Animation Guild

SPRING/SUMMER 2018 33 WHEN WILLIAM HANNA AND JOSEPH BARBERA PITCHED THE FLINTSTONES TO TV NETWORKS IN 1960, THE DUO'S CREATION WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE: AN ANIMATED PRIMETIME SERIES. WHILE INSPIRED BY THE HONEYMOONERS, THEIR STONE AGE-SET SITCOM HAD MUCH MORE THAN MARITAL HUMOR. IT HAD A VISUAL LANGUAGE THAT COULD ONLY BE CAPTURED VIA ANIMATION. "The Honeymooners had a lot of dialogue, but it was their expressions and [Art] Carney's attitude that made it work," Barbera once told the Television Academy. "Well, when you're doing an animation thing, you better go beyond that. You can't just have two people making faces at each other. You have to move them." The Flintstones more than moved people, it created its own world full of rich characters, beautiful imagery, and prehistoric puns that delighted both children and adults. The Flintstones was the first animated series to be nominated for an Emmy—in 1961, before there was even a category for animation. Explains Television Academy senior vice president John Leverence, the field at the 13th Emmys ceremony was wide. "The Flintstones was nominated in the Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Humor category along with a sitcom (Andy Griffith Show), a hybrid variety- sitcom series (Jack Benny Show), a variety special (Bob Hope Buick Show), and a structured reality show (Candid Camera) —quite a hodge-podge." It wasn't until 1979 that the Television Academy created a category to honor animated programs, and nearly three decades later it created one to honor short-form animated programs. "What makes great work? Fantastic storytelling, compelling visuals, and touching the heart of the viewers in a way that is genuine and captivating," says Academy Governor and TAG member Jill Daniels, "The Academy historically champions work that is groundbreaking and innovative in medium and content. That is a golden thread that runs through Emmy-winning animated programming created at any time for audiences of all ages." Through that lens, we look back at eight Emmy-nominated and -winning TV animated series. Looking back at eight Primetime Emmy honorees across the last half century

• Cover
• PRESIDENT'S LETTER
• EDITOR'S NOTE
• ART & CRAFTAko Castuera's dynamic ceramics
• AFTER HOURS DWA's Abarcaon the sweet sideof animation
• IN PRODUCTION How Paradise, P.D.runs its show
• ON THE JOB Character Designers at different studios
• SPACE INVADERS Get lost in Ben Balistreri's home studio
• PERSPECTIVE Surviving pixel vision
• DIALOGUE Artists onthe show that inspired them
• THE LOCAL Color Stylists ask for your support, our convention delegates
• SOCIAL HOURT oasting our members around town
• MUSIC IN MOTION For Cosmo Segurson, his Nickelodeon short, The Prince and Mr. Whiskers, brings together influences from hispast. Inspired by hot jazz, 1930'scartoons and his father, he creates amusical battle in a stop-motion world.
• AND THE WINNER IS…We look back at eight Primetime Emmy winners over the last five decades, highlighting shows that impacted the industry. From The Flintstones to SpongeBob SquarePants, these unforgettable characters continue to live on.
• INTO THE NIGHT How do you design a summer vacation film without sunlight? That was one big challenge for the production of Hotel Transylvania 3.Learn how the artists behind the filmcreated a bright destination for Dracand his family.