Warner Bros. Animation

The successor to Warner Bros. Cartoons, established on March 15, 1980, and the studio behind Animaniacs (1993–1998).

Warner Bros. Animation Inc., abbreviated as WBA, is an American animation studio established on March 15, 1980. It is the main animation division and label of Warner Bros., owned by its Television Group division. It is the successor to Warner Bros. Cartoons, which was active from 1933 to 1969, and it began regular television animation production in 1986. Hanna-Barbera, a studio acquired by Turner, was absorbed into it in March 2001.

Quick Facts

Founded

March 15, 1980

Founder

Hal Geer

Products

Television series
Feature films
Short films
Specials

Divisions

Cartoon Network Studios

Industry

Animation

Lore & Background

Beginning in 1986 the studio moved into regular television animation; its television division was set up by Jean MacCurdy, who brought in producer Tom Ruegger and much of his staff from Hanna-Barbera. This shift led to the creation of Tiny Toon Adventures in 1990, featuring young characters based on Looney Tunes stars, produced alongside Amblin Entertainment. The success paved the way for Animaniacs (1993–1998), followed by its spin-off Pinky and the Brain (1995–1998) and Freakazoid! (1995–1997).

These shows continued the Looney Tunes tradition of cartoon humor. The studio also developed DC Comics properties, including Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995), Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000), and Justice League/Justice League Unlimited (2001–2006). A 1993 theatrical feature, Mask of the Phantasm, performed poorly at the box office but found commercial success on home video. In 2003, Warner Bros. Television Animation was folded and merged with Warner Bros. Animation, and in 2004, after Looney Tunes: Back in Action under-performed at the box office, Warner Bros. Feature Animation was folded into the studio as well.

Reader's Guide

Warner Bros. Animation specializes in producing television and direct-to-video animation using characters from Warner Bros. Discovery properties. These include rights held by Turner Entertainment Co. (originally from MGM cartoons), Hanna-Barbera, Ruby-Spears, and DC Entertainment. The studio's history is marked by distinct eras: the 1980–1986 restart focused on compilation films and specials with veterans like Hal Geer and Friz Freleng; the 1986–1996 period saw a move into TV animation under Jean MacCurdy, yielding Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs; and the feature animation division (1990s) produced Space Jam, Quest for Camelot, The Iron Giant, Osmosis Jones, and Looney Tunes: Back in Action.

Following the failure of Back in Action in 2003, Feature Animation was folded into WBA in 2004, leaving the studio to focus on television and direct-to-video projects until Looney Tunes returned to theaters with Space Jam: A New Legacy in 2021.

Did You Know?

Darrell Van Citters worked at Warner Bros. on newer Bugs Bunny shorts before leaving in 1992 to form Renegade Animation.
The soundtrack of Quest for Camelot (1998), including the song 'The Prayer', earned an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe win.
Hanna-Barbera was absorbed into Warner Bros. Animation in March 2001 following the merger of Turner Broadcasting System with Time Warner.