What if William Hanna and Joseph Barbera never left MGM?

Note: This theory was originally written on the New Idea Central Wiki.
MGM decided in mid-1957 to close its cartoon studio, as it felt it had acquired a reasonable backlog of shorts for re-release. While contemplating their future, Hanna and Barbera began producing additional animated television commercials.During their last year at MGM, they had developed a concept for a new animated TV program about a cat and a dog.
After they failed to convince the studio to back their venture, live-action director George Sidney, who had worked with Hanna and Barbera on several of his theatrical features for MGM, offered to serve as their business partner and convinced Screen Gems to make a deal with the producers. A coin toss gave Hanna precedence in naming the new studio. Harry Cohn, president and head of Columbia Pictures, took an 18% ownership in their new company, H-B Enterprises, and provided working capital.
Screen Gems became the new distributor and its licensing agent, handling merchandizing of the characters from the animated programs as the cartoon firm officially opened for business in rented offices on the lot of Kling Studios (formerly Charlie Chaplin Studios) on July 7, 1957, one year after the MGM animation studio closed. but What if William Hanna and Joseph Barbera never left MGM?
Here's what might have happened.
This theory is interconnected to What if Paramount kept the rights to Buzzy the Crow, Herman and Katnip, Little Audrey, Modern Madcaps, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Baby Huey, Tommy Tortoise and Moe Hare?
== Changes ==
* William Hanna and Joseph Barbera would stay at MGM.
* Taft Broadcasting Company would acquire Archie Comics in 1967.
* Turner Broadcasting System would acquire Best Brains in 1993.
** Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie would be distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer instead of Gramercy Pictures.
* Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation would be remain open after 2002.
** All Hanna-Barbera and Cartoon Network shows would be co-produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation.
* Taft Broadcasting Company would not sell MGM Records to PolyGram.
* MGM Grand Hotel and Casino would not get sold by Bally Manufacturing and renamed Bally's Las Vegas.
* The 1965 MGM vault fire would never happen.
* The original Hanna-Barbera would still exist.
** Due to Warner Bros. via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's ownership of Hanna-Barbera, Hanna-Barbera would've remained open as Warner Bros.' sister animation studio.
*** Hanna-Barbera Productions becomes WB's sister animation studio, which makes their 50s cartoons on par with the latest theatrical shorts at the time. This means that the writing and drawing are both on par with each other.
**** Hanna-Barbera Productions becomes WB's sister animation studio, which makes their 50s cartoons on par with the latest theatrical shorts at the time. This means that the writing and drawing are both on par with each other.
** Hanna-Barbera made classic cartoons with the characters again instead of trying diet.
** Franchises created under Hanna-Barbera in the late 1990s such as Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, and The Powerpuff Girls are considered part of the Hanna-Barbera family, along with other modern franchises including The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, and Steven Universe and etc.
**Hanna-Barbera has continued to produce new productions based on new and existing properties.
** Many IPs that were abandoned by Hanna-Barbera are still ongoing.
** Tom and Jerry would still be mascots of MGM.
** Tom and Jerry would wear tuxedos in 1984 due to MGM's 60th Anniversary celebration later in 1994 due to MGM's 70th Anniversary celebration later in 1999 due to MGM's 75th Anniversary celebration later in 2004 due to MGM's 80th Anniversary celebration later in 2009 due to MGM's 85th Anniversary celebration later in 2014 due to MGM's 90th Anniversary celebration and now in 2024 due to MGM's centennial celebration.
** MGM would make more theatrical cartoons until 1978 when MGM decided to end theatrical cartoons for good in 1978.
* Hanna-Barbera Australia is still active, and Cartoon Network Studios Europe was still renamed to Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe in 2001.
* The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera was hosted at Warner Bros. Movie World California since 2003; it's also still active to this day, with new characters added over the years.
** A clone of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera would have operated at Warner Bros. Jungle Habitat since , 2003.
** A clone of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera would have operated at Six Flags Great Adventure from 2004 to 2017 replacing
** A clone of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera would have operated at Six Flags Over Texas from 2004 to 2012 replacing
** A clone of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera would have operated at Warner Bros. Movie World since September 17, 2005.
** A clone of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera would have operated at Warner Bros. Movie World London since , 2006.
** A clone of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera would have operated at Warner Bros. Movie World Madrid (under the name of La Aventura de Yogui) since , 2007.
** A clone of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera would have operated at Six Flags Great America from 2008 to 2017 replacing Space Shuttle America.
** A clone of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera would have operated at Warner Bros. Movie World Germany since May 27, 2008.
** A clone of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera would have operated at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi since July 25, 2018.
* Taft Broadcasting Company would acquire Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1966.
** Taft Broadcasting Company would still acquired and folded into Turner Broadcasting System in 1986.
*** Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer would stay separate from Warner Bros. in 1996.
*** Amazon wouldn't acquire MGM at all in 2022.
*** WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. would not merge to form Warner Bros. Discovery in 2022 due to Cable Educational Network Inc. being acquired by Matsushita Electric (parent company of MCA) in 1993.
** United Artists would be remain open after 2023.
*** United Artists would keep it's pre-1952 library.
*** Taft Broadcasting Company would still acquire Transamerica Corporation (who owned United Artists at the time) in 1981.
*** As a result United Artists would be become part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1981.
*** Annapurna Pictures would not exist, having their films produced and distributed by United Artists.
** Samuel Goldwyn Productions would be remain open after 1959.
*** Samuel Goldwyn Productions would've been renamed as The Samuel Goldwyn Company in 1978.
*** Metromedia would acquire The Samuel Goldwyn Company in 1988 after Metromedia sold its television stations to News Corporation in 1985.
*** Time Warner would acquire The Samuel Goldwyn Company from Metromedia in 1997.
*** The Samuel Goldwyn Company would've been renamed as Samuel Goldwyn Films in 2000.
** MGM Home Entertainment would remain open after 2005 or 2019.
** Tom and Jerry: The Movie would be produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer instead of Miramax Films.
*
* Boomerang was expanded as a cable channel; it still focuses on classic theatrical shorts and animated series from Warner Bros. and MGM animated shows, Amblimation/Warner Bros's animated shows, Hanna-Barbera, DC, MGM, Cartoon Network, and Teletoon with series from the 1990s and 2000s also being shown.
*
* Teen Titans Go!, Dance Pantsed, the 2016 Powerpuff Girls and Ben 10 reboots, the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs show, 2017's Wacky Races, Total DramaRama, Taffy, ThunderCats Roar, Yabba-Dabba Dinosaurs, Mindy Kaling's Velma and Powerpuff (the cancelled live-action Powerpuff Girls TV series intended for The CW) wouldn't exist while OK K.O.: Let's Be Heroes, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? and 2019's DC Super Hero Girls were all renewed for more additional seasons and continuing to air to this day.
**
* The Powerpuff Girls Movie would perform much better at the box office.
* Cartoon Network Productions would still use its logo for post-April 2019 releases in United States and post-April 9, 2021 internationally.
* More Cartoon Network shows (such as Megas XLR, The Life and Times of Juniper Lee, Camp Lazlo, and Squirrel Boy) would appear on Max
* Evil Con Carne would've have been cancelled in 2007 rather than 2004.
* Tig N’ Seek and the first season of The Fungies! would air on Cartoon Network instead of HBO Max.
** Summer Camp Island and Infinity Train would've stayed on Cartoon Network instead being moved to HBO Max.
* Right Now Kapow, Green Eggs and Ham, and Animaniacs (2020), would air on Cartoon Network instead of Disney XD, Netflix and Hulu respectively.
* Spencer Breslin and Dakota Fanning would've still voiced Lil' D and Kim Chin in Class of 3000, instead being replaced by Small Fire and Janice Kawaye (which she still voiced Kam Chin).
** Kam Inc. and Two to Tango would've aired on United States.
** Class of 3000 would've split into two episodes, making one episodes will get shorter and moved to new episodes that's nonexistent.
** Class of 3000 would've have a shorts as part of Cartoon Network's New Media Shorts.
** Despite Class of 3000 still ending in 2008, Timothy McGee would not sue Andre 3000, its show and Cartoon Network at all.
* Out of Jimmy's Head and its television movie, Re-Animated would’ve been entirely traditionally-animated instead of traditionally-animated and live-action hybrid.
** It would’ve been critically and commercially successful.
*** Some scenes in "Re-Animated" are toned down in the alternate reality version.
* A few non-existent shows will take place of some of the shows that are poorly-received, with the years that Cartoon Network didn't air original shows being 2009 and 2020.
** Because of this, Cartoon Network wouldn't make live-action shows, mainly focusing on original animated series.
** Imagine if CN Real never existed at all.
*** This would result in the original Noods branding still used until the era ending.
*** Since CN Real never happens, Craig McCracken is still at Cartoon Network and Hanna Barbera, were he produces Wander Over Yonder as he originally envisioned it.
* Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi Season 4, Sunday Pants Season 2 and Sym-Bionic Titan Season 3 would've been produced.
* The Hanna-Barbera Land theme park in the Spring, Texas, United States, north of Houston wouldn't close after 1985.
**As a result, the park would be sold to Paramount in 1992 along with the rest of the Taft Broadcasting Parks.
**Paramount Parks would close the Hanna-Barbera Land theme park in the Spring, Texas, United States, north of Houston in 2003 and replace it with Nickelodeon Central in 2004. The park would later get renamed to Nickelodeon Universe in 2009.
* Shows like Wabbit/New Looney Tunes, The Tom & Jerry Show, Bunnicula, Wacky Races (2017), Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? and Yabba-Dabba Dinosaurs would’ve stayed on Cartoon Network instead of being moved to Boomerang.
* The 2 rejected pilots, Thrillseeker, and King Crab would have made into official Cartoon Network series in the early 2000s respectively.
* J. G. Quintel's Regular Show would've be aired on Adult Swim instead due to its adult content. Close Enough would be also aired on Adult Swim while remaining as a TBS original series.
** Same goes for Secret Mountain Fort Awesome and The Problem Solverz.
*** However, Secret Mountain Fort Awesome spinoff Uncle Grandpa would still air on Cartoon Network.
* Over the Garden Wall and Long Lives the Royals would've been full series instead of miniseries.
* "Deja View", The Powerpuff Girls comic featuring The Powerpunk Girls and Jomo Momo, would be produced as a TV show episode and aired on August 22, 2003.
* The Smurfs (2011) would have changes:
** Make the movie traditionally 2D animated with 3DCG effects on a few of the characters and some of the backgrounds for perspective camera shots.
** Have the plot focus more on the Smurfs, Gargamel and the human village.
** Remove Modern-day New York City and Neil Patrick Harris.
** Eliminate the pop songs, rap songs, pop culture references and toilet humor.
** Make the film truer to the source material.
** Have the film produced by MGM Animation and Hanna-Barbera and distributed by MGM instead of Sony.
*** And make the opening logos, the MGM logo in white and blue.
* The Smurfs 2 (2013) would have changes:
** Like the good version of the first film, make it 2D animated with CGI effects on a few characters and some backgrounds for perspective camera shots.
** Have the plot focus more on the Smurfs, Gargamel, the Naughties and the human village.
** Remove Modern-day New York City, Modern-day Paris and Neil Patrick Harris.
** Remove the pop songs, rap songs, pop culture references and potty humor.
** Make the film truer to the source material.
** Have the film produced by MGM Animation and Hanna-Barbera and distributed by MGM instead of Sony.
*** And make the opening logos, the MGM logo is white and blue.
* Smurfs: The Lost Village would have changes:
** Don't use every modern teen slang in the character dialogue, filler, and predictable plot points.
** It follows the comics more.
** Don't use pop songs, as it doesn't fit in the Middle Ages.
** Have Smurfette explain where she came from.
** Use American and Canadian cartoon voice artists for most of the characters, instead of celebrities.
** Make the plot a little more serious, darker, and more faithful to the source material.
** Have the film produced by MGM Animation, Hanna-Barbera and Amblimation and distributed by MGM instead of Sony.
* In the AU version of The Banana Splits Movie:
** It would be a theatrical musical comedy film by Warner Bros. Pictures under Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer instead of a TV horror comedy parody one by SYFY.
** The Banana Splits would be humans in costumes, like their previous incarnations, instead of animatronics (since they are actually played by human actors).
*** Fleegle, Bingo, and Drooper would remain as silly slapstick animals who were funny and friendly, like Snorky.
*** Jim Cummings would play as Fleegle, Eric Bauza would still play as Bingo, and Carlos Alazraqui would continue to play as Drooper.
*** The Splits would strongly resemble their previous incarnations. Example: Fleegle is light greenish brown and wears shoes, Bingo has as much black hair as he had in the shows and is barefoot, and Drooper has normal sized eyes.
**** Also, Fleegle and Drooper's nostrils wouldn't be visible.
*** The Splits would be friendly to people instead of murdering them.
**** Bingo would hug Andy instead of kidnapping him.
**** Drooper would give Stevie a real lollipop instead of shoving a prop lollipop down Stevie's throat.
**** Snorky wouldn't run Mitch over with a Banana Buggy nor attack Bingo.
**** Fleegle would actually do the saw magic trick by putting Thadd and Poppy on each half of the saw box and sawing it into halves instead of brutally sawing him in half.
**** Drooper would spend a lot of time with Jonathan at the fire pit instead of burning his face.
**** Fleegle would give Jonathan a blue key instead of stabbing him on the back with it.
**** Drooper would teach Rebecca how to build instead of smashing her with the hammer.
**** Fleegle and Drooper would tickle Andy instead of tearing his limbs.
**** Bingo would teach Doug how to drum instead of poking his eyes with the drumsticks.
*** The Splits would be more consistent in movements, meaning they would move like normal people instead of athletic ones nor cheap toy robots from dollar stores.
** The human male characters would be portrayed as nice boyfriends/husbands instead of cheaters and unlikeable sexist twits.
** The special effects fire would be even better.
** Harley and Austin would be side characters of the film.
** Duncan wouldn't be sick and would join The Williams Family and Zoe on the live taping.
** On the poster and cover, Bingo would hold a clapboard instead of an axe while Drooper has a scarf instead of sharp teeth.
*** Also, the poster and cover would be set outside of Taft Studios.
*** The tagline would be "Tra La La Magic on the Big Screen."
** Dick Dastardly and Muttley would be antagonists of the film.
*** Also, Hooty would be an animatronic owl instead and would be Dastardly's new invention.
** HDTV sets and cellphones would be replaced with replicas of analog TV sets and telephones in order to regard past events.
** Karl would be replaced with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, since they created the Splits and not Karl.
** Magical stars and pixie dust would appear in this film.
** Most of the plot holes would be fixed.
*** Bingo return to the stage few seconds later after hugging Andy instead of attacking him and being on stage the same time.
*** The doors to Andy's room would be closed and locked by Andy himself instead of the doors themselves.
*** Mitch wouldn't give a phone to Paige nor pulling out when leaving Taft Studios.
*** Drooper wouldn't try to choke Beth.
*** Bingo, Drooper, and Snorky wouldn't roar if things aren't silly enough.
** The entire Banana Splits film would feel like the original show instead of Five Nights at Freddy's.
** It would have more songs than "Tra La La Song."
** The film's rating would be changed from R to PG.
** It would be part of HBCU
* Megas XLR would've premiered on Fridays on April 30, 2004, rather then premiered on Toonami on May 1, 2004 and would've have ended on July 13, 2007 rather than January 15, 2005.
* The 2021 revival of Cartoon Cartoons would still exist as well, but instead of being short programs, it would've have a TV channel featuring 1990s and 2000s Cartoon Network shows along with Hanna-Barbara, Warner Bros Animation and others.
* With Adult Swim taking over Cartoon Network late night schedule, the 2010s and 2020s Cartoon Network shows will appear as being called Modern Cartoon Cartoons.
* Many shows wouldn't have gotten screwed over to Cartoon Cartoons because of low ratings.
* Both Cartoon Network and Cartoonito would not close down in Spain.
* Jetsons: The Movie was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Hanna-Barbera Cartoons instead of Universal.
* New Line Cinema would keep RHI Entertainment after 1994.
** Time Warner via New Line Cinema would buy Hallmark Cards in 1994.
*** Time Warner via New Line Cinema via RHI Entertainment and Hallmark Cards would form Hallmark Entertainment in 1994.
*** Hallmark Cards would handle Rainbow Brite better.
**** The reboots would have changes.
***** The 2009 reboot:
***** Feeln TV series:
****** It would remain faithful to the original series.
****** Rainbow wouldn't be a genki-girl with a valley-girl stereotype.
****** Twink would still be renamed, but using the name "Twinkle" instead of "Mr. Glitters".
****** The theme song would have their lyrics rewritten.
****** The animation remain the same.
****** It would have 4 season and 20 episodes each instead of 1 season and 3 episodes.
****** The series would be succesful.
******* As a result, the series wouldn't be removed from Hallmark Movies Now.
* The Adult Swim layoffs of November 2020 never happened, and the livestreams are still produced, with Williams Street West and Williams Street East still in operation. Also, Mike Lazzo was dismissed in 2013, with Tim explaining that "he was a dinosaur".
==Films==
==Television==
=== Animated ===
==== Warner Bros. Animation ====
==== Cartoon Network ====
* The Moxy Show (1993-1995)
* Space Ghost: Coast to Coast (1994-2001)
* What a Cartoon! (1995-1997)
* Dexter's Laboratory (1996-2003)
* Johnny Bravo (1997-2004)
* Cow and Chicken (1997-1999)
* I Am Weasel (1997-2000)
* The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2005)
* Ed, Edd n Eddy (1999-2009)
* Yuckie Duck (1999-2006)
* Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999-2002)
* Mike, Lu & Og (1999-2001)
* King Crab (2000-2003)
* Sheep in the Big City (2000-2002)
* Time Squad (2001-2003)
* Thrillseeker (2001-2005)
* Samurai Jack (2001-2004)
* Grim & Evil (2001-2003)
* Whatever Happened to... Robot Jones? (2002-2003)
* Codename: Kids Next Door (2002-2008)
* The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (2003-2007)
* Evil Con Carne (2003-2007)
* Megas XLR (2004-2007)
* Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (2004-2009)
* Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi (2004-2007)
* The Life and Times of Juniper Lee (2005-2006)
* Camp Lazlo (2005-2008)
* Sunday Pants (2005-2006)
* My Gym Partner's a Monkey (2005-2008)
* Ben 10 (2005-2008)
* Squirrel Boy (2006-2007)
* Class of 3000 (2006-2008)
* Out of Jimmy's Head (2007-2011)
* Chowder (2007-2010)
* Ben 10: Alien Force (2008-2010)
* The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack (2008-2010)
* The Secret Saturdays (2008-2010)
* Frooties (2009-2012)
* Underfist (2009-2014)
* Mix-Up Critters (2009-2011)
* Ben 10: Ultimate Alien (2010-2012)
* Generator Rex (2010-2013)
* Sym-Bionic Titan (2010-2011)
* Robotomy (2010-2011)
* The Amazing World of Gumball (2011-2019)
* Ben 10: Omniverse (2012-2014)
* Wander Over Yander (2013-2016)
* Uncle Grandpa (2013-2017)
* Steven Universe (2013-2019)
* Mixels (2014-2016)
* Clarence (2014-2018)
* Over the Garden Wall (2014-2019)
* We Bare Bears (2015-2019)
* Long Live the Royals (2015-2018)
* Mighty Magiswords (2016-2019)
* Right Now Kapow (2016-2017)
* OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes (2017-present)
* Apple & Onion (2018-2021)
* Craig of the Creek (2018-present)
* Summer Camp Island (2018-2023)
* Victor and Valentino (2019-2022)
* Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (2019-present)
* Infinity Train (2019-2021)
* Steven Universe Future (2019-2020)
* Tig n' Seek (2020-2022)
* The Fungies! (2020-2021)
* Elliott from Earth (2021-present)
* We Baby Bears (2022-present)
* The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe (2023-present)
=== Live-action ===
==Video games==
==Other media==
Category:What if? ideas