Defunctland: The History of the Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera 

Thanks everyone for an amazing season! Full episodes will be back in early 2018, and look forward to some minisodes soon. Also, there will be a podcast episode next week discussing the future of Defunctland!

I was the art director for this ride, the later Jimmy Neutron ride and parts of Jetsons The Movie. You’ve left out a lot of really interesting history for this ride. If you are interested in doing an update, I’d be happy to share my experiences of the key contributors, the trials and tribulations and the animation milestones that made this an historical attraction. Also I have a digital master from the original negative.

OMG those birds singing the Flinstones theme song would've driven me crazy

I'd describe it as a ride that was allowed to live out its life and die gracefully, rather than being killed off prematurely.

In a lot of ways, the Hanna-Barbera ride was like HB's cartoons: serviceable, consistent, comfortable enough for anyone to enjoy, and widely distributed.

The blend of CGI and animation on this ride looks gorgeous for the time. I wish the Simpsons ride looked like this instead of just being full cgi

Because this attraction was so close to the entrance I'll bet 80% - 90% of guests made this their first ride. I'm sure this was the first ride I rode back in '91 when my girlfriend and I visited. Great first impression and was a favorite til they closed it. Hard to believe it's still delivering fun as Despicable Me and still puts smiles on faces 30 years later.

This was a great one to end on. Not plagued by breakdowns, lawsuits, money issues, etc. Just a beloved attraction that was showing its age and given a retirement where it could travel the country.

Did anyone else think the birds "singing" the flintstone's theme sound like slowed down Crash Bandicoot going Whoaaa?

Infinity War is the most ambitious crossover event in history. Defunctland: (talks about The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera.)

HA. I actually got an ad for Universal Studios in the middle of this with the main tagline being "You won't believe how much we've changed". Well congratulations RU-vid ad algorithm, you finally got something right! That was the most fitting ad ever.

As a huge animation junkie, this ride looks really fun. I wish I could have experienced it.

At 5:51 a little kid grabs Fred Flintstone's arm, but Fred ignores him and keeps walking. Lmao!

I remember liking this ride so much I went on it multiple times. But yeah, that promotional video. I don't think I've ever seen something fun delivered in such an unfun way. Guy sounds like he's explaining cartoons as part of a parole deal.

Kevin, tbh Defunctland has gotten me thru my first semester at college. Thanks for the great videos!

Sullivan-Bluth Studios would not “go on” to make An American Tail. They were making their fifth movie, Rock-A-Doodle, at the time of making the ride. An American Tail was their second movie.

6:05 "Become a rock age, rockstar!"....that while the sound of the animatronics birds it's the sound of impending doom...

I think Six Flags needs some love in Season 2, they have some interesting stories.........and failures

Gotta say, this is perhaps some of the best quality content on RU-vid. Your videos just keep getting better and better. I'm really glad to have been a subscriber to this channel almost since the beginning, and I'm really looking forward to the next season.

Watched this season in 2 sittings. My dad took us on an east coast tour of amusement parks in 01/02. Lots of arguments between the 4 siblings...but this brought me back. Calling my dad now to thank him. Thanks for this!

Let's get Defunctland 100k subs by early 2018.

"It's a Small World" Composer: I have made the most annoying some ever! Flintstones theme singing birds: I'm about to ruin this guy's career.

Star Trek The Experience would be perfect for a Defunctland episode in the future as it would be its own part of the park.

I grew up in Minnesota and went to the Mall of America fairly often. I remember going on this ride when I was in middle school, when the ride was briefly there. The theme park at the time was called "The Park at MOA," in between the times of "Camp Snoopy" and "Nickelodeon Universe"s operations. You should do a video or podcast on the history of the theme park space in Mall of America!

I’m so excited that you specified this to be the season finale, not the finale of the series!! Thank you for the first season of intricately produced and infinitely engaging Defunctland episodes and podcasts! I can’t wait to see more ;)

5:55 is that A crash Bandicoot remix of flinstones (woah * no pun intended * it's been that long I've been watching since the second episode )

9:53 E.T.'s response to Universal trying to shut down his ride (2017, colorized)

I just binged your entire 1st season today, what a great use of my time :) I know since this is late, no 1 will probably see this, but I love this ride because my parents took my family on vacation to Orlando, and we went to Universal Studios 1st, when we walked in the park, this was the 1st ride we saw so we got on. I've always loved Hanna-Barbera so I loved this ride, plus it was my 1st ride at a major theme park so it really holds a special place in my heart

5:38 GRAND DAD?! FLEENSTONES?!

This was MY ride back in like 1989/1990 when I could barely speak. This brought back a really warm feeling and happy memories, thank you.

I rode this ride back in 91 when I was 8 years old, on the same trip through Florida we went to Universal, Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios, Epcot Center, Sea World and Six Flags in Tampa, riding Back to the Future, Body Wars, Star Tours, The Muppets 3D and many others. So sad it is gone now but hopefully I go to Florida in the near future and go on Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, the ride's spiritual sequel.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS RIDE!! I went on it a few times,way back when and it was just SO MUCH FUN! Great gift store at the end. When the Scooby Doo theme came on full blast during his scenes...so cool!

A defunctland video is like a miniature Christmas! If not, the only Christmas!

Man, this was my favorite ride at Universal, hands down, as a kid. Rode it probably countless times, and I loved seeing the original animators at the beginning. Subsequently, I've probably done Jimmy Neutron once, and Minions never. Putting in a suggestion for Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies, if it's in the cards for 2018!

I feel I must request the Great Movie Ride for next season!! Pretty please?

Hm, there was a time where Don Bluth’s studio animated Hanna-Barbera characters. Pretty interesting

I really appreciate every single video you make KP. You’ve helped me relive a lot of attractions that have disappeared since I last got to see them when I was a child.

Whenever I hear the Flintstones theme now, all I think of is Grand Dad. The memes have encased every fiber of my being now.

I rode this at Universal in 1999. I loved (and still love) simulator rides to this day because of this and Star Tours. I remember, vaguely I might add, the after ride game room where you had the computer screens that let you animate, add sound to, and control various scenes from classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons. Until around 10 years ago I was able to ride this again at Dollywood, another favorite theme park. It was still fun, but didn't contain any of the interactive animated studio for the after ride entertainment.

I've been to Florida twice in my life (I'm not from that continent) and this is a ride I remember us going on. I don't know if it was closed the second time (was the early 2000's), but I still recall it being a very enjoyable family ride regardless. I had no idea this series was supposed to have seasons though; the other episodes don't have numbers in their titles.

6:00 Yeaaaaah! Shake dat, Yogi!

Since no one has made the reference yet, I will. GRAND DAD!!! FLINTSTONES?!

A great video to watch before bed. I really enjoy this series, and I hope this rides successor jimmy neutrons nicktoons blast ends up here one day, it was the first ride I ever rode at universal and I’m very nostalgic for it as I was a huge jimmy neutron and nicktoon fan as a kid

I remember this being my favorite theater ride at Kentucky Kingdom when I was a kid!

Nice review of a ride that lasted a long time and was mostly operated with few issues. Very true it shared the same technology with Back to the Future when the park originally opened - biggest difference is that the animation was much easier to put together than the short film needed for Back to the Future to work (using models and other effects to make it work). Growing up in Florida in the late 1980s this park (Universal Studios: Florida) was an interesting alternative to Disney World. Today, with the modernization of the park it is a far more formidable competitor to those earlier days (notwithstanding the continued existence of ET the ride). When that goes, the oldest ride left I believe will be Terminator 2.

I remember seeing this at the Mall of America location! It was shown on their Mystery Mine Ride when the park was still called Camp Snoopy. Eventually, the film was switched over to Spongebob Squarepants 3D before the ride itself was removed from the park. After the Peanuts license ended, the park changed to the Park at MOA for a time, before becoming Nickelodeon Universe. The 4d theater was removed, and now has Spongebob Rock bottom plunge in its place. I only saw the film once in its runtime, but hearing about it again makes me so happy. Love the video!

I swear that canned screaming from the commercial is the same one used in RollerCoaster Tycoon 1's intro

This is one of the stand-out memories of the park when I recall my memories of it as a kid, and also an old 50s style diner that I don't recall seeing on a recent visit.

Oh I totally saw this at Canada's Wonderland!! It was there for a brief time, replacing the second theatre of the Spongebob simulator, which used to be in both theatres. My friends always wanted to do Spongebob, but I was a massive Hanna Barbara fan and loooooved this ride, so we'd end up doing both. Sadly I think it left only after a year or two, because Paramount lost the park.

Not gonna lie, when I was a kid Hanna-Barbara Land at Canada's Wonderland (the only theme park I've ever been able to go to) was one of my favourite places.

5:38 Sounds like SilvaGunna (or whatever their name is) trying to combine Gran Dad with "Woah".

Dude, just wanted to let you know that you inspired me to do a lot of my final exams based on defunct roller coaster attractions, and I know the amount of hard work but immense amount of fun you put into researching these topics. I can't wait for defunctland to open next season! Maybe with a few Soda Based attractions next time?

No no no no. It can't be over. I NEED SEASON 2. 😣

You know what? I can't wait for the future when we can all own a simulator-like machine, download these, and play them at home.

5:39 i audibly said "FLEENSTONES?!"

If I was born several years earlier, I would've had the chance to go on this Ride and have a good time with it. Plus, the ride would've brought back many Hanna-Barbera memories in my childhood, since it does feature several characters like The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones, Yogi-Bear & Boo-Boo Bear and Dick Dastardly & Muttley.

Please keep this on so i won’t get a few minutes in and then it disappears! Lol love your work man!

This is such an amazing channel with such a passionate creator. I subscribed when you posted your jaws ride video and your channel has become my favorite out of all of the channels I subscribe to! You can just see the passion that goes into these videos! Thank you so so much for this first season, and I’m really looking forward to the next!

I remember going to Hanna Barbers Land when I was a kid in 1984 in Spring,TX! One of the few memories I remember from my childhood!!!

Oh how fun!! The animators did such a good job! So much energy and fun!

While not my favorite ride in Universal, it is certainly one I fondly remember... Man, those were the days! Great stuff, man.

Thought this was about Hanna Barberaland and King's Island at first (if you need ideas for an episode, that'd be cool). Still a great show thank you. Cant wait for season 2

Man this brings back so many memories. This was one of my favorite attractions. Hell a majority of Old Universal rides were great. Another fan..or should I say "Funtastic" episode..I'll show myself out.

5:37 Oh, you know *exactly* what those first few notes made me think of...

5:38 Good God, it's like a low quality SilvaGunner rip.

Defunctland makes my day every single time a new episode is out, excited for 2018's new batch of defunct rides! Season 2 can we get Haunted Castle in Great Adventure, N.J? there's a huge story of internal incompetence and hazard ending in tragedy the likes of which are bordering on Action Park levels of criminal negligence- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted_Castle_(Six_Flags_Great_Adventure)

After a full season, I just want to say thank you Kevin for all the hard work you put in! Love, a proud subscriber

I actually remember this ride as the very first ride I ever went on at Universal Studios (Fl) when I was a kid. I am so glad I am just old enough to have experienced it and remember it. It was one of my favorites :)

Awesome series Kevin. Can't wait for Season 2.

Can't wait for season 2! But hey at least that Brad Pitt wax figure can get a bit more rest now.

Oh yeah! Thank you for that 👍 I have always loved the ride. I used to ride on that attraction when I went to universal long time ago. Boy, it sure brings me back great memories 😊😊

Man this took me back. I remember going through this so clearly, it still pops in my head from time to time. I remember wanting to go back on it so badly, especially with how interested I was in animation back then (and still am!) This was super cool to get to see again. Thanks for sharing it

If next season any of the original Hanna-Barbera land stuff comes up from kings island... Smurfs (killer dark ride), the yogi bear anamorphic animals and flinstones I remember as a kid. Crazy to see that they ended up back at kings island during a time period where I didn’t visit the park, also to add crazy connections, Hanna-Barbera land was replaced by Nickelodeon at Kings Island in the paramount years. Looking forward to defunct land in 2018

I remember riding this at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom around 2007.

I’m a huge Disney fan but, also a student of it’s history and the history of theme parks! I learned some things from your videos.

I’m 15 and I wish this ride was still at the park because of my love for Hanna barbara cartoons

I really should be asleep

Why is it now a season all of a sudden? Or did I miss it being called that since the beginning?

I've seen a direct feed of the ride film on RU-vid a long time ago, and I couldn't help but smile all the way through. The animation is just phenomenal! This is officially my favorite RU-vid series now. I'll be looking forward to more of these videos in the future, Kevin. Thanks for taking us on this ride. :3 Also, StormRider?

Based on this video title I thought there had been a whole Hanna-Barbera park

I think there are other reasons to why the ride eventually closed down ,some of them being these (although two are just theories of mine): 1-According to its Wikipedia article, some Universal representatives saw that,around 1998,the ride was becoming less popular, (supposedly) of guests not caring about Hanna Barbera cartoons anymore , and Universal saw this as a sign to reimagine the theme and brand of the attraction with a more contemporary animated IP ; thus entering conversations with Nickelodeon and leading to the creation of Jimmy Neutrons Nicktoon Blast. 2-The fact that,in 1996 ,Time Warner and Turner (wich at the time owned Hanna Barbera,and in essence it would later be passed to Warner Bros) merged together might could've been an indicator to Universal that they had to pay extra fees to license the brand in their park,and they probably saw it as just not worth it. 3-The passing of William Hanna in 2001,just one year before the ride close ; it could've been done to respect him or....just because he died,I dunno. As always ,great video and I hope I see more of Defunctland in 2018! Keep on with the amazing work!

Such a great ride, no idea why Universal closed it. The Minion ride in its place is bad in comparison.

Cheers Kevin, what an amazing series. Looking forward to more!

After leaving Disney, I worked for about a year at Universal (where I met my husband who is still with the company). Universal was only a few years old and known for its much more lax rules concerning its employees as opposed to Disney’s cult like cast member rules. Universal has since changed its customer service rules but back then, you could get away with some crazy stuff. Anyway, I worked at Hanna Barbera and it was one of my favorite jobs. I was sorry to leave but because my future husband was a ride and show supervisor at the time, nepotism could have damaged his future advancement. But it was so fun. And, because we (the employees) were allowed to have fun, the guests followed suit and had a better experience.

grand dad?

Thank for taking it down for like, less than an hour.

This is easily my best remembered ride and area of all the parks I have been in my life. I went here weekly for years with my pass, and never ever missed stopping here.

Kevin I've been here since the beginning and I wanted to say thank you so much for all your hard work. It's been fun watching and can't wait until the next season.

Suggesting the Alfred Hitchcock attraction at Universal Orlando. (I did it in the late 90s, it was great for film fans)

Maybe you could do jimmy neutrons nicktoon blast next time, and possibly even get butch Hartman since he is a youtuber and I'm pretty sure he had a part in making the fairly odd parents part

genuinely can't take the Flinstones theme seriously anymore & had massive whiplash watching this

My dad and I loved this ride in the 90s. It was just really good to see these cartoons together in a fun ride. It was Smash Bros the ride. Solid fun.

That Kid looks too old to be that psyched about Hanna Barbera

5:11 FLENSTONES??!!!

I found this channel yesterday, and just finished marathoning all the episodes!! So great!!! I was going to comment how I'm bummed I'll have to wait for more, but a new video was just uploaded 20 minutes ago! This channel is really fantastic!

Great to see one of my favorite RU-vid channels finishing their first year and on the road to 100K! Also I will probably be picking up one of the shirts soon. Always gotta support your favorite channels.

No child from that era is that excited for Hanna Barbera. The point of view perspective looks really good, though.

Please do the Jimmy Neutron ride (and even though not defunct I’d LOVE to hear about the history, planning, building, and execution ideas around The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man)

I spent almost this whole video with a mix of nostalgia and confusion because I distinctly remember some of these images but didn't visit Universal before it closed down but after you said it, I remembered that I had saw it at Kentucky Kingdom. Great video as always!

Yogi Bear: So folks, thanks for joining in the Ride! I’ll see You on the outside! Hey Hey Hey! (Ceiling lamp comes down, and yogi pulls the lamp cord turning the screen to black) MAN I love this ride, even if I never got a chance to experience it 😂😂😂😃