Why did the old Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters always have sidekicks?

Kenya J

New member
In almost all of the older Hanna-Barbera cartoon shorts, the main character always had a sidekick. For example "Dastardly & Muttley", "Secret Squirrel & Morocco", That one hippo character and his monkey friend, et cetera. What was the purpose of the cartoonists giving the protagonists sidekicks besides for humorous contrast?
 
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