10 Most Underrated Hanna-Barbera Shows, Ranked
Summary
- Hanna-Barbera produced underrated shows due to output volume, leading to some forgotten characters and lack of originality.
- Shows like Jabberjaw, Butch Cassidy, and Captain Caveman had unique elements but were overshadowed by more popular series.
- SWAT Kats, Birdman, and The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo left lasting impacts despite being short-lived or underappreciated.
The Hanna-Barbera animation and production studio is known for series such as The Flintstones, but they also put out equally entertaining shows that have become underrated over the years. The studio, founded by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, is recognized for its animated sitcoms and mystery series. Throughout their early years, Hanna-Barbera put out numerous shows, taking up much of the morning cartoon slots.
Due to their high output, it’s easy for some shows to fall under the radar, despite their quality, and many Hanna-Barbera characters have been forgotten about because of this. Following the success of popular shows, many of those that came after were made to have a similar structure, leaving little to no room for originality. These reasons, and more, are why some of Hanna-Barbera’s shows have become forgotten about, but are still worth recognition.
15 Best Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Ranked
Hanna-Barbera Productions developed some of the most iconic 20th-century cartoons. From Scooby-Doo to Tom & Jerry, here are their best shows.
10 Jabberjaw (1976)
A musical shark teams up with an underwater band.
Seeing the success of Jaws just a year prior, it’s no surprise the main character of Jabberjaw was a great white shark. The titular shark teams up with a rock group known as The Neptunes, to take on supervillains in underwater cities. Jabberjaw was similar to Scooby-Doo and Josie and the Pussycats, following a similar structure with musical and crime-solving elements. Though Jabberjaw created an entertaining character, it was destined to be forgettable as it ultimately was unable to add anything new to the world of Hanna-Barbera productions.
9 Butch Cassidy (1973)
A musical group lives double lives as secret agents.
Also known as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids, Butch Cassidy follows the titular character and his band as they live a double life. Butch Cassidy is reminiscent of other shows such as Jonny Quest and Josie and the Pussycats. In Butch Cassidy, when the band is not performing, they work as secret agents who solve crime. Combining its short-lived run on air and its pulled inspiration from previous shows, Butch Cassidy wound up getting lost among the well-known Hanna-Barbera productions.
8 Captain Caveman And The Teen Angels (1977-1980)
A crime-solving trio and their caveman companion.
Pulling inspiration from two popular and established series, Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels follows three girls as they solve mystery and crime alongside their prehistoric companion, Captain Caveman. The series draws many comparisons to the Charlie’s Angels television series from the ’70s, as well as another Hanna-Barbera show, Scooby-Doo. Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels had unique and fun aspects, such as Captain Caveman being dubbed the “world’s first superhero” after the girls discover him in a block of ice. However, the series’ familiar structure and tone don’t set it apart from other Hanna-Barbera shows.
7 Harlem Globetrotters (1970-1971)
Real-life basketball players were placed in animated conflicts.
Using fictionalized versions of the real-life basketball team, Harlem Globetrotters finds the team competing in basketball games to resolve conflicts. A notable part of Harlem Globetrotters was their iconic soundtrack that was utilized during each episode, typically during the basketball game. Though the series only lasted for two seasons, it inspired a similar series, The Super Globetrotters, in which the basketball team had secret identities as superheroes. The characters from Harlem Globetrotters would also appear in The New Scooby-Doo Movies within the following years.
6 The Herculoids (1967-1968)
A family and their creature friends protect their home planet.
As an animated series rooted in science fiction, The Herculoids follows a family on the fictional planet of Amzot. The family fights off enemies alongside their monster-like friends, protecting both their kingdom and the planet. The Herculoids differentiates itself from other well-known Hanna-Barbera shows, with its unique and action-packed material. A few of the creatures from The Herculoids also make cameos in Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law and Space Jam: A New Legacy.
5 The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop (1969-1970)
A racer on the run from an enemy in disguise.
Acting as a spin-off series of Wacky Races, The Perils of Penelope Pitstop brought back recognizable characters such as the titular Penelope Pitstop and the Ant Hill Mob. Each episode sees Penelope on the run from the antagonist known as the Hooded Claw. Though the formula of The Perils of Penelope Pitstop could feel repetitive, the series implemented a similar zany and adventurous tone established in Wacky Races, providing audiences with continuous fun.
4 The Addams Family (1973)
The first animated series within the Addams Family franchise.
Notable for being the first animated adaptation, The Addams Family follows the titular family on their cross-country road trip. Though the dark and creepy energy the family is known for is scaled down in The Addams Family, they are still depicted as being different from other families around them, resulting in chaos and adventure. While the series isn’t the most influential among the Addams Family adaptations, it’s remembered for featuring Uncle Fester and Lurch’s actors from the 1960s series as the voices of their respective characters.
3 SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron (1993-1995)
Two vigilante felines protect their city from powerful villains.
SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron follows two human-like cats, Razor and T-Bone, who work to protect Megakat City from villains. Although SWAT Kats didn’t create iconic characters on the level of Scooby-Doo or The Flintstones, the series did make an impact with its witty writing and heightened action. SWAT Kats‘ violence was part of the reason for its cancelation, despite ranking high among syndicated animated shows at the time. The short-lived success of SWAT Kats lasted for two seasons, but in 2022, the series’ original co-creator, Christian Tremblay, announced that a revival series is in the works.
2 Birdman And The Galaxy Trio (1967-1968)
Various types of superheroes fight crime on land and in space.
Birdman and the Galaxy Trio was a superhero show that was divided into three segments, two chronicling the adventures of Birdman and one following the Galaxy Trio, a group of superheroes fighting crime in space. While the characters part of the Galaxy Trio didn’t make as much of an impact, Birdman received a spin-off series in 2001. Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, seen as one of the best adult swim shows of the 2000s, follows the titular character as he works at a law firm with other notable Hanna-Barbera characters.
1 The 13 Ghosts Of Scooby-Doo (1985)
The familiar Scooby-Doo gang set off on a haunted adventure.
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo is one of the many series part of the Scooby-Doo franchise, featuring some of Hanna-Barbera’s well-known characters. The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo sees the gang encounter a magical artifact that releases 13 ghosts into the world. Today, The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo ranks highly among others in the franchise and has a 7.3 rating on IMDb.
With the gang having to find the scattered spirits before they cause harm to the world, all but one ghost is captured.
The series provided a spookier tone to the franchise and left a few die-hard fans with a lingering question that wasn’t answered until three decades later. With the gang having to find the scattered spirits before they cause harm to the world, all but one ghost is captured. It wasn’t until the 2019 film, Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost, that the final ghost would be caught, putting the series to rest.
