Breaking into animation with Harman-Ising studios, William Hanna worked his way up from cel-washer to director before moving to MGM to team with Joseph Barbera under the supervision of unit director Fred Quimby. Hanna's precise understanding of comic timing and his organizational ability were perfect compliments for Barbera's delightful drawing and strong storytelling sense, and the two created, wrote and directed hundreds of "Tom and Jerry" cartoons during a two decade stint at the studio. Beautifully animated, compellingly paced and hilariously violent, their shorts routinely beat out