Additional Information about the TV Cartoon Sahara You

This series was composed of 20 5-minute episodes. The Guinness World Records says this was the earliest animated TV series.

Though broadcast in black & white, the cartoon was produced in color. Original production was done by William Hanna, Michael Lah (Shield Productions) and Jay Ward. This series first appeared in the form of two-reelers distributed by Jerry Fairbanks. Questions arose as to ownership of the characters. Original producers Jay Ward and Alex Anderson- tired of endless legal hassles- sold their rights to Shull Bonsall, who took over production with his TV Spots company. The lawsuit, which involved Fairbanks, the animators and NBC Films, kept the early version of "Crusader Rabbit" off TV screens throughout much of the 1950s. Jay Ward sold the rights to the Crusader Rabbit and Rags the Tiger characters in 1957 to Shul Bonsall, who filmed 260 five-minute Crusader Rabbit cartoons.

Left out in the cold (but liking the idea of a regular TV series), William Hanna called up longtime partner Joe Barbera, formed Hanna-Barbera, and started work on The Ruff and Reddy Show.

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