James Francis Ryan (April 21, 1936 – August 31, 2022) was an American screenwriter in the

DePatie–Freleng Enterprises DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, Inc. (also known as Mirisch-Geoffrey-DePatie-Freleng Productions when involved with the Mirisch brothers and Geoffrey Productions, and DFE Films) was an American animation studio founded by former Warner Bros. Car ...

, also the

Filmation Filmation Associates was an American production company founded by Lou Scheimer, Hal Sutherland and Norm Prescott in 1962, before closing by Group W Productions on February 3, 1989. Located in Reseda, California, Filmation produced animated ...

studios and Hanna–Barbera.

Career

Ryan began his career at DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, where he penned episodes of '' The Inspector'' and scripted the ''

Pink Panther ''The Pink Panther'' is an American media franchise primarily focusing on a series of comedy-mystery films featuring an inept French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The franchise began with the release of the film ''The Pink Panthe ...

'' short '' Psychedelic Pink''. At

, he wrote for several cartoons alongside writing partner Bill Danch, including '' Mission: Magic!'' (starring

Rick Springfield Richard Lewis Springthorpe (born 23 August 1949), known professionally as Rick Springfield, is an Australian-American musician and actor. He was a member of the pop rock group Zoot from 1969 to 1971, then started his solo career with his debut ...

), '' Shazam!'', one of Ryan's few forays into live action, and '' Fabulous Funnies''. Ryan and Danch were head writers of ''

The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty ''The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty'' (later called ''The New Adventures of Waldo Kitty'') is an American animated and partially live-action television series, produced by Filmation, which originally aired for one season on Saturday mornings on N ...

''. His most notable contribution at the studio was ''

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids ''Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids'' (often referred to simply as ''Fat Albert'') is an educational American animated television series created, produced, and hosted (in live action bookends) by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a nu ...

''. Ryan wrote early episodes of the series as well as a Christmas special. While working on ''Fat Albert'', Ryan's scripts were reviewed by a panel of teachers and psychologists to ensure there was educational content. Ryan supervised stories for

Hanna-Barbera Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ; formerly known as H-B Enterprises, Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. and H-B Production Co.), simply and commonly known as Hanna-Barbera, was an American animation studio and production company, which was acti ...

's '' Casper and the Angels''. While with the studio, he wrote the 1988 film '' Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf''. Other productions Ryan wrote for include ''

Pound Puppies Pound Puppies is a toy line that was created by Tonka in the 1980s. It later inspired an animated TV special, two animated TV series, and a feature film. Shipments of the toys over five years generated sales of $300 million in 35 countries. The ...

'' and ''

Tom & Jerry Kids ''Tom & Jerry Kids'' (formerly known as ''Tom & Jerry Kids Show'' in the first season) is an American animated television series co-produced by H-B Production Co. and Turner Entertainment Co., and starring the cat-and-mouse duo Tom and Jerry as ...

''. In 1996, Ryan wrote an article for ''

The Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper in the U.S. and the larges ...

'', discussing his difficulty finding writing work at 60 years old and critiquing commercialism in animation. His last script was an episode of ''

Hey Arnold! ''Hey Arnold!'' is an American animated sitcom created by Craig Bartlett for Nickelodeon. It originally aired from October 7, 1996, to June 8, 2004. The show centers on fourth grader Arnold Shortman, who lives with his grandparents in an inner ...

''.

Works

His works include: *'' The Super 6'': writer (1 episode) *''

The Pink Panther Show ''The Pink Panther Show'' is a showcase of animated shorts produced by David H. DePatie and Friz Freleng between 1969 and 1978, starring the animated Pink Panther character from the opening credits of the live-action films. The series was pr ...

'': story *'' Will the Real Jerry Lewis Please Sit Down'': writer (1 episode) *'' Sabrina and the Groovie Goolies'': writer (16 episodes) *'' Groovie Goolies'': writer *'' Archie's TV Funnies'': writer *''

'': writer (1 episode) *'' My Favorite Martians'': writer *'' The U.S. of Archie'': writer (16 episodes) *''

'': writer *'' The New Adventures of Gilligan'': writer (5 episodes) *'' Shazam!'': writer (4 episodes) *''

Ark II ''Ark II'' is an American live-action science fiction television series, aimed at children, that aired on CBS from September 11 to December 18, 1976, (with reruns continuing through November 13, 1977 and reruns returning from September 16, 1978, ...

'': writer (1 episode) *''

The New Adventures of Batman ''The New Adventures of Batman'' is an animated series that aired on CBS from February 12 to May 28, 1977, featuring the DC Comics superheroes Batman, Dick Grayson, Robin, and Barbara Gordon, Batgirl. The series was a Filmation and DC Comics pro ...

'': writer (1 episode) *'' The New Archie and Sabrina Hour'': writer *''

Galaxy Goof-Ups ''Galaxy Goof-Ups'' (also known as ''Yogi's Galaxy Goofs-Ups'') is a 30-minute American Saturday-morning cartoon, animated television series, a spin-off (media), spin-off of ''Yogi's Space Race'' and the fourth incarnation of the ''The Yogi Bear S ...

'': story *''

Buford and the Galloping Ghost ''Buford and the Galloping Ghost'' is an American animated television series and a spin-off of '' Yogi's Space Race'' produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions that was broadcast on NBC from September 9 to December 2, 1978. The half-hour series was ...

'': story *''

Yogi's Space Race ''Yogi's Space Race'' is a 90-minute American Saturday-morning cartoon, animated television series and the third entry in the ''Yogi Bear'' franchise. Thirteen episodes were broadcast on NBC from September 9, 1978, to December 2, 1978, and featur ...

'': story (13 episodes) *''

The New Shmoo ''The New Shmoo'' is an American animated television series based on the character from the ''Li'l Abner'' comic strip created by Al Capp, produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and broadcast on NBC from September 22 to December 15, 1979. ''The ...

'': story *'' Trollkins'': story *''

The Kwicky Koala Show ''The Kwicky Koala Show'' is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and Hanna Barbera Pty, Ltd. that aired on Saturday-mornings on CBS from September 12 to December 26, 1981. The show is notable for being among car ...

'': writer *''

Space Stars ''Space Stars'' is a 60-minute Saturday morning animated program block produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and broadcast on NBC from September 12, 1981, to January 8, 1982. ''Space Stars'' was narrated by Keene Curtis and featured five c ...

'': story *''

Shirt Tales ''Shirt Tales'' are characters that were created in 1980 by greeting card designer Janet Elizabeth Manco and were featured on Hallmark Cards greeting cards. The characters were adapted into a 1982–1983 animated series for television, by Hanna- ...

'': story (5 episodes) *''

Pink Panther and Sons ''Pink Panther and Sons'' is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and Mirisch-Geoffrey-DePatie-Freleng. The series was originally broadcast on NBC from 1984 to 1985 and moved to ABC in 1986. Friz Freleng ...

'': story *''

The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries ''The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show'', known as ''The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries'' for its second season, is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, and the sixth incarnation of the ''Scooby-Doo'' franchise. ...

'': writer (2 episodes) *'' Paw Paws'': story/writer (9 episodes) *''

'': writer (1 episode) *''

Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers ''Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers'' is a 1987 animated comedy horror made-for-television film produced by Hanna-Barbera as part of the '' Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10'' series. The 92 minutes film aired in syndication. It is the first full-len ...

'': writer *'' Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf'': writer *''

A Pup Named Scooby-Doo ''A Pup Named Scooby-Doo'' is an American animated mystery comedy series produced by Hanna-Barbera. It is the eighth incarnation of the studio's ''Scooby-Doo'' franchise and depicts younger versions of the title character and his companions as ...

'': writer/teleplay (3 episodes) *'' Droopy: Master Detective'': writer (7 episodes) *''

The Tom and Jerry Kids Show ''Tom & Jerry Kids'' (formerly known as ''Tom & Jerry Kids Show'' in the first season) is an American animated television series co-produced by Hanna-Barbera, H-B Production Co. and Turner Entertainment Co., and starring the cat-and-mouse duo Tom ...

'': writer (12 episodes) *''

The Cartoon Cartoon Show ''What a Cartoon!'' (later known as ''The What a Cartoon! Show'' and ''The Cartoon Cartoon Show'') is an American animated anthology series created by Fred Seibert for Cartoon Network. The shorts were produced by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons; by the ...

'': writer (1 episode) *''

What a Cartoon! ''What a Cartoon!'' (later known as ''The What a Cartoon! Show'' and ''The Cartoon Cartoon Show'') is an American animated anthology series created by Fred Seibert for Cartoon Network. The shorts were produced by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons; by th ...

'': writer (1 episode) *''

'': writer (segment "Hookey")

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ryan, Jim 1936 births 2022 deaths 20th-century American screenwriters American television writers Filmation people Hanna-Barbera people