Hanna-Barbera Characters: 30 of the Most Iconic

A fast-talking shark who plays drums in a band called The Neptunes. He is one of the only underwater characters the studio ever made, and easily the goofiest.

A solar-powered crime-fighter who battles villains with his eagle sidekick, Avenger. Yes, this is the same Birdman who later got rebooted as a washed-up cartoon lawyer on Adult Swim.

Belgian artist Peyo created them, but Hanna-Barbera turned them into a Saturday-morning empire. Smurfette held it down as one of the only women in the whole village.

Dick Dastardly’s dog and partner in always-failed crime. That snicker is the entire character, and it is perfect. More Wacky Races characters here.

An invisible-powered hero patrolling the galaxy with sidekicks Jan, Jace, and a monkey named Blip. The 90s reboot turned him into a late-night host, but the original is pure hero stuff.

A big friendly gorilla who sits in a pet-shop window, permanently on sale, hoping someone finally takes him home.

A secret agent squirrel who foils villains with his sidekick, Morocco Mole. Voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc, which tells you they took the silliness seriously.

The only woman in the Wacky Races lineup, racing in pink and usually saving herself. She even got her own spin-off where she outsmarted a villain every week.

Doggie Daddy keeps trying to teach life lessons that always backfire, and “my son, my son!” is the catchphrase that ties it all together.

A mild-mannered police janitor dog who transforms into a hero by diving into a filing cabinet. Scatman Crothers voicing him is half the charm.

He keeps sneaking out of his zoo to see the city, and trouble follows him everywhere. Hard not to like him.

A tiny ant with super strength and flight who takes down crooks many times his size. “Up and at ’em, Atom Ant!”

An all-girl band who solve mysteries between gigs, cat-ear costumes and all. They even blasted into orbit for a spin-off.

He travels around with his fast-talking dog pal Beegle Beagle and says his own name on a loop. Means well constantly.

Thawed out of a block of ice, he solves mysteries with three teen sidekicks, pulls random gadgets out of his fur, and screams “Captain Caaaaaveman!” before every rescue. That iconic yell came from Mel Blanc, the same man behind Bugs Bunny.

A purple-cloaked schemer endlessly trying to do in Penelope Pitstop, and endlessly failing. That cackle, courtesy of Paul Lynde, is the best part.

Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and friends teaming up every week, like the 70s comics jumped off the page in full color. Fair warning: this show is partly why Aquaman got mocked for decades.

“Exit, stage left!” Daws Butler basically channeling a theatre ham, and it is wonderful.

A slow-drawling Southern hound who tries his hand at every job under the sun. His show was Hanna-Barbera’s first big hit and even won an Emmy.

The youngest and gentlest of the three super-powered sisters, right up until you push her too far. Easily my pick of the trio.

Flying cars, a robot maid named Rosie, and a dog called Astro. Meet the rest of the crew on my Jetsons characters page.

A gunslinging horse lawman riding the Old West with his burro sidekick, Baba Looey. Not the brightest, but he commits. More horse cartoon characters here.

The cat-and-mouse duo Hanna and Barbera created back at MGM. They won seven Oscars and basically funded the studio that followed. But are they secretly best friends?

A globe-trotting kid traveling with his scientist dad, bodyguard Race Bannon, and best friend Hadji. It still holds up as a genuine adventure show, not just a kids’ one.

He runs schemes with his gang while staying one step ahead of Officer Dibble. Arnold Stang’s voice makes the whole thing.

Yogi’s smaller, more sensible best friend, who spends every episode begging Yogi not to steal picnic baskets and gets dragged along anyway.

The star of Jellystone Park got so popular he was spun off into his own show within two years. Forever one step ahead of Ranger Smith.

Fred’s best friend and next-door neighbor in Bedrock, who goes along with every scheme out of pure friendship. Mostly voiced by the great Mel Blanc.

The loud, lovable star of the first-ever prime-time animated sitcom. “Yabba-dabba-doo!” The show that proved cartoons could headline prime time.

The most famous Hanna-Barbera character of them all, solving mysteries with the gang in the Mystery Machine. Still going strong 50-plus years later, and a fitting number one.