BEYOND GAGS

When you think of Hanna-Barbera, you probably think of Saturday morning television,
right? But there is another side to Hanna and Barbera. Beyond all the pratfalls and the falling
anvils, there lies a body of work with real subtlety and power. Honest.

Take for instance, Charlotte's Web, E.B. White's classic story about death and re-birth --
themes not usually associated with the creators of Scooby-Doo! Yet Hanna-Barbera's film
version was so sensitively realized that even the hard-boiled hipsters at the Village Voice joined
the chorus of critics' praise.

Then there's The Last of the Curlews. This Emmy-winner broke fresh ground in 1972
as one of the first animated films to highlight environmental issues. And to make sure that their
social message hit home, Hanna and Barbera dared to break the biggest rule in the (mythical)
Book of Children's Programming -- they ended the story tragically.

And let's not leave out "The Greatest Adventure: Stories From The Bible"-- over one
million videos sold so far.

So next time you're laughing at the misadventures of Yogi Bear or Huckleberry Hound,
keep this in mind: Hanna and Barbera have more than gags up their sleeve. They've got heart
and soul, too.

Bill Burnett
Creative Director
Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc.