEO of Warner Bros., loaned the Warner siblings to Phil and Shmoe, who were known for making cartoons of limited animation.
- The film Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase is in memory of him.
- A special Cartoon Network bumper was made in his memory.
- The Web Premiere Toons short, "The Pitch," was made in his memory.
- In the film Scoob!, there is a barbershop named Hanna's Barber Shop.