My 10 Favorite Hanna-Barbera Characters

 As promised, I return on the second day of the new year with a post different than most I've done so far. Since it's a new year and everything, I thought I'd start 2024 off with something that gives you guys more insight into my tastes regarding the Hanna-Barbera characters. Quite frankly, I couldn't think of anything better than ranking my ten favorite characters from their many productions. My only rules for this list is that I'm only including characters from shows created during their golden years (in my mind, that lasted from 1957 to 1969), and I'm only picking one character per franchise. Without any further introductions, let's get right into number ten!

Number 10: Scooby-Doo

If I'm being honest, I'm not the biggest fan of Scooby-Doo as a franchise. While I have a lot of nostalgia and great memories with the series, I feel like it's been milked for everything it's worth, and I also believe its success hurt Hanna-Barbera as a whole. But with all that being said, it would feel wrong to leave Scooby himself off of a list like this. As cliche as it sounds, Scooby was a big part of my childhood, and I can't let my more cynical feelings toward the franchise erase that. He's just a lovable great dane who, though he's quick to frighten, usually comes through at the end of the episode, even if he needs a Scooby Snack or two for encouragement. Not only is he a charming character, but I also credit him for introducing me to the rest of the HB characters, and I think other people my age who are interested in them feel the same way. Scooby's enduring popularity helps bring new people of all ages into the other Hanna-Barbera properties, and with an effect like that, how could I not put him here?

Number 9: Boo Boo

Going from one Don Messick-voiced character to another, Boo Boo is my favorite character out of the entire Yogi Bear franchise. Out of all the Hanna-Barbera characters, I think he's the one I most identify with; always cautious, tries his best to keep others out of trouble, and usually fails in the process. If that's not the story of my life, I don't know what is! His design is also adorable and enduring, and that goes for both his early appearance, and the more refined version of him most of us picture when we think of the character. While it's true that you can't have Boo Boo without Yogi, if I had to go with only one of the two, I'm going with the short one every time!

Number 8: Space Ghost

Like any other person who grew up in a world full of comic book movies, I love superheroes, so it's no surprise that one spot here goes to a Hanna-Barbera hero. But of the many they created, one stands above the rest, and that is Space Ghost. Whether it's the heroic crime fighter voiced by Gary Owens or the smarmy talk-show host portrayed by George Lowe, I love the guy. His design is great and instantly striking. Alex Toth really doesn't get enough credit for his work at Hanna-Barbera. His superpowers are also pretty unique. He can fly, turn invisible, has an impressive arsenal of weapons, and can breathe in space. Not too bad if I do say so myself! In general, I find myself attracted to superhero characters who deal with cosmic threats more than those who do their crime-fighting on Earth, so Space Ghost is just another one of those characters with whom I seemed destined to fall in love. And, of course, he's the only character here to have his own late-night talk show. That's gotta be worth something!

Number 7: Top Cat

When I think of underrated Hanna-Barbera cartoons, one of the first that comes to mind is Top Cat. The show only ran for one season, and while there were a few specials in the decades following, none of them even came close to capturing the charm of the original series. A big part of that charm came from the show's titular character, the most tip-top Top Cat! Wonderfully brought to life by Arnold Stang, Top Cat stands out from other Hanna-Barbera characters in that, to be totally honest, he really isn't that great of a person. He's a con artist, and he'll con anyone, even his friends if it means he can reap the rewards. While that might be a reason to dislike him, it's a big reason I love him. Not every protagonist has to be a good person to be likable, and that's something that I think animation often forgets. Sometimes, you need a character who's kind of rude to anchor a show, and that's something T.C. does very well. That being said, Top Cat does have moments of kindness throughout the series, showing that he's also something akin to a jerk with a heart of gold, one of my favorite character archetypes in media. His design is also just stellar. The combo of yellow and purple is kind of an odd one, but it fits well for a character like him.  T.C. isn't the nicest of characters, but he's one of my favorites for just that reason.

Number 6: Atom Ant

Time for yet another Don Messick-voiced character (spoiler alert: this isn't the last), but this time it's the pint-sized Atom Ant! Originally voiced by Howie Morris before Messick took over vocal duties, Atom Ant is another superhero to come out of the brains at Hanna-Barbera, although unlike Space Ghost and the others, Atom Ant leaned a lot more on comedy and wackiness than it did action and suspense. That change in focus doesn't stop him from being one of my favorite characters, however. Atom Ant is as charming as he is diminutive, and like Space Ghost before him, he benefits from having a unique set of superpowers at his disposal. I'm not exaggerating when I say Atom Ant could give most comic book superheroes a run for their money. Whether it was a mad scientist or a crazed animal, no villain was ever too big for this guy, which gives him a nice underdog quality that is hard to come by in superheroes. Out of the many small-sized superheroes out there, Atom Ant is the most charming of them all, and my favorite out of the bunch. Ant-Man and The Atom have nothing on this guy!

Number 5: Wally Gator

For most people, Wally Gator is far from the quintessential Daws Butler character, but he's my favorite, second only to another we'll be discussing soon. While many will write him and his series off as nothing more than a Yogi "ripoff", I find Wally to be a much more enduring character than Yogi. Daws' performance is wonderful as the character (although that's to be expected with him), and the character design is as warm and cuddly as you could get from an alligator. His goal in life is also, as weird as it sounds, quite a relatable one. He wants nothing more than to escape from the zoo and enter the outside world, just as many of us want to get away from our homes and explore the rest of the planet. I find him to be one of the HB characters I empathize with the most, which is quite the feat when you think about it. He's an anthropomorphic alligator who sounds like Ed Wynn and I can relate to his plight. How can you not love the guy?

Number 4: Muttley

Fourth place goes to one more Don Messick character, and in this spot, it's Muttley from Wacky Races. Messick voiced a lot of dogs for Hanna-Barbera, and Muttley is hands down my favorite of the pack. I'd describe Muttley as being almost like the "anti" Boo Boo. While Boo Boo always had an eye out for Yogi and wanted what was best for him, Muttley sees Dick Dastardly as a joke and is never one to give up an opportunity to laugh at his misfortunes. Speaking of laughing, can we all agree that Muttley has one of the best in animation? When you even think of the character, you can hear his snicker, so you have to give props to Messick for that. He's also got a great design, perfectly encapsulating that this mutt is anything but man's best friend. Overall, while Scooby might be the dog people most associate with Hanna-Barbera, I'll take Muttley over him any day!

Number 3: Quick Draw McGraw

Of the dozens upon dozens of characters Daws Butler voiced throughout the years, none do I love as much as I do Quick Draw McGraw. I love a good gunslinger, and while I wouldn't classify Quick Draw as a "good" one per se, he's still one of my favorite cowboys in all of fiction. Like any of the great western heroes, he means only the best, but he's far from the sharpest sheriff in the saloon. Yet again, I find myself relating to a Hanna-Barbera character, because I'm about as foolish and clumsy as Quick Draw is. Like all of Daws' major characters, his voice is excellent, and it's one you can hear as soon as you see an image of the character. Quick Draw McGraw being one of my favorite Hanna-Barbera productions certainly doesn't hurt his placement here, either. It's just a shame I can't place another character from the series, El Kabong, here as well. Say, has anyone noticed those two share a few similarities?

Number 2: Rosie the Robot

Though The Jetsons is one of my favorite Hanna-Barbera shows, I cannot say that I'm the biggest fan of the family as individual characters. For the most part, I find them to be a bit bland when compared to their stone-age predecessors. That cannot be said for Rosie, however. Memorably portrayed by Jean Vander Pyl, Rosie was practically the glue that held the Jetsons family together. As their maid, she took care of the majority of tasks inside the house. Without her, I can't imagine George and the rest would get much done! Though she's a maid, she's not the type of character to just blindly follow orders. She can talk trash just as well as anyone else and is a source for some of the show's best comedic moments (I particularly love it when she imitates Judy in love). Besides all of that, there's an innate cool factor to Rosie as a character. She's a robot maid who can do all of the things you don't want to, how can you not love that? You can keep your flying cars and foodarackacycles, because all I want in the future is a robot who'll clean my whole house. Maybe someday!

Number 1: Fred Flintstone

Surprising probably none of you, my favorite Hanna-Barbera character is the head of the Flintstone household, Fred Flintstone. The Flintstones is my favorite of their shows, and one of my favorite series period, and Fred's my favorite character from the show, so he was meant to be in this spot. What I like about Fred is that, more than any other character Hanna-Barbera has created, he is an everyman. While many probably don't see themselves in Wally Gator, Boo Boo, or the others we've looked at, Fred is intended to be like us. He cares deeply for his family, can't stand his job, and has his fair share of hobbies he's completely immersed with. I think I can safely say those are all things we can relate to, regardless of our backgrounds. He's also a pretty flawed protagonist. A lot of the conflicts in the shows are caused by him and especially his mouth, so he stands out from a lot of the warmer and friendlier characters Hanna-Barbera has given us. But even when he screws things up, he always finds a way to make it right, and we root for him every time. In conclusion, every animation studio has its mascot. Disney has Mickey, WB has Bug, Fleischer has Betty Boop, and in my eyes, Fred is the face of Hanna-Barbera. He might not be their most popular or recognizable character, but he's the one I, and I believe most people think of when they think of the studio. Between that, his personality, and his smooth voice (supplied originally by the late, great Alan Reed), Fred's easily my pick for the best Hanna-Barbera character of them all!

I hope you've all enjoyed this little dive into my favorites among Hanna-Barbera's colorful cast of characters. Tune in tomorrow, as I share with you not one, but three different magazine articles from some of Hanna-Barbera's most celebrated voice artists!