Joseph Barbera

Joseph Roland "Joe" Barbera was a renowned American animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoonist whose creations delighted audiences around the globe throughout the twentieth century. Born and raised in New York City, Barbera pursued his education and launched his career in the vibrant city. Initially dabbling in various jobs, including a stint in banking, he entered the animation world with Van Beuren Studios in 1932, followed by work at Terrytoons in 1936.

In 1937, Barbera relocated to California, where he joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and met William Hanna. This partnership blossomed into a legendary collaboration, famously recognized for the creation of the beloved "Tom and Jerry" series and several live-action films. In 1957, after MGM shut down its animation division, Barbera and Hanna established Hanna-Barbera Productions, which quickly became a dominant force in television animation. Their prolific output included iconic shows such as "The Flintstones," "The Jetsons," "Scooby-Doo," "Yogi Bear," and "The Smurfs."

Hanna-Barbera was sold to Taft Broadcasting in 1967 for $12 million, yet the duo continued to lead the company until 1991. It was later acquired by Turner Broadcasting and became part of Time Warner. Over their illustrious careers, Hanna and Barbera garnered seven Academy Awards and eight Emmy Awards, with their characters becoming cultural touchstones and reaching over 300 million viewers worldwide, translated into more than 20 languages.