The Most Unforgettable '80s Cartoons
- 1December 28, 1987
One of the most popular animated series in television history, the series launched the merch boom of the Ninja Turtles in the late 80s. The show follows Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Rafael as they battle Shredder, Krang, and other bad guys. Interestingly, though the show started off lively with inept villains, the last three seasons of the cartoon were notably darker and more mature and the action was turned up several notches.
- 2September 17, 1984
Inspired by Japanese toyline Microman, Hasbro's second attempt at a product-based television show (after G.I. Joe) was even more successful. Alien robots fighting each other was a no-brainer and the popularity of the Autobots and Decepticons was immense upon release. To this day, the franchise remains in the mainstream.
- 3September 5, 1983
Prince Adam, through the Sword of Power, transforms into He-Man and is endowed with magical powers. Along with his closest ally Battle Cat, He-Man must defend Eternia from the evil Skeletor. The wildly successful show spawned the spin-off She-Ra: Princess of Power.
- 4January 23, 1985
After the ThunderCats flee their dying home planet, they reach Third Earth and establish a lair. When the Mutants follow them there, they must fight them off to ensure their survival as well as the safety of Third Earth. Several comic series and video games were made based on the show, contributing to its lasting popularity.
- 5September 18, 1987
Scrooge McDuck and his grandnephews go treasure hunting (after Donald enlists in the Navy) in this classic Disney show. The popularity of DuckTales can be attributed partially to its homages to classic stories and popular culture, as they parodied Shakespeare, Indiana Jones, Sherlock Holmes, and more.
- 6September 12, 1983
In the early 1980s, Marvel Productions was commissioned to produce commercials for the G.I. Joe Marvel Comics series. The subsequent popularity of those commercials led to the "The M.A.S.S. Device" special and later G.I. Joe was promoted to a full television series.
- 7October 11, 1960
Essentially just a compilation of classic shorts, The Bugs Bunny Show was still insanely popular in the 1980s. The rights for these old cartoons was shuffled around between stations as well as merged with other popular characters to make blocks like The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show and The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show.
- 8September 10, 1983
Cyborg police inspector Inspector Gadget tries his best to foil the schemes of M.A.D., a crime organization whose acronym stands for “Mean And Dirty.” Though he's equipped with dozens of gadgets, the poor inspector is generally incompetent.
- 9September 12, 1981
The Smurfs became one of NBC's most successful and long-running animated series, even winning an Emmy in 1983. The cartoon observes the community of Smurf Village as they fight against the evil Gargamel.
- 10March 4, 1989
Detectives Chip and Dale investigate crimes through their detective agency named Rescue Rangers. These crimes were often deemed too small for the regular police and involved animal clients.
- 11December 17, 1989
Premiering in the very last month of the decade, The Simpsons is now a staple in animation and the longest running American sitcom of all time. Following the mishaps of the Simpson family, the show serves as a time capsule of mainstream American pop culture.
- 12September 13, 1986
Due to a title dispute, “The Real” was added to the original title of just Ghostbusters. A spin-off of the popular movie, the show continued the adventures of the foursome as well as secretary Janine and Slimer.
- 13September 17, 1988
This animated adaptation of the iconic comic strip featured Garfield, Jon, and Odie along with Sheldon, Orson, Wade, and Booker. Each episode was a new storyline independent of the source material.
- 14September 17, 1983
Already being a popular entity, The Chipmunks were enlisted for their own show. Running eight seasons, the series is a follow-up to The Alvin Show and introduced the world to The Chipettes.
- 15September 14, 1985
When Cavin the human stumbles upon the Gummi Bear race, a series of events is thrown into motion. Following the exploits of six Gummi Bears including Zummi, Gruffi, Grammi, Tummi, Sunni, and Cubbi, the magical medieval series spearheaded the iconic style of Disney animation that followed.
- 16September 10, 1984
The premise of Voltron summed up is that five robot lions controlled by individual pilots can come together to form Voltron. Some might not know that this series is actually an adaptation of Japanese series Beast King Go-Lion, which was edited and dubbed over.
- 17September 15, 1984
Similar in concept to Baby Looney Tunes, Muppet Babies follows everyone's favorite muppets but in nursery form. The creative series incorporates hand-drawn and live-action backgrounds to bring to life the imaginary escapades of the group.
- 18September 12, 1981
Comic book legend Stan Lee had a huge hand in the creative direction of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, which saw Spider-Man, Iceman, and Firestar team up to fight bad guys. New character Firestar, who stood in for the Human Torch due to copyright issues, became so popular that she is now a part of the mainstream Marvel Universe.
- 19February 14, 1985
Living in the clouds in the Kingdom of Caring, The Care Bears spread their message of joy and caring around the world. They also seek to avoid the evil Professor Coldheart.
- 20September 17, 1983
After taking a magical ride on an amusement park roller coaster, six friends are transported to the world of Dungeons & Dragons. The group is primarily trying to find their way home, but of course side quests mean detours and more adventures as they battle against powerful evil wizard Venger.
- 21September 8, 1973In the realm of classic animated television, one show stands out as a nostalgic tribute to the superhero genre. Super Friends, an iconic series that ran from the 1970s to the 1980s, brought together a team of DC Comics' most beloved heroes, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman. With its distinctive animation style and engaging storylines, the series garnered a dedicated fan base and earned a place in pop culture history. The show's memorable characters, such as Batman (voiced by Olan Soule) and Robin (Casey Kasem), tackled various challenges, often with the help of their trusty sidekicks. Notably recognized for its impact on the superhero genre, Super Friends remains a cherished piece of entertainment history.
- 22September 9, 1985She-Ra: Princess of Power is an animated series that premiered on September 9, 1985, and became a pop culture icon of the era. The show follows the adventures of Princess Adora, twin sister to Prince Adam/He-Man, as she transforms into the eponymous heroine She-Ra and leads a group of rebels in the fight to free the planet Etheria from the tyrannical rule of Hordak and his Evil Horde. The primary themes include empowerment, friendship, and the battle between good and evil. The series was notable for being one of the first action-oriented animated shows aimed at a young female audience, offering a strong female protagonist in a genre typically dominated by male characters.
- 23September 16, 1985The group M.A.S.K. consists of many secret agents and is tasked with protecting the earth from evil.
- 24October 4, 1980Heathcliff is an animated TV series that debuted on October 4, 1980. It was the first series based on the Heathcliff comic strip and was produced by Ruby-Spears Productions. It ran until September 18, 1982 with a total of 26 episodes, under two different names.
- 25September 15, 1984Snorks is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera which ran on NBC from September 15, 1984, to May 13, 1989. Although not as popular as the animated series The Smurfs, the program continued to be available in syndication from 1986 to 1989 as part of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera 's 3rd season, on USA Network in the late 1980s and early 1990s, on the BBC in the late 1990s, and from 2009 to 2011 and again from time to time on Cartoon Network's sister channel Boomerang.
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Heathcliff & the Catillac Cats
September 5, 1984The adventures of the cartoon cat Heathcliff and his friends. - The Scooby & Scrappy-Doo/Puppy Hour is a 60-minute package show co-produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and Ruby-Spears in 1982. The show premiered September 25, 1982 and ran on ABC as part of its Saturday morning schedule for the 1982-1983 season. It contained the following segments: Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo: Scooby-Doo, Scrappy-Doo and Shaggy Rogers travel across the country as the "Fearless Detective Agency" and get involved in typical spy or criminal cases. Scrappy and Yabba-Doo: Scrappy-Doo's adventures with his uncle Yabba-Doo and Deputy Dusty in the wild west. The Puppy's New Adventures: Featuring the adventures of Petey the Puppy and his friends Dash, Dolly, Duke, and Lucky. The first half-hour consisted of three 7-minute shorts of Scooby and Scrappy-Doo and Scrappy and Yabba-Doo, with a 30-minute episode of The Puppy's New Adventures in the second half-hour. The Scooby/Scrappy-related shorts were written and voiced at Hanna-Barbera Productions, but animated and edited by Ruby-Spears Enterprises.
- 28September 10, 1988Embark on a whimsical journey to the Hundred Acre Wood with The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, an animated series that captures the hearts of young and old. This delightful continuation of A.A. Milne's classic tales follows beloved characters Pooh Bear, Piglet, Tigger, Rabbit, Eeyore, Christopher Robin, and more as they embark on endearing adventures. The classic characters learn valuable life lessons about friendship, honesty, and bravery. The series threads together themes of camaraderie and problem-solving.
- 29September 28, 1981The greatest secret agent and his clumsy sidekick continue their fight against Baron Greenback.
- 30September 8, 1986Bionic policemen fight an escaped alien mob boss and his gang in space.
- 31October 4, 1980Thundarr the Barbarian is a Saturday morning animated television series, created by Steve Gerber and produced by Ruby-Spears Productions. The series ran 2 seasons, 1980–1981 and 1981–1982. Action figures of the three main characters were released by Toynami in 2004.
- 32September 9, 1989Adventures of the ghostly con-artist and his 12-year-old pal, Lydia.
- 33October 6, 1985A music executive keeps her identity as a rock star secret.
- 34September 14, 1987BraveStarr is an American Space Western animated television series. The original episodes aired from September 1987 to February 1988 in syndication. It was created simultaneously with a collection of action figures. BraveStarr was the last animated series produced by Filmation and Group W Productions to be broadcast. Bravo!, a spin-off series was in production along with Bugzburg when the studio closed down. Reruns of the show aired on Qubo Night Owl from 2010 to 2013, and reruns air on the Retro Television Network from 2010 to Present.
- 35
Dennis the Menace
1986Dennis the Menace is an American animated series produced by DIC Entertainment, based on the comic strip by Hank Ketcham. The young blond boy with a cowlick and a mischievous personality, Dennis the Menace, gets into numerous scrapes and adventures with his dog Ruff and his friends Joey, Margaret, Gina, Tommy, PeeBee and Jay. Dennis is an impulsive, angel-faced little devil who is always getting into scrapes which end up tormenting his hapless next-door neighbor, Mr. Wilson. Dennis finds himself involved in all kinds of wild adventures but always manages to save the day. The series was originally aired in syndication in the U.S., distributed by The Program Exchange. The second season aired on Saturday mornings on CBS. Each half-hour show consists of three six or seven-minute shorts. The show was sponsored by General Mills. - 36September 18, 1982Dr. Bruce Banner attempts to cure himself of his transformation into the Hulk.
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Pound Puppies
September 13, 1986Pound Puppies is a 1986 animated series made by Hanna-Barbera Productions, based on the famous toy line by Tonka. It is the sequel to the 1985 television special. The show was broadcast on ABC between September 1986 and December 1987. In this series, no mention was made of Violet's whereabouts. The show found itself under a lot of competition from competitors, such as Disney's Fluppy Dogs, which was also adapted into a special, but unlike Pound Puppies, was not made into a regular series. It was the first cartoon adaptation of the property, the second being the 2010 series. - 38September 4, 1989After being sucked into a drain pipe, Mario and Luigi defend the Mushroom Kingdom from King Koopa.
- 39September 10, 1983The Littles is an animated television series, originally produced between 1983 and 1985. It is based on the characters from The Littles, a series of children's novels by American author John Peterson, the first of which was published in 1967. The series was produced for the American broadcast network ABC by a French/American/Canadian animation studio, DIC Entertainment, and as standard practice for TV cartoons of the period, the animation production was outsourced overseas to the Japanese studio TMS Entertainment. It was post-produced by a Canadian Animation studio, Animation City Editorial Services.
- 40September 1, 1972Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an animated series created by and featuring the voice of Bill Cosby. The show follows the adventures and misadventures of Fat Albert and his gang of friends in North Philadelphia. It is filled with humor and heart, and addresses a variety of social issues and life lessons, from honesty and respect to the importance of education. Each episode often includes a live-action segment where Cosby discusses the day's story. The educational and entertaining content, along with its memorable characters, made it a valuable addition to Saturday morning cartoon line-ups for a generation. The show was notable for its multi-ethnic cast, propelling it to become a pop culture staple in the 1970s.
- 41June 27, 1984Rainbow Brite is a media franchise by Hallmark Cards, introduced in 1983. The animated television series of the same name was started in 1984.
- 42April 14, 1984My Little Pony is an animated series that debuted on April 14, 1984, enchanting young audiences with a fantasy world of colorful ponies in the magical land of Equestria. The show centers around the adventures of various ponies as they promote themes of friendship, kindness, and harmony. Each character represents a different aspect of friendship, and together they face challenges, learn important life lessons, and work to protect their home from dark forces. The series has become a cultural phenomenon, spawning toys and movies. The later film iterations like "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic," introduced new ponies and storylines to a new generation.
- 43January 1, 2000The comic adventures of a vegetarian vampire duck.
- 44September 6, 1986Freddy, Barney, Wilma and Betty are 10-year-olds in Bedrock.
- 45April 26, 1989The adventures of a powerful warrior named Goku and his allies who defend Earth from threats.
- 46March 4, 1985An alien ship crashes on Earth and the secrets it bears lead Earth into three interplanetary wars.
- The New Adventures of Jonny Quest is a 1980s continuation of Hanna-Barbera's Jonny Quest animated television series from the 1960s. Debuting in 1986 as part of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera's syndication package, this new Jonny Quest series could be seen as the second season to a program that originally aired from 1964-1965 on ABC.
- 48April 7, 1985Centurions is a syndicated 30 minute American science fiction animated television series produced by Ruby-Spears and animated in Japan by Sunrise. Comic book legends Jack Kirby and Gil Kane contributed to the design and concepts of the show. The series began in 1986 as a five-part miniseries and was followed with a 60 episode series. The series was story edited by Ted Pedersen and written by several authors, including prolific science fiction writers Michael Reaves, Marc Scott Zicree, Larry DiTillio and Gerry Conway. The series theme and soundtrack were composed by Udi Harpaz. There was also a line of tie-in toys by Kenner, and a comic book series by DC Comics.
- 49September 17, 1983Mr. T and a gymnastics team solve mysteries around the world.
- 50July 4, 1985Bert and Melissa Raccoon try to save the Evergreen Forest from Cyril Sneer.
- 51October 29, 1985The World of David the Gnome, originally titled David, el Gnomo, is a Spanish animated television series based on the children's book The Secret Book of Gnomes, by the Dutch author Wil Huygen and illustrator Rien Poortvliet. The program was originally created in Spain by BRB Internacional titled David el Gnomo, and retains a sense of the lush illustrations of the original books. Twenty-six episodes were produced. There was also a spin-off series entitled Wisdom of the Gnomes. The English language dub The World of David the Gnome was produced by Canadian studio CINAR, in association with Miramax Films. Christopher Plummer narrated, with the voice of David the Gnome being provided by Tom Bosley. David the Gnome came to US television in 1987, airing Sundays on the Nickelodeon cable channel, and was part of the fledgling Nick Jr. lineup when that was created shortly thereafter until 1996. It also aired on TLC on It's Ready Set Learn block from October 7, 1996 until March 27, 1998. It also aired on Discovery Kids on It's Ready Set Learn block from September 30, 1998 until October 9, 2010. The series is still frequently airing weekday mornings on Irish channel RTÉ Two as of 2006.
- 52September 26, 1987ALF: The Animated Series is an animated cartoon spin-off based on the live-action sitcom series ALF. It premiered on September 26, 1987 and ran for 26 episodes. ALF Tales was a spinoff from the series that ran on the NBC television network on Saturdays from August 1988 to December 1989. The show had characters from that series play various characters from fairy tales. The fairy tale was usually altered for comedic effect in a manner relational to Fractured Fairy Tales.
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The Wuzzles
September 14, 1985Disney's The Wuzzles is an animated television series created for Saturday morning television, and was first broadcast on September 14, 1985 on CBS. An idea of Michael Eisner for his new Disney television animation studio, the premise is that the main characters are hybrids of two different animals. The original thirteen episodes ran on CBS for their first run. With only 13 episodes of The Wuzzles, it was one of the shortest running animated series produced by Disney. One season later, Wuzzles moved to ABC for reruns, and disappeared from network television after that. - 54September 14, 1985Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling is an American animated television series that originally aired on CBS Saturday mornings from September 14, 1985 to December 6, 1986, with reruns airing until June 27, 1987.
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Dino-Riders
October 1, 1988Dino-Riders is a cartoon television series that first aired in 1988. Dino-Riders was primarily a promotion to launch a new Tyco toy line. Only fourteen episodes were produced, three of which were produced on VHS for the United States. It aired in the U.S. as part of the Marvel Action Universe. The series focuses on the battle between the good Valorians and evil Rulons on prehistoric Earth. The Valorians were a super human race, while the Rulons were a mixture of humanoid creatures — both of which came from the future, however ended up transported back in time to the age of Dinosaurs. Once on Earth, the Valorians befriended dinosaurs while the Rulons brain-washed them. - 56
Pac-Man
1982 - 57
Star Wars: Ewoks
September 7, 1985Star Wars: Ewoks is an American/Canadian animated television series featuring the Ewok characters introduced in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. It aired for two seasons between 1985 and 1986. The series was produced by Nelvana on behalf of Lucasfilm and broadcast on ABC, both by itself and later, as part of The Ewoks and Droids Adventure Hour. The first season was advertised as simply Ewoks, but the second season was advertised as The All New Ewoks. The series lasted 35 episodes. - 58
Popples
1986Popples is a series of fantasy characters created by Those Characters From Cleveland, a subsidiary company of American Greetings. Popples resemble brightly colored teddy bears or marsupials and have long tails with pom-poms on the tip, they have pouches on their backs that they can go into to resemble brightly colored balls. - 59
Challenge of the GoBots
October 29, 1984Challenge of the GoBots, is an American animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera, based on the Gobots toy-line released from Tonka. The show originally debuted in animated form as a five-part miniseries, which aired in syndication from October 29 - November 2, 1984. A regular series followed the next year, premiering on September 16, 1985 as part of the weekday and weekend morning programming block The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera. The series was later rerun on the USA Cartoon Express. - 60September 8, 1989Princess Zelda and Link try to defend the kingdom of Hyrule from the evil wizard Ganon.
