 Through his young adult years , Barbera lived , attended college , and began his career in New York City . After working odd jobs and as a banker , Barbera joined Van Beuren Studios in 1932 and subsequently Terrytoons in 1936 . In 1937 , he moved to California and while working at Metro @-@ Goldwyn @-@ Mayer ( MGM ) , Barbera met William Hanna . The two men began a collaboration that was at first best known for producing Tom and Jerry and live action / animated hybrid films . In 1957 , after MGM dissolved their animation department , they co @-@ founded Hanna @-@ Barbera , which became the most successful television animation studio in the business , producing programs such as The Flintstones , Yogi Bear , Scooby @-@ Doo , Top Cat , The Smurfs , Huckleberry Hound and The Jetsons . In 1967 , Hanna @-@ Barbera was sold to Taft Broadcasting for $ 12 million , but Hanna and Barbera remained head of the company until 1991 . At that time , the studio was sold to Turner Broadcasting System , which in turn was merged with Time Warner , owners of Warner Bros. , in 1996 ; Hanna and Barbera stayed on as advisors . 
