 Barbera and Hanna were also among the first animators to realize the enormous potential of television . Leonard Maltin says the Hanna – Barbera team " held a record for producing consistently superior cartoons using the same characters year after year — without a break or change in routine their characters are not only animated superstars , but also a very beloved part of American pop culture " . They are often considered Walt Disney 's only rivals in cartoon animation . 
