The Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera

25. The Mane Feature

June, 1994

In the Funtastic World, all the Hanna-Barbera characters live in their own community, and don't usually make contact with characters from other studios.  But in Hollywood, where the Funtastic World sits, every cartoon studio has a place for its characters to live, and everyone hears about what each other is up to.  As toons, they see each other as equals, even if they work for rival studios.  Some even consider each other good friends.  And one thing they like to do is attend new animated movies when a studio brings a new one out.  In the summer of 1994, one particular Disney movie hit the big screen that had everyone talking!

It all started when Huckleberry Hound was at home, reading one of his favorite comics. When he got to a funny moment, he cracked up laughing.

“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” he chortled. “This comic is so funny!! In fact, it's HILARIOUS!!”

But he didn't see Wally Gator stop by and poke his head in through the open window. “What’s so funny, Huck?”

“Oh, hi, Wally! You should look at this! It's so funny!!”

Huck showed Wally the comic, and he too burst into a fit of laughter. And soon, the two were laughing together. They laughed and laughed until they felt their sides hurting, and they had to stop to catch their breaths.

“Hoo boy,” Huck sighed. My sides are aching from all that laughter. Wanna get some candy to cool off our little ol’ tonsils?”

“Sure!”

So, Huck stepped out of his house, and he and Wally started walking to the candy store. But when they arrived, they saw that they had chocolate bars for a movie!

“Hey!” Huck exclaimed. “What’s this?” Then he read the name of the movie. “The Lion King. Hey! Isn’t that the movie that just came out in the movies?”

“I think so!” Wally replied. “Everyone’s talking about it!”

That’s when they saw Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy standing at the counter, and they were also buying Lion King chocolate bars!

“Check it out!” Augie cried.  “They all have scenes right from the movie on them!”

Doggie Daddy chuckled.  “Now that’s pretty impressive!  What will they think of next?

When the two dogs turned to see Huck and Wally, they smiled when they saw that Huck was also buying the chocolate bars!

“Guess what, fellas?” Augie cried.  “We’re going to the movies!”

“Heh, heh, heh! That’s my boy who said that! We’re going to see the Lion King! Wanna come with us?”

“Oh, we’d love to!” Huck replied. “I love a good movie! Let’s ask the others if they wanna come too!”

So, Huck went to the nearest telephone, and dialed Desert Flower’s number.

“Hello?

“Desert Flower, it's me! I just found out about a new movie called the Lion King that just came out, and I was wondering if you'd like to come see it with us! Would you?”

“Why, yes!” Desert Flower replied. “I heard it just came out in the movies! I’d love to come see it with you!:

“Great!  Meet us at the local movie theater!  It starts at 5!”

“5 o’ clock.  Right.  I’ll meet you there then, Huck!  I look forward to it!”

“Okey dokey, artichokie!  See you then!”  Huck hung up the phone and smiled. “Oh boy! This is gonna be a great movie!”