{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox television | image = | caption = | genre = Anthology<br>Television special | producer = Neil Balnaves<br>Walter J. Hucker<br>William Hanna<br>Joseph Barbera | runtime = 30–60 minutes | company = Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.<br>Air Programs International<br>Ruby-Spears Enterprises | country = United States<br>Australia | language = English | network = CBS | first_aired = {{Start date|1970|11|1}} | last_aired = {{End date|1984|11|23}} | num_series = | num_episodes = 31 | list_episodes = | related = ''Family Classic Tales''<br>''ABC Afterschool Special''<br>''The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie'' }} '''''Famous Classic Tales''''' is an animated anthology television series featuring animated adaptations of classic children's stories which aired on CBS from 1970 to 1984. The series was produced by the Australian division of Hanna-Barbera and Air Programs International (API), also from Australia, but the thirtieth installment was animated by Ruby-Spears Enterprises.
== Overview == ''Famous Classic Tales'' was broadcast on CBS and distributed by Kids Klassics Home Video and Storybook World. It had cartoons from Sydney-based API's ''Family Classic Tales''. Featured cartoons included adaptions of classic literature such as ''Gulliver's Travels'', ''Treasure Island'', ''Black Beauty'', ''Moby-Dick'', and many others.
The creation of a series of animated features based on classic children's stories was conceived by Jack Thinnes, Media Director at Sive Advertising in Cincinnati, Ohio. The series was created for a Sive client, toy manufacturer Kenner Products, and each program was fully sponsored by Kenner on CBS Television Network on Sunday, late afternoon or early evening, during the prime toy selling season before Christmas. In 1983, the show was billed as ''Kenner Family Classics''.
The idea to use classic children's books sprang from Thinnes' viewing of a two-minute demo of Dickens' ''A Christmas Carol'', which was produced by Walter J. Hucker's studio, Air Programs International (API), of Sydney, Australia. API was acquired by Hanna-Barbera in 1972 after Thinnes introduced the owners of the studios to one another. After the series ran on CBS for nearly ten years, it was moved into local syndication by Sive's syndication department. However, their adaptation of ''A Christmas Carol'' was such a favorite that it continued to run on the network for fifteen years.<ref>[http://fa02.blogspot.ca/2014/04/famous-classic-tales.html Famous Classic Tales].</ref>
A similar series, ''Festival of Family Classics'', was produced by Rankin/Bass and aired in syndication in 1972–1973.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Perlmutter |first1=David |title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1538103739 |page=204}}</ref>
== Episode list == {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" |- style="text-align:left;" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Nº ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Airdate ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Director(s) ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Production |- | 1 || Tales of Washington Irving<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/408/mode/2up |pages=408–409}}</ref> || November 1, 1970 || Zoran Janjic || Air Programs International |- | 2 || A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/94/mode/2up |pages=95–97}}</ref> || November 26, 1970 || Zoran Janjic || Air Programs International |- | 3 || A Christmas Carol<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/76/mode/2up |page=76}}</ref> || December 13, 1970 || Zoran Janjic || Air Programs International |- | 4 || The Legend of Robin Hood<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/242/mode/2up |pages=243–244}}</ref> || November 14, 1971 || Zoran Janjic || Air Programs International |- | 5 || Treasure Island<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/422/mode/2up |pages=422–423}}</ref> || November 28, 1971 || Zoran Janjic || Air Programs International |- | 6 || Travels of Marco Polo<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/262/mode/2up |pages=263–264}}</ref> || January 1, 1972 || Leif Gram || Air Programs International |- | 7 || Robinson Crusoe<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/343/mode/2up |pages=342–343}}</ref> || November 23, 1972 || Leif Gram || Air Programs International |- | 8 || The Prince and the Pauper<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/314/mode/2up |pages=314–315}}</ref> || November 26, 1972 || Chris Cuddington || Air Programs International |- | 9 || The Count of Monte Cristo<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/98/mode/2up |pages=98–99}}</ref> || September 23, 1973 || William Hanna, Joseph Barbera || Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd. |- | 10 || Kidnapped<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/230/mode/2up |page=231}}</ref> || October 22, 1973 || Leif Gram || Air Programs International |- | 11 || The Swiss Family Robinson<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/404/mode/2up |page=404}}</ref> || October 28, 1973 || Leif Gram || Air Programs International |- | 12 || Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/430/mode/2up |pages=431–433}}</ref> || November 22, 1973 || William Hanna, Joseph Barbera || Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd. |- | 13 || The Three Musketeers<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/416/mode/2up |pages=416–417}}</ref> || November 23, 1973 || William Hanna, Joseph Barbera || Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd. |- | 14 || The Black Arrow<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/34/mode/2up |page=34}}</ref> || December 2, 1973 || Leif Gram || Air Programs International |- | 15 || The Gentlemen of Titipu || January 15, 1974 || Leif Gram || Air Programs International |- | 16 || Moby-Dick<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/276/mode/2up |page=276}}</ref> || January 1, 1975 || Richard Slapczynski || Air Programs International |- | 17 || The Mysterious Island<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/282/mode/2up |pages=283–284}}</ref> || November 15, 1975 || Leif Gram || Air Programs International |- | 18 || The Last of the Mohicans<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/240/mode/2up |pages=240–241}}</ref> || November 27, 1975 || Charles A. Nichols || Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd. |- | 19 || Ivanhoe<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/222/mode/2up |page=222}}</ref> || November 27, 1975 || Leif Gram || Air Programs International |- | 20 || From the Earth to the Moon<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/162/mode/2up |pages=163–164}}</ref> || January 1, 1976 || Richard Slapczynski || Air Programs International |- | 21 || Off on a Comet<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/292/mode/2up |page=293}}</ref> || January 1, 1976 || Richard Slapczynski || Air Programs International |- | 22 || Master of the World<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/264/mode/2up |page=264}}</ref> || October 23, 1976 || Leif Gram || Air Programs International |- | 23 || Davy Crockett on the Mississippi<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/106/mode/2up |pages=106–108}}</ref> || November 20, 1976 || Charles A. Nichols || Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd. |- | 24 || A Journey to the Center of the Earth<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/230/mode/2up |page=230}}</ref> || November 13, 1977 || Richard Slapczynski || Air Programs International |- | 25 || Five Weeks in a Balloon<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/146/mode/2up |pages=147–148}}</ref> || November 24, 1977 || Chris Cuddington || Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd. |- | 26 || Black Beauty<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/34/mode/2up |pages=34–35}}</ref> || October 28, 1978 || Chris Cuddington || Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd. |- | 27 || Gulliver's Travels<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/180/mode/2up |pages=180–181}}</ref> || November 18, 1979 || Chris Cuddington || Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd. |- | 28 || The Adventures of Sinbad<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/3/mode/2up |pages=3–4}}</ref> || November 23, 1979 || Richard Slapczynski || Air Programs International |- | 29 || Daniel Boone<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/104/mode/2up |pages=105–106}}</ref> || November 27, 1981 || Geoff Collins || Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd. |- | 30 || Beauty and the Beast<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/2/mode/2up |page=3}}</ref> || November 25, 1983 || Rudy Larriva || Ruby-Spears Enterprises |- | 31 || The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn<ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=27 March 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/28/mode/2up |page=29}}</ref> || November 23, 1984 || Paul McAdam || Air Programs International |}
== Home video release == Several of the ''Famous Classic Tales'' specials were released on VHS by Worldvision Home Video, GoodTimes Entertainment, Fox Lorber, Hanna-Barbera Home Video and Turner Home Entertainment. Several other stories made it to DVD afterwards, including a 2007 release from Southern Star through Koch Vision titled '''Hanna-Barbera Storybook Favorites''' which featured ''The Last of the Mohicans'', ''Black Beauty'' and ''Gulliver's Travels''. All of these are now out of print.
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:1970 American animated television series debuts Category:1984 American television series endings Category:1970s American animated television series Category:1980s American animated television series Category:1970s American anthology television series Category:1980s American anthology television series Category:1970s American children's television series Category:1980s American children's television series Category:1970s American television specials Category:1980s American television specials Category:American children's animated anthology television series Category:1970 Australian television series debuts Category:1970 television specials Category:1984 Australian television series endings Category:1970s Australian animated television series Category:English-language American television shows Category:CBS television specials Category:Hanna-Barbera television specials Category:Television series by Hanna-Barbera Category:Television shows based on works by Jules Verne Category:Television series based on American folklore Category:Tall tales Category:CBS animated television series