Women In Animation

by Shannon Muir

2006 saw the passing of Joe Barbera, half of the animation legacy of Hanna-Barbera, without whom many great women - and men - might not have gotten their breaks in the biz. With the great assistance of Sander Schwartz and Warner Bros. Animation (who now own Hanna-Barbera), Women in Animation honored that legacy at Warner Bros. Animation in Sherman Oaks while taking care of a little bit of business.

As a nonprofit corporation, WIA is required to elect a board of officers, all of whom came into office with an overwhelming majority. The same could be said of the two ballot measures embracing the international growth of WIA as well as removing the longstanding two-sponsor requirement for membership, according to Administrator Mary Ellen Thomas.

A wide selection of finger foods and cheesecakes, with beverages ranging from coffee to tea to water, came courtesy of Frederator Studios in New York. WIA founder Rita Street “channeled” (in now-former President Jan Nagel’s terms) a message from Fred Seibert, owner of Frederator and last President of Hanna-Barbera. He spoke of being part of a legacy to live inside people for a lifetime to come.

A detailed account of the Hanna-Barbera panel event will follow in a separate blog post.