Cartoons of the 80’s

Just gotta love them.

from JoeUser Forums
You all should know by now I’m a big 80’s fan. I love the music, music videos, movies and yes the girls. But I also have another passion, cartoons of the 80’s. I’ll never forget those great cartoons such as He-Man,



Galaxy Rangers,



Voltron,



Fat Albert,



G.I. Joe



and my all time favorite M.A.S.K.



As good as some cartoons are now a days, they just can’t compare to those of the 80’s. Sure there are a few exceptions such as Dragonball Z



Gundum Wing



and Yu-gi-oh.



Yes I still watch cartoons today. I never stopped watching them, I find them entertaining and relaxing and 100 miles away from reality. I get enough of that every time I open my eyes. Besides, I have 2 kids and watching TV with them is a must. Though most of them have less violence in 20 episodes of them that in 1 minute of Dragonball Z. The 80’s cartoon were kinda like sex scenes in movies years ago where they barely showed anything. Violence was very mild and hero’s barely got the worst of it. Heck, no one ever died in G.I. Joe. If that were even possible. But things have changed and at times keeping count of the dead is about as easy as counting the bullets being shot out of an automatic weapon.

So, what was your favorite 80’s cartoon? What cartoons can you remember and wish to see again, maybe on DVD? How do they compare to today’s cartoons? Do you own any episodes of some 80’s cartoons??
blogging
9,723 views 21 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Great topic.

I grew up on Voltron, Transformers, Gi-Joe, He-Man, Thundercats, Silverhawks, Smurfs, Snorks, Galaxy High, Lazer Tag Academy, and a bunch of Hanna-Barbara shtuff I can't even remember the names of. Some of the most action-packed and emotionally charged toons to have ever hit the tv arrived in the 80's, usually accompanied by a healthy dose of slightly lame PSA's.

I really have a hard time appreciating any of the cartoons inhabiting the television today, but if I had kids, I would wish they'd get the chance to see Digimon, Pokemon, PBS Kids programming - then leave the telly alone.

Oh, it wasn't a cartoon, but Captain Power was a great prog back in the 80's.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
grew up on Voltron, Transformers, Gi-Joe, He-Man, Thundercats, Silverhawks, Smurfs, Snorks, Galaxy High, Lazer Tag Academy, and a bunch of Hanna-Barbara shtuff I can't even remember the names of. Some of the most action-packed and emotionally charged toons to have ever hit the tv arrived in the 80's, usually accompanied by a healthy dose of slightly lame PSA's.


Wow, what a great list, had forgotten about a couple of those. Never hear of Galaxy High before and never got a chance to see Lazer Tag Academy. Really wish I could get episodes of some of these cartoons. i have a few from Transformers, He-man and She-Ra. I wonder if I could share and trade with others?

I really have a hard time appreciating any of the cartoons inhabiting the television today, but if I had kids, I would wish they'd get the chance to see Digimon, Pokemon, PBS Kids programming - then leave the telly alone.


I on't mind them much except for those really japanimation drawn ones like Bobo Bo BoBoBo Bo or something like that. My kids like these cartoons you mention but i try to keep them connected to educational ones so they don't steer to far off.

Oh, it wasn't a cartoon, but Captain Power was a great prog back in the 80's.


Never heard of it, sounds interesting though.
TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sorry, there has been no great cartoons since the hey day of Loony Tunes.  Bugs is the best!  Daffy cant be beat, and of course Tom and Jerry, Sylvester and Tweety, and the Road Runner.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

Anyone remember Star Blazers the series?
That was the best
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sorry, there has been no great cartoons since the hey day of Loony Tunes. Bugs is the best! Daffy cant be beat, and of course Tom and Jerry, Sylvester and Tweety, and the Road Runner.


Ok, Ok, I'll let you get away with this. I have to say though that replacements have been horrible. Tinytoons stinks, Baby Looneytoons is boring, Lunitics Unleashed is a sad attempt to make a fighting show out of a funny cartoon and the newest Tom and jerry episodes and movies lack the style of the original ones.

You guys are probably thinking I watch to many cartoons, can't help it, I never grew out of them Will probably watch them till the day I die. I even found a cartoon for my favorite collecting item, Hotwheels.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

I have to say though that replacements have been horrible. Tinytoons stinks, Baby Looneytoons is boring, Lunitics Unleashed is a sad attempt to make a fighting show out of a funny cartoon and the newest Tom and jerry episodes and movies lack the style of the original ones.

I agree.  That is why I was careful to say the old ones.  And they dont make them anymore.  Besides. Mel Blanc is dead, and with him died countless cartoon voices.

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree. That is why I was careful to say the old ones. And they dont make them anymore. Besides. Mel Blanc is dead, and with him died countless cartoon voices.


Wow, just like Charles Shultz and Charlie Brown. What a shame. At least I have DVD with the old episodes and a few of those forbidden ones I've heard about online like that one about Vietnam I think it was.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Great topic, something I can definitely identify with... but let me pick some (very small) nits:

1) Technically Dragonball Z could be considered a "Cartoon of the 80's", since it premiered in April of '89 in Japan.

2) While no one died in the G.I.Joe cartoon (I know, I know, this was about the cartoons), they eventually killed off about a half-dozen of the Joes in the comic book. I thought it was always interesting that the Joes always hit the engines of the Cobra vehicles, and they didn't blow up until the pilots/drivers had enough time to bail out (safely, and with a parachute if necessary).
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Image hosting by Photobucket

Mark, Jason, Princess, Tiny, Keyop.... G-Force from Battle of the Planets.

It ruled!

oh and: Image hosting by Photobucket
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
80's cartoons sure are the best.. but is it 'cause I myself date of the 80's or just because they are beter than cartoons from the 90's or 00's?
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
1) Technically Dragonball Z could be considered a "Cartoon of the 80's", since it premiered in April of '89 in Japan.


That's just a technicality. , I still think it's one of the best animes.

2) While no one died in the G.I.Joe cartoon (I know, I know, this was about the cartoons), they eventually killed off about a half-dozen of the Joes in the comic book. I thought it was always interesting that the Joes always hit the engines of the Cobra vehicles, and they didn't blow up until the pilots/drivers had enough time to bail out (safely, and with a parachute if necessary).


They did? Didn't know that. I never saw the comic books so wouldn't really know, was not my thing. It's true they always had time to run. At least Cobra saved money having to recuit more of them.

G-Force from Battle of the Planets.


Ah yes, that is my second favorite cartoon. I love that ship and all the vehicles. Was not a big fan of underdog though. Just not me.



80's cartoons sure are the best.. but is it 'cause I myself date of the 80's or just because they are beter than cartoons from the 90's or 00's?


There's no doubt they were the best.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
i was a huge fan of transformers so i decided to watch it recently ... remembering the fact that i used to love watching them when i was younger... well lets just say i wanted to shoot myself after watching the first 2 episodes... they were horrible and they left no detailed untouched... they would explain every single last detail to the bone... same with thundercats.... so the truly good cartoons of the 80s were in my opinion... tom and jerry, tom and jerry kids (not really 80s) ... pink panther, felix the cat, mr. magoo, bugs bunny and the gang.... and tons more i cant seem to recall at the moment.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
I loved Transformers, He-Man and good old bugs bunny! I also loved O Mighty Isis which no one ever seems to remember! No matter who I ask about it when we're discussing cartooons remember that one.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
I loved Transformers, He-Man and good old bugs bunny! I also loved O Mighty Isis which no one ever seems to remember! No matter who I ask about it when we're discussing cartooons remember that one.


Never heard of Isis but now I know why, this was a 70's show. Strange though, I was born in 76, should have at least heard of her. What about this character, anyone know him?
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
Cool article. Anything on the 80s always gets a thumbs-up from RW.

I was a child of the 70s, but a teen of the 80s (I graduated in 1985), so I was a little out of the cartoons by then. I usually spent Saturday morning sleeping in after indulging in a night-long orgy of music videos on "Night Tracks" on TBS or "Night Flight" on USA. "Tracks" was the best, though, in my opinion.
I did, however, enjoy "Thundarr the Barbarian" and "Blackstar".

Never heard of Isis but now I know why, this was a 70's show. Strange though, I was born in 76, should have at least heard of her. What about this character, anyone know him?


"Isis" was on in 1975 or '76. You'd have been too young to remember the "Shazam/Isis Hour".

That's Mighty Mouse! "Heeere I come to save the day!!!"
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
It won't let me edit, so I'll have to write this here. Server errors!

Isis; I can't remember the details now, but I do remember that she could turn into the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian goddess. Hence the name. As I said above, there was a show called "The Shazam/Isis Hour", and both shows were live action. How about "Jason of Star Command"? Anyone? "Space Academy"? How about a cartoon called "Kimba", about a white lion cub's adventures? i just barely remember it, myself.
"H.R. Puffenstuff"? "Lidsville"? Both live action. People in costumes.

I do remember "Star Blazers", too, and "Battle of the Planets". They were both great shows. They were on in the morning before school. Cap'n Crunch with Crunchberries and cartoons! Great way to start the day!
I grew up on "Speed Racer", "Ultraman", another live action series, this one from Japan, and reruns of "The Adventures of Superman", "Batman", "The Lone Ranger" and the old '60s Marvel cartoons. "Spider-Man", "The Hulk", "The Avengers", etc.

I still watch cartoons, too. I'm 38. I'm a big fan of the Fox Sunday Night lineup. "King of the Hill", "The Simpsons", "Family Guy" and "American Dad". I'd love it if Cartoon Network would show some good old American cartoons once in a while, somewhere in the midst of all that weird crap. About the only thing I can even come close to relating to these days is the "Teen Titans", but the animation and art gives me a headache. I did like "Dexter's Laboratory", though, too (once, they had a guest appearance by Blue Falcon and DynoMutt"---remember them?) and "Johnny Bravo". Even "Power Puff Girls" was acceptable. But all that weird stuff just irritates me.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
I was a child of the 70s, but a teen of the 80s (I graduated in 1985), so I was a little out of the cartoons by then. I usually spent Saturday morning sleeping in after indulging in a night-long orgy of music videos on "Night Tracks" on TBS or "Night Flight" on USA. "Tracks" was the best, though, in my opinion.I did, however, enjoy "Thundarr the Barbarian" and "Blackstar".


Ah Thundarr, great show. Kinda reminds me of an end of the world He-man. Never heard of those other shows though.

Isis; I can't remember the details now, but I do remember that she could turn into the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian goddess. Hence the name. As I said above, there was a show called "The Shazam/Isis Hour", and both shows were live action. How about "Jason of Star Command"? Anyone? "Space Academy"? How about a cartoon called "Kimba", about a white lion cub's adventures? i just barely remember it, myself. "H.R. Puffenstuff"? "Lidsville"? Both live action. People in costumes.


Wow, that's a lot of shows I've never even heard of. And I watch a lot of TV.

I do remember "Star Blazers", too, and "Battle of the Planets". They were both great shows. They were on in the morning before school. Cap'n Crunch with Crunchberries and cartoons! Great way to start the day!I grew up on "Speed Racer", "Ultraman", another live action series, this one from Japan, and reruns of "The Adventures of Superman", "Batman", "The Lone Ranger" and the old '60s Marvel cartoons. "Spider-Man", "The Hulk", "The Avengers", etc.


Ah thosew ere and still are some great toons.

I still watch cartoons, too. I'm 38. I'm a big fan of the Fox Sunday Night lineup. "King of the Hill", "The Simpsons", "Family Guy" and "American Dad". I'd love it if Cartoon Network would show some good old American cartoons once in a while, somewhere in the midst of all that weird crap. About the only thing I can even come close to relating to these days is the "Teen Titans", but the animation and art gives me a headache. I did like "Dexter's Laboratory", though, too (once, they had a guest appearance by Blue Falcon and DynoMutt"---remember them?) and "Johnny Bravo". Even "Power Puff Girls" was acceptable. But all that weird stuff just irritates me.


I actually watch those shows as well. Family Guy is my Fav. Teen Titans can be good most of the time but boring once in a while, I would rather see Justice League Unlimited. And those other toons were great, giving some local people a chance to make a cartoon and show it on Cartoon network for the first time was a great idea, too bad they stopped doing that and instead began to show these stupid new cartoons.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
80's cartoons sure are the best.. but is it 'cause I myself date of the 80's or just because they are beter than cartoons from the 90's or 00's?


I think cel animation will always be better than CGI, personally. While some of the newer cartoons still use cel animation, it is becoming rarer and rarer. That's what makes the difference in my opinion; Cel animation is ART, computer animation doesn't have enough frame by frame personal involvement for me to put it on the same level, personally.
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
I can't believe no one has mentioned my personal favorite -


Perhaps my fav cartoon of ALL time.
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
"COPS"----Hm. Never heard of it. Did it feature stoned, digitally-blurred-faced villains in wife-beater t-shirts?

Does anyone remember "Valley of the Dinosaurs"?

Another 70s cartoon. Sorry. I'm old.