by Danielle Plato
It’s no secret that Universal Studios Florida has changed a lot since its opening in the 1990s. Some of my earliest memories of that park are of riding Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast. The ride effortlessly captured the absurdity of the Nickelodeon movie and subsequent television show from the early 2000s. I remember hearing that it was shutting down and that it would be replaced with a similar motion simulator ride based on the popular 2010 film Despicable Me.
That’s right. There was a time at Universal Studios before the Minions.
But while the change from Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius to an army of yellow, pill-shaped Minions may have been jarring for those who remember the switch, the origin of that attraction—largely unchanged from its original form—is even more odd than the Minions themselves.
The truth of the matter is that that very ride has existed since opening day at Universal Studios, eleven years before James Isaac Neutron made contact with the Yolkians. A simulator ride since its inception, little has changed since its early days, except for the video on the screen and the props in the queue. Back then, Universal Studios’ concept still hinged on dazzling guests with the art of entertainment: movie-making, special effects, and even the world of animation.
A ‘Funtastic’ Opening Day Attraction
The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera was the first attraction featured in Soundstage 42. It was a charming little romp through the world of animation and included some of Hanna-Barbera’s biggest names in cartoons at the time, some of which you can still find at the park, though most have faded into obscurity with the younger generations. Household names of classic cartoons like Dick Dastardly, Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, and The Jetsons all came together in an adventure not unlike the ride’s successors over the years, in which guests board the attraction and are treated to an approximately five-minute adventure through the various worlds that made the Hanna-Barbera company so successful. Guests got to fly through the prehistoric plains of Bedrock and explore a haunted castle alongside Scooby and the Gang as they raced to save Elroy Jetson from the evil Dick Dastardly—but that was only one part of the ride.
Every good attraction needs a good preshow to really set the stage, and The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera not only set up the haywire, cartoonish story that followed—but also introduced guests to the concept of the animation industry. While The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera more closely resembled Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast than its most recent successor, Minion Mayhem, the original preshow was a treat all its own. It blended live-action with animation, creating a world where the art and artists worked together to bring the cartoons people loved to life—quite literally, as Mr. Barbera himself draws Elroy Jetson to life right there on the page.
The Animators Behind the Animation
Hanna-Barbera animation, founded by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, was an industry giant throughout the mid-to-late 20th century. After co-creating popular characters for MGM’s cartoon studio, the two struck out to create their own studio and produced timeless favorites like The Jetsons, The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, Yogi Bear, and countless other productions with various franchises. Hanna-Barbera productions even included the original production of The Powerpuff Girls before production was handed over to the Cartoon Network.
The two animators even starred as themselves in the pre-show of this unique ride, detailing how animation was brought to life with the help of the emergent computer technology of the time. Mr. Hanna and Mr. Barbera are presented as artists and directors, reminding George and Jane Jetson to ‘take their scripts’ and telling a cast of animated characters that they’re wanted on stage, bringing a fantastical (or funtastical, if you will) element to the otherwise grounded explanation of how animation is produced.
A Rocket-Powered Rescue
This living animation concept is the crux of the ride, as Dick Dastardly kidnaps Elroy Jetson out of jealousy—citing that he should be the star of Hanna-Barbera’s next big project. And since Elroy is slated for the next project, Dastardly steals him away, prompting Yogi Bear to the rescue, along with all of the guests.
While Yogi loads all of the guests into one of the futuristic Jetsons rocket ships to chase after Dastardly, Boo Boo ponders what the rocket’s power source is. Hydro-biped antimatter?
Nope! A big ol’ rubber band.
And with that, the rocket shoots off into the colorful vortex that transports the guests into the world of Hanna-Barbera, taking them through some of the most famous locales in animation at the time. Scored by James S. Levine and featuring the voice talent of several Hanna-Barbera legends like Casey Kasem as Shaggy, Jeff Bergman as George Jetson, and Greg Burson as Yogi Bear, the inclusion of classic voice talent speaks to the high quality of the attraction.
While this ride may be retired and largely forgotten, it paved the way for some of Universal’s most memorable family-based attractions. The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera provided the perfect framework for Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast and the more recent Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem that can still be experienced at Universal Studios Florida today.
And while it may be a completely different experience, I think it’s safe to say that the ride we have today still holds a piece of Hanna-Barbera history in its framework. Its very existence is a monument to animation and forgotten attractions of Universal Studios past. The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera, one of Universal Studios’ first simulator rides, may be gone, but it’s certainly not forgotten!
Explore More: Videos
Hanna Barbera Ride – 1991 Universal Studios Florida
Impressive 3D Animated Digital Recreation of Ride
Explore More: Resources
- Info: The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera (IMDB)
- Attraction Archaeology: Extreme Ghostbusters – The Great Frightway (Theme Park Magazine)
- Attraction Archaeology: The Screen Test Home Video Adventure (Theme Park Magazine)
- Attraction Archaeology: Jaws at Universal Studios Florida (Theme Park Magazine)
- Attraction Archaeology: Unearthing Poseidon’s Fury (Theme Park Magazine)
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Danielle’s favorite stories have always been about magic and far-off adventures, and growing up in Orlando, Florida allowed her to experience those adventures in real life. As an adult, she graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2023 with a degree in Literature. Her inner child, however, still has a deep love for fairies, dragons, magic, and adventure. When not writing her next big adventure, she enjoys drawing, puzzle platformers, theme parks, and fast roller coasters.
The Attraction Archaeology column is published every other Thursday. #ThrowbackThursday
