Warner Bros. has done an impressive job with their Hanna-Barbera Blu-Ray releases the last few years, but with a library as big as theirs, there are many more that have yet to see the light of day. Some, for one reason or another, will likely never see release. But today, I'm going to throw logic and reason to the wayside, and share the Hanna-Barbera titles I'd most like to see from Warner Archive. While I doubt even half of these will ever happen, it's fun to dream big and think of what could be. Never say never, after all!
Quick Draw McGraw
Here's one that seems likely to release in the near future, but isn't 100% guaranteed. Out of the earlier Hanna-Barbera shows, Quick Draw may be the most sought after release, especially since a DVD was planned and canceled in the 2000s. While there hasn't been a confirmed Blu-Ray set for this series, the news of it being restored, as well as Huckleberry Hound releasing on the format, point to it coming one day. It really isn't a matter of "if", but instead "when" at this point.
Fantastic Four
Quick Draw McGraw seems like an inevitable release, so how about an impossible one? Fantastic Four most certainly fits that bill. The show itself belongs to WB, but the characters are now under the ownership of Disney. It seems unlikely that the two would work together to bring this show back, especially considering its lack of popularity, but I don't think it's impossible. WB and FOX worked things out to have the original Batman series come to Blu-Ray, and the recent Fantastic Four movie indicates the show isn't entirely forgotten by Marvel , so maybe this could get a release after all.
Ruff and Reddy
Isn't it crazy to think that Hanna-Barbera's first ever animated series isn't available on home video at all? Forget Blu-Ray, Ruff and Reddy never even made it to DVD! Again, this is one that I think will happen sooner or later, but it's wild that it's taken this long. As the beginning to Hanna-Barbera's cartoon empire and one of the first made for television, it's more than deserving of a Blu-Ray release.
Flintstones: On the Rocks
Ok, technically this isn't a Hanna-Barbera production, but The Flintstones is a Hanna-Barbera property, is it not? And of the many Flintstones spin-offs, 2001's On the Rocks is among the very best. The art direction is top notch, the voices were on point, and it felt right at home with the early episodes of the original show. Yet, to this very day, the only way to watch it is recordings of the special from its initial broadcast. Knowing that there was a DVD planned, with special features and all, makes it sting even more. This is one I'd love to see, but truthfully, it's about as likely as them putting out that WWE crossover again.
Jetsons Seasons Two and Three
This one is purely the completionist in me talking. The 1980s episodes of The Jetsons are, without sugar coating, kind of hit-or-miss. For each good episode, there's probably three or four that are completely forgettable. Still, since the original episodes, the TV movies, and even the feature film are available on Blu-Ray, I feel like this release is one that has to happen. I mean, who doesn't want more Orbitty in their lives?
Any of the Cartoon Network Titles
Here's one I think will happen one day, but not anytime soon. As many of you know, early Cartoon Network shows like Dexter's Lab and Johnny Bravo were created by Hanna-Barbera. At that time, the CN studio was merely a division of the studio, rather than a studio itself. These shows are undeniably important in the history of both the company and TV animation, and I have no doubt any one of them would sell well. And who knows? If they do sell, that could mean the entire CN library would be on the table, and that's something that would excite a lot of people, myself included.
And those are the titles I'd most like to see Warner Archive put out, but what do you think? Are there any pipe dream releases you have, or have they already covered everything that interests you? I'm really interested in hearing your ideas and responses, so leave them below if you have them!
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