Born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and raised in California, Melanie Taylor Kent has had an intense interest in art since she was little more than a toddler. By the age of 12, she had already won her first National Art Competition. She received her formal education at the UCLA School of Art, and soon after, began teaching art in Los Angeles City Schools. Through her work with the school system, Kent gained recognition for her implementation and guidance of the Los Angeles Community Mural Painting Program.

Melanie Taylor Kent is officially licensed as an artist for several notable movie studios, including Warner Brothers, Hanna Barbera and the Walt Disney Corporation. She has also created a successful body of work for the U.S. Olympics committee, (1984), and was chosen as the Los Angeles Dodgers' official artist commemorating the 30th anniversary of Dodger Stadium. Other notable commissions include being chosen as the Official Artist for the 50th anniversary of "The Wizard of Oz", the 15th anniversary of "Star Wars" and the 10th anniversary of "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" movies.

William Hanna and Joseph Barbera met working at MGM Studies and when the studio eliminated its animation department in 1957, the two established their own production company, particularly working on animating cartoons for television. Their world-famous characters include Ruff and Reddy, Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear, Quick Draw McGraw, Auggie Doggie and Doggie Daddy, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Yogi and Boo Boo Bear, Scooby Doo, Quick Draw McGraw, and many more. The pair also created the first ever half-hour animated sitcom, “The Flintstones” in 1960.

Called the “Masters of the Small Screen,” Hanna-Barbera have produced over 3,000 cartoons that are part of their unforgettable legacy.