William Hanna

Career overview

William Denby Bill Hanna was an American animator, director, producer, television director, television producer, and cartoon artist. Born on July 14, 1910, in Melrose, New Mexico, his movie and television cartoon characters entertained millions of fans worldwide for much of the twentieth century. When he was a young child, his family moved frequently before settling in Compton, California, by 1919. There, Hanna became an Eagle Scout and graduated from Compton High School in 1928. He briefly attended Compton City College before dropping out at the onset of the Great Depression.

After working odd jobs during the first months of the Depression, Hanna joined the Harman and Ising animation studio in 1930. Throughout his extensive career, he accumulated 532 known credits, with a primary focus on directing. His work in the animation industry spanned decades, establishing his legacy as a prominent figure in the creation of classic cinematic and television cartoons. Hanna passed away on March 22, 2001, at the age of ninety.