Inspirations

Many Hanna-Barbera characters and cartoons were inspired by real-life people, live-action TV shows, theatrical films, old radio shows and comic strips.
Huckleberry Hound is inspired by the neighbor of Daws Butler's wife Myrtis Martin in Albemarle, North Carolina, although it is rumored that Huck is to be similar to comedic actor and TV producer Andy Griffith.
Mr. Jinks was an impersonation of actor Marlon Brando Jr.
Quick Draw McGraw's alter-ego, El Kabong, is inspired by Zorro, played by Douglas Fairbanks Sr.
Snooper is inspired by the character of Archie, played by Ed Gardner, in the radio show Duffy's Tavern.
The Flintstones is a prehistoric version of The Honeymooners.
Yogi Bear is based on the character of Ed Norton, played by Art Carney, from The Honeymooners (in terms of design, mannerism and clothing).
Snagglepuss is an impersonation of actor Bert Lahr, specifically his character of the Cowardly Lion in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. His characterization was later reused for both Mudsy Muddlemore in The Funky Phantom and Brutus the Lion in The Roman Holidays.
Both Hokey Wolf and Top Cat are similar to Phil Silvers' character in The Phil Silvers Show (AKA You'll Never Get Rich and Sgt. Bilko), while Hokey's sidekick Ding-a-Ling is based on Buddy Hackett.
The Jetsons is a futuristic version of the comic strip Blondie, with Penny Singleton, the original actress to portray Blondie, as the voice of Jane Jetson. In addition, Rosey was modeled after Hazel, the housekeeper played by Shirley Booth.
Wally Gator is an emulation of actor and comedian Ed Wynn.
Jonny Quest was inspired by both Terry and the Pirates and Jack Armstrong. In fact, the sequence of two men fleeing from natives on their hovercraft is from the promotional film for an animated Jack Armstrong series.
The Secret Squirrel Show was a spoof of the 1960s spy genre, particularly the James Bond movies.
The Hillbilly Bears was inspired by rural sitcoms on CBS, such as The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres.
Frankenstein Jr. was inspired by the Japanese series Gigantor and Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot.
The Impossibles was originally intended to be an animated series for the Beach Boys, a popular rock 'n' roll band of the 1960s.
Space Ghost is similar to the live-action Batman series, which had premiered on ABC several months earlier.
Birdman may have been inspired by Hawkman.
The Galaxy Trio was very much like Star Trek.
The Herculoids was inspired by Tarzan.
Mighty Mightor is often considered a prehistoric version of Marvel Comics' The Mighty Thor.
Moby Dick has more in common with Flipper than with Herman Melville's novel.
Wacky Races was inspired by the 1965 comedy film The Great Race.
Dastardly & Muttley in Their Flying Machines was inspired by Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines.
The Perils of Penelope Pitstop was modeled after The Perils of Pauline.
Scooby Doo Where Are You! was a combination of I Love a Mystery and The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.
Both Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch! and Pound Puppies have similar plots to the CBS sitcom Hogan's Heroes.
Wait till Your Father Gets Home was inspired by All in the Family.
Speed Buggy was inspired by both Disney's Herbie the Love Bug movies and the anime Speed Racer.
Devlin was inspired by stunt performer Evel Knievel.
These Are the Days was inspired by the historical drama series The Waltons.
Hong Kong Phooey was inspired by the TV series Kung Fu and the martial arts movies of the early 1970s.
The unsold concept The Blackstones, which would have been about Bedrock's first African-American family, was inspired by the success of Good Times and The Jeffersons.
Mumbly is a canine version of Columbo, while his boss, Chief Shnooker, resembles Theo Kojak, the detective played on CBS by Telly Savalas.
Jabberjaw was inspired by the 1975 film Jaws.
Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics was inspired by ABC's Wide World of Sports and Battle of the Network Stars.
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels and CB Bears both took partial inspiration from Charlie's Angels. CB Bears was also Hanna-Barbera's attempt to capitalize on the fad of citizens band radio.
Heyyy, It's the King! is an all-animal variant of Happy Days.
The Wonder Twins, Zan and Jayna, physically resemble Donny and Marie Osmond, and even engage in similar banter.
Drak Pack has some similarities to the live-action show The Monster Squad, which aired on NBC four years earlier.
Trollkins was a combination of Smurfs and The Dukes of Hazzard.
The unproduced concept Hanna-Barbera Babies, which would have featured infant versions of classic Hanna-Barbera characters from the 1960s and 1970s, appears to have been inspired by Jim Henson's Muppet Babies.
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