The Best 1970s Animated Shows, Ranked
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Vote up your favorite animated series that aired on TV in the '70s
- 1Don Messick, Casey Kasem, Frank WelkerCartoon capers with Scooby-Doo and the gang.
- 2Tom Kenny, Rick Zieff, Gary ColeTom and Jerry is an American animated series of short films created in 1940, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. It centers on a rivalry between its two main characters, Tom Cat and Jerry Mouse, and many recurring characters, based around slapstick comedy. In its original run, Hanna and Barbera produced 114 Tom and Jerry shorts for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from 1940 to 1957. During this time, they won seven Academy Awards for Animated Short Film, tying for first place with Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies with the most awards in the category. After the MGM cartoon studio closed in 1957, MGM revived the series with Gene Deitch directing an additional 13 Tom and Jerry shorts for Rembrandt Films from 1960 to 1962. Tom and Jerry then became the highest-grossing animated short film series of that time, overtaking Looney Tunes. Chuck Jones then produced another 34 shorts with Sib-Tower 12 Productions between 1963 and 1967. Two more shorts were produced, The Mansion Cat in 2001 and The Karate Guard in 2005, for a total of 163 shorts. Various shorts have been released for home media since the 1990s.More Tom and Jerry
- Dig Deeper...The Best Tom And Jerry Episodes of All Time
- #1 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #2 of 578 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- 3Mel BlancThe Bugs Bunny Show, which premiered on October 11, 1960, is an animated television series featuring the mischievous and clever Bugs Bunny as its central character. The show compiled classic theatrical Warner Bros. cartoons, mainly directed by Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng, for a new TV audience. Each episode included several shorts starring Bugs Bunny and other beloved Looney Tunes characters like Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Tweety Bird. The series is celebrated for its witty humor, slapstick comedy, and the use of classical music. It introduced catchphrases like "What's up, Doc?" into popular culture and became a staple of Saturday morning cartoons for generations of viewers.More The Bugs Bunny Show
- #15 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #27 of 578 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- #7 of 80 onThe Most Unforgettable '80s Cartoons
- 4Mel Blanc, June Foray, Bea BenaderetThe Road Runner Show was an animated anthology series which compiled theatrical Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner cartoons from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, which were produced by Warner Bros. Cartoons between 1948 and 1966. Several of the shorts, especially the ones produced from 1965 onward, were produced specifically for television by Format Films after Warner Bros. closed their animation studio. The Road Runner Show also ran for two seasons on CBS, and then on ABC for two seasons. There were two Road Runner/Coyote cartoons during each episode, with another WB animated character in the middle segment. CBS combined The Road Runner Show with The Bugs Bunny Show in 1968. The Road Runner and the Coyote more often shared at least an hour with Bugs Bunny on CBS during the late-1960s through the mid-1980s to the early-1990s. The theme song was written and performed by Barbara Cameron, in 1999 was covered by the Mexican band Chicos de Barrio.More The Road Runner Show
- #9 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #19 of 578 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- #47 of 198 onThe 200+ Best Cartoon Theme Songs
- 5Blossom Dearie, Jack Sheldon, Grady TateA generation of American kids grew up singing the catchy tunes that were a integral part of "Schoolhouse Rock." These animated shorts incorporate songs that illustrate educational subjects such as history, science, multiplication tables and basic grammar.More Schoolhouse Rock
- #109 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #41 of 193 on190+ Saturday Morning Cartoons From The '80s And '90s
- #30 of 420 onThe 385 Popular Children Cartoons
- 6Danny Dark, Olan Soule, Casey KasemIn 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.More Super Friends
- #182 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #60 of 193 on190+ Saturday Morning Cartoons From The '80s And '90s
- #177 of 578 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- 7Paul Frees, Rich Little, Dave BarryWatch for Free with Amazon Prime Free TrialThe Pink Panther Show is an animated television series that features the iconic, suave Pink Panther character in a variety of silent cartoon shorts. The show often places him in absurd situations and slapstick gags, while he cleverly evades the bumbling attempts of the Inspector to catch him. The iconic character's cool demeanor and wit consistently outsmart his adversaries. The series is also known for its distinctive, jazzy theme music by Henry Mancini. The main elements include humor in the form of pantomiming and the thrill of the chase.
- #31 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #52 of 193 on190+ Saturday Morning Cartoons From The '80s And '90s
- #21 of 578 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- 8Casey Kasem, Ted Knight, Ted CassidyThe All-New Super Friends Hour is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from September 10, 1977, to September 2, 1978, on ABC. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and is based on the Justice League and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics.
- 9Scatman Crothers, Joe E. Ross, Don MessickPenrod Pooch leaps into action as Hong Kong Phooey to fight villains.More Hong Kong Phooey
- #209 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #90 of 193 on190+ Saturday Morning Cartoons From The '80s And '90s
- #165 of 578 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- 10Olan Soule, Casey Kasem, Ted KnightCaped Crusaders Batman and Robin capture criminals.
- 11Wally Cox, Norma MacMillan, Kenny DelmarA humble shoeshine boy's alter ego battles crime.More Underdog
- #176 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #136 of 578 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- #52 of 420 onThe 385 Popular Children Cartoons
- 12Bill Scott, June Foray, Paul FreesThe Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, which premiered on November 19, 1959, is an iconic animated television series known for its satirical humor that has appealed to both children and adults. The show follows the misadventures of Rocky, a flying squirrel, and Bullwinkle, a dim-witted moose, as they encounter nefarious villains like Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the series cleverly parodies contemporary politics and pop culture. Its mix of slapstick comedy, puns, and cultural references has cemented its status as a classic in American animation. The show's legacy includes influencing generations of comedians and animators with its unique style and wit.
- #133 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #45 of 193 on190+ Saturday Morning Cartoons From The '80s And '90s
- #112 of 578 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- 13Bill Cosby, Jan Crawford, Lou ScheimerWatch for Free with Amazon Prime Free TrialFat 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.
- #202 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #63 of 193 on190+ Saturday Morning Cartoons From The '80s And '90s
- #195 of 578 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- 14Daws Butler, Josh Albee, Julie BennettYogi's Gang is a 30-minute animated series and the second incarnation of Hanna-Barbera's Yogi Bear which aired 16 half-hour episodes on ABC from September 8, 1973, to December 29, 1973. The show began as Yogi's Ark Lark, a special TV movie on The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie in 1972. Fifteen original episodes were produced for broadcast on ABC, with the hour-long Yogi's Ark Lark thrown in as a split-in-half two-parter. After a successful run on Saturday mornings, episodes of Yogi's Gang were serialized on the syndicated weekday series, Fred Flintstone and Friends in 1977. In the late 1980s, repeats were shown on USA Cartoon Express and later resurfaced on Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Boomerang.More Yogi's Gang
- #327 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #29 of 90 onThe 90+ Best Cartoons from the '70s
- #28 of 71 onThe Best Hanna-Barbera Cartoons You're Dying to Watch Again
- 15
The Great Grape Ape Show
Bob Holt, Marty IngelsThe Great Grape Ape Show is a Saturday morning cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions that was broadcast on ABC from 1975 to 1978. - 16Grace Stafford, Walter LantzA crafty bird thwarts those who want to stop his wood-pecking.
- #70 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #23 of 193 on190+ Saturday Morning Cartoons From The '80s And '90s
- #61 of 578 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- 17Janet Waldo, Jackie Joseph, Barbara PariotAdventures of an all-girl musical group.
- #236 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #123 of 193 on190+ Saturday Morning Cartoons From The '80s And '90s
- #179 of 578 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- 18William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, James DoohanThe animated adventures of Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and the crew of the Starship Enterprise.
- #448 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #133 of 282 onThe 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time
- #387 of 578 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- 19John Astin, Julie Bennett, Ted CassidyCaptain Caveman and the Teen Angels is an animated series created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears and produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions from September 10, 1977 to June 21, 1980 on ABC. The first and second seasons were originally broadcast as segments on the package shows Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics and Scooby's All-Stars from 1977 to 1979 and the third season featured Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels in their own half-hour timeslot in 1980.
- #349 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #300 of 578 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- #53 of 420 onThe 385 Popular Children Cartoons
- 20Tommy CookFour kids and a shark solve underwater mysteries.More Jabberjaw
- #267 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #141 of 420 onThe 385 Popular Children Cartoons
- #104 of 193 on190+ Saturday Morning Cartoons From The '80s And '90s
- 21Don Messick, Daws Butler, Paul WinchellThe Banana Splits Adventure Hour was an hour-long, packaged television variety program featuring The Banana Splits, a fictional rock band composed of four funny animal characters. The costumed hosts of the show were Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snorky. The series was produced by Hanna-Barbera, and ran for 31 episodes on NBC Saturday mornings, from September 7, 1968, to September 5, 1970. The costumes and sets were designed by Sid and Marty Krofft and the series' sponsor was Kellogg's Cereals. The show featured both live action and animated segments and was Hanna-Barbera’s first foray into mixing live action with animation.
- #187 of 218 onThe 220 Best Cult TV Shows
- #255 of 420 onThe 385 Popular Children Cartoons
- #137 of 198 onThe 200+ Best Cartoon Theme Songs
- 22Jay North, Sally Struthers, Mel BlancThe Stone Age teens face dating, school and other typical teen situations at Bedrock High.
- #331 of 540 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #41 of 90 onThe 90+ Best Cartoons from the '70s
- #140 of 156 onThe Best TV Shows Of The '70s, Ranked
- 23Scatman Crothers, Eddie Anderson, Robert DoQuiHarlem Globetrotters is a Saturday morning cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera and CBS Productions, featuring animated versions of players from the famous basketball team, Harlem Globetrotters. Broadcast from September 12, 1970 to September 2, 1972 on CBS, and later re-run on NBC as The Go-Go Globetrotters, the show featured cartoon versions of George "Meadowlark" Lemon, Freddie "Curly" Neal, Hubert "Geese" Ausbie, J.C. "Gip" Gipson, Bobby Joe Mason, and Paul "Pablo" Robertson, alongside their fictional bus driver and manager, Granny, and their dog mascot, Dribbles. The series worked to a formula where the team travels somewhere and typically get involved in a local conflict that leads to one of the Globetrotters proposing a basketball game to settle the issue. To ensure the Globetrotters' defeat, the villains rig the contest; however, before the second half of the contest, the team always finds a way to even the odds, become all but invincible, and win the game.
- 24Robert RidgelyTarzan, Lord of the Jungle is an animated series created by the Filmation studio for CBS. There are a total of 36 episodes produced over the first four seasons. The series does not appear in the Entertainment Rights library, and the rights most likely rest with the estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs. However, Warner Home Video has released one episode on DVD, "Tarzan and the Colossus of Zome," on Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1970s Volume 1; Warner Bros.' rights to the series may originate from their ownership of international TV distribution rights in the 1970s and 1980s.
- 25Dick Beals, Nancy WibleYoung boy faces life's ups and downs with his canine companion.More Davey and Goliath
- #30 of 50 onThe 50 Best 1960s Cartoons, Ranked
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- #46 of 70 onThe 65 Best TV Shows About Dogs, Ranked
- 26Frank Welker, Don Messick, Lennie WeinribWheelie and the Chopper Bunch is a 30-minute cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera which aired for one season on NBC from September 7, 1974 to August 30, 1975. It aired on Saturday morning from 8:30-9:00 am, opposite the popular The Bugs Bunny Show. 39 six-minute installments of the show were made. In the 80s, repeats were shown on USA Cartoon Express and later resurfaced on Cartoon Network and Boomerang. Since the show aired on NBC, Wheelie sometimes "imitated" the network's trademark "chimes". This was the first and only Hanna-Barbera series that has no humans and animals in it.
- 27Danny Bonaduce, Susan Dey, Paul WinchellGoober and the Ghost Chasers is a Saturday morning cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and animated by the Eric Porter Studios in Australia, which aired on ABC from September 8, 1973 to August 30, 1975. A total of 16 half-hour episodes of Goober and the Ghost Chasers were produced. The show's episodes were later serialized as part of the syndicated weekday series Fred Flintstone and Friends in 1977. On cable, it was shown as part of USA Cartoon Express and later on Boomerang.
- 28
Deputy Dawg
Dayton Allen, Lionel G. WilsonDeputy Dawg is a Terrytoons cartoon character featured on the animated television series of the same name.More Deputy Dawg- #185 of 420 onThe 385 Popular Children Cartoons
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- #61 of 72 onThe Greatest Animated Dogs From Cartoons & Comics
- 29Joel Cooper, Donald Fullilove, Mike MartinezThe animated adventures of the band of musical brothers.
- 30Mel Blanc, John Stephenson, Daws ButlerGalaxy Goof-Ups is a half-hour Saturday morning animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions which aired on NBC from September 9, 1978 to September 1, 1979. The "Galaxy Goof-Ups" consisted of Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Scare Bear and Quack-Up as space patrolmen who always goofed-up while on duty and spent most of their time in disco clubs. The show originally aired as a segment on Yogi's Space Race from September 9, 1978 to October 28, 1978. Following the cancellation of Yogi's Space Race, Galaxy Goof-Ups was given its own half-hour timeslot on NBC. The show has been rebroadcast on USA Cartoon Express, Nickelodeon, TNT, Cartoon Network and Boomerang.
