The notable style of humor utilized in Hanna-Barbera's animations is slapstick. This genre of humor is characterized by physical comedy, exaggerated situations, and visual gags, which were hallmarks of many of Hanna-Barbera's most popular shows. Series like "The Flintstones," "The Jetsons," and "Scooby-Doo" prominently featured comical scenarios that often involved characters facing ridiculous predicaments, leading to humorous outcomes.
Slapstick humor is typically loud and visual, appealing to a broad audience, including children. It often relies on visual puns and exaggerated reactions to build comedic moments, making it a perfect fit for animated formats where physical expression can be maximized without the constraints of real-life physics.
In contrast, other humor styles such as dark humor would not resonate well with the family-oriented themes of Hanna-Barbera's work, while dry humor and subtle humor tend to require a level of sophistication and wordplay that does not align with the more direct and visually based approach of slapstick. These alternatives do not capture the essence of the animated storytelling that Hanna-Barbera was known for, which thrived on colorful characters and lively antics.