TOP TEN CHILDHOOD CARTOONS
Welcome to another Top Ten from the warped minds of the people here at Blood Work. This month we're taking you for a nostalgia trip revisiting our favorite cartoons growing up.
We realize this is a little broad so we're narrowing it down to those cartoons we loved from the ages of 12 on down (roughly the years 1983-1995). There are cartoons of course from after this era that have become favorites but those are excluded from this list in favor of appearing on another list in the future.
No Japanese anime. No animated movies. Strictly animated television series, in particular those cartoons we woke up early on Saturday mornings to watch or raced home from school to see. There's a lot on this list which may indicate a misspent youth in front of the television. Some may see it that way but to us it was time well spent.
These are the cartoons that made us the fans and geeks we are today.
#15
MONSTER FORCE
Original Air Date: 1994
Episode Run: 13
Monster Force is a short lived series which was absolutely perfect for me. From Universal Studios, the show actually starred the classic Universal Monsters! Frankenstein's Monster and the Wolf Man led a group of human heroes against Dracula and his evil monsters, the Creature, the Mummy, the Bride, and another werewolf. This is what a Monster Squad cartoon would look like (it basically is). Monster Force was a mix of the classic monsters I loved and super heroics. What kid wouldn't want to watch this show? Apparently a lot as it didn't last too long (Much like Universal's DARK UNIVERSE franchise, huh?)
Admittedly I watched this show for the Creature From the Black Lagoon. This show is indicative of the types of cartoons and content that attracted my attention as a child. So keep this show in mind when trying to understand why certain cartoons are on here and why others are not.
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| The answer is yes. I do have this action figure. |
Hey, does anybody remember this similar show?
#14
DINOSAUCERS
Original Air Date: 1987
Episode Run: 65
Highly evolved alien dinosaurs from a Counter-Earth. Need I say more? Dinosaurs were probably my first love as a child. This mix of futuristic sci-fi elements with super hero dinosaur characters was utterly irresistible to my four year old self. In addition to sci-fi super heroics these Super-Dinos could undergo Dinovolving, an ability to revert to their primal dinosaur form. It's like the best of both worlds.
In many ways this show was a precursor to the style adopted for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles original animated series (another likely reason why I loved it so much).
#13
DARKWING DUCK
Original Air Date: 1991
Episode Run: 91
Batman if he were Donald Duck? Sold! Perhaps the greatest super hero epic set in the classic Disney animated world, Darkwing Duck was my favorite Disney cartoon growing up. I remember watching
DuckTales, TaleSpin, Chip n' Dale: Rescue Rangers, and the rest but nothing could touch the excitement of Darkwing Duck, for me at least. Like Batman, Darkwing had a great rogues gallery which I looked forward to seeing every episode.
Again, another show mixing super heroics with a strange element. Can you guess what shows are coming up next?
On a side note does anyone remember this show?
It was called
Count Duckula. I don't know why but when it comes anthropomorphized barnyard animals I seem to latch onto the duck characters. My favorite Looney Tune character is Daffy Duck. My favorite classic Disney character is Donald Duck. Marvel's Howard the Duck by Steve Gerber is actually a hidden gem in the comic book world. And wouldn't you know it, I love Count Duckula too! What a wonderful horror comedy.
Everyone raise a glass! Here's to the mallards!
#12
GARFIELD AND FRIENDS
Original Air Date: 1988
Episode Run: 121
Maybe it was the humor and whit of Jim Davis. Maybe it was the dry sarcastic character of Garfield. Or maybe I was simply following the work of Lorenzo Music. Who knows? But I loved this show as a kid (yes, even the "And Friends" segments). This was one of the Saturday morning cartoons on my watch list that I always stayed for. In all reality it was probably one of those shows that just came on and I merely sat through it. And over time I came to love it.
Muppet Babies was another show I really enjoyed and Garfield and Friends came on after it. Muppet Babies was on during the 7:00 am hour and I'd miss it a lot due to not having woken up yet. Garfield was one I was always awake for.
#11
DOUG
Original Air Date: 1991
Episode Run: 117
Getting further away from my typical tastes is the Nickelodeon original, DOUG. Doug is an anomaly of my child cartoon favorites that I can't quite explain. Maybe it was the somewhat loser main character that I could relate to growing up. Maybe it was the theme song. Maybe it was Doug's daydreams as Quail Man or filming his own giant monster movie with his dog, Pork Chop, as the monster. Maybe it was his slug costume in the very first episode that his friend Skeeter Valentine mistook for Godzilla. I don't know! But I liked it all the same.
Note: I did not like Brand Spanking New! Doug (the second Doug series when Disney acquired the show. They changed the voice cast! And the whole dynamic was different. Not cool, Disney. Not cool.)
Doug remains one of my favorite Nickelodeon originals followed by Rugrats. Ren and Stimpy, during that period of my life, was just too weird and creepy (had I been older I know I would've loved it though).
THE TOP TEN
#10
ROCKO'S MODERN LIFE
Original Air Date: 1993
Episode Run: 52
Here is my favorite Nickelodeon original cartoon series! It was weirder than Doug and Rugrats but not quite as weird as Ren and Stimpy. I loved the exaggerated characters and the music. And Rocko had my dream job too, working in a comic shop! Whether it was testing stampeding giraffe repellent, battling a killer vacuum cleaner, grocery shopping, or a phone sex operator, with Rocko everything was great.
Over a decade later Netflix uploaded the series for streaming for a brief time. And after years of not having watched the show I could still quote certain episodes word for word. And the show was funnier! There is a whole layer of adult humor that went over my head as a kid, some pretty racy stuff too. Man, this show is good.
#9
BEETLEJUICE
Original Air Date: 1989
Episode Run: 94
"I have an idea for a children's show: let's take the concept from the movie Beetlejuice!"
"You mean a story about a dead guy? The guy who turns into scary monsters and tries to kill people?"
"Yeah! We'll team him with Winona Ryder's character and they can have adventures together!"
"You wanna pair a male homicidal ghost with a teenage girl? The same homicidal ghost who grabs his crotch, swears, and goes into undead bordellos? Is that really the type of relationship we wanna promote for young women? What kind of adventures would they have?"
"They go to Beetlejuice's world and meet other ghosts and monsters. It'll be great!"
"He's gonna take a teenage girl with him to the land of the dead? 'sigh' Why not?"
Of all the concepts to market towards kids this one... is one of the greatest! Beetlejuice was one of my favorite movies growing up and the show likewise was one I couldn't afford to miss. Trips to the "Neitherworld" (basically Purgatory) pulling hijinks on ghosts and monsters and general bizarre stuff, when you think about it, is just the type of show kids would love. Mix in adult humor and some truly unsettling imagery and you get what kid shows are all about! Plus Tim Burton helped develop it and Danny Elfman provided the opening theme!
#8
LOONEY TUNES
Original Air Date: 1929
Episode Run: 1,003
Okay, this shouldn't count because technically these are theatrical short films, not a television show. But growing up these short films were playing on television round the clock, at least when I was a kid. And I loved them. I still love them. I buy as many of these classic Looney Tunes on DVD as I can! Iconic characters, an adult sense of humor, wild and zany action, and the full Warner Bros. symphony orchestra. Growing up I preferred the Looney Tunes to the Disney Silly Symphonies (but those were really good too!).
Daffy was the favorite followed by Bugs. Bugs got too cocky for me sometimes so I'd gravitate towards others. Now that I'm older I actually find Pepe LePew quite funny (although today he'd be eaten alive by the ME TOO movement). Marvin the Martian is awesome and so is Taz. And Porky Pig is extremely underrated. There were 1,003 Looney Tunes short films produced during the Golden Age (1929-1960) and I gotta admit that the Looney Tunes from the mid-1930's through the mid 1940's are probably my favorites (the era before Bugs got cocky and before Daffy got petty and greedy).
Then there was this little show which I liked quite a bit too!
TINY TOONS ADVENTURES
I actually preferred Tiny Toons to Animaniacs. While Animaniacs receives a lot of love and recognition I never quite got into it. But Tiny Toons completely captured by seven year old imagination. It was one of the shows I tuned in for every day after school.
#7
THE TICK
Original Air Date: 1994
Episode Run: 36
Super hero cartoons were in full swing by 1994 and I was eating it all up. When THE TICK came out it was just different enough with a very odd and humorous sensibility that it stood out. The riffing on Marvel and DC heroes was always fun to pick out and the sheer ridiculousness of it all is what made the show so addicting. And the Tick himself is so much fun and oh so dumb. The voice actor for the Tick (Townsend Coleman) is so hilarious in his deliveries.
The Tick is my favorite super hero satire. Given I don't go for too many super hero satires but this one is great.
Even so, I do like my serious super hero shows a bit more.
#6
BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES
Original Air Date: 1992
Episode Run: 85
Perhaps one of the greatest super hero shows of all time (live action, animated, or otherwise). Batman The Animated Series, in my opinion, is the best film depiction of the Dark Knight and his world. There are episodes that made me laugh like the "Almost Got Him" episode. Then there were episodes that almost scared me like the Scarecrow introduction episodes. And then there were totally epic episodes like the Ra's Al Ghoul introduction two-parter. The Clayface two parter was so awesome too. Oh, my god, I could keep going but I'm gonna stop... I like the Jonah Hex episodes too.
Kevin Conroy, in my opinion, is the greatest actor to have portrayed Batman. And Mark Hamill is the greatest actor to portray the Joker. The pedigree of voice actors throughout the show is astounding and absolutely amazing. And Shirley Walker's music is phenomenal.
The Superman animated series from the same era is quite good as well and probably my favorite depiction of the character too. Justice League and JL Unlimited again maintain the same quality and standards. DC's animation department is outstanding. So many good things to have come from them.
But those who know me know where my heart truly lies...
On a side note, GARGOYLES was a show that I should've loved, but for some reason I wasn't watching it. And I don't know why! It has everything I am drawn to and Keith David as the voice of Goliath! What was/is wrong with me?
#5
X-MEN THE ANIMATED SERIES
Original Air Date: 1992
Episode Run: 76
While DC may have the better characters and the better universe, I have always been and always will be a Marvel kid at heart. Simply put, DC doesn't have Hulk or Ghost Rider. Just to be clear, I don't think the X-Men animated series is better than Batman the animated series. But I personally prefer it as it is one of my favorite depictions of the Marvel universe. Now, while the X-Men may not be among my absolute favorites of Marvel's, I do think the world of them and really do like them. And honestly it's because of this series.
Like Batman the Animated Series, X-Men the animated series is probably the best translation of the X-Men on film. I love the characterizations of Wolverine, Beast, Gambit, and Rogue and this is probably the reason why these characters are among my favorite X-Men characters. And the themes of racism. love & hate, and fighting for equality are just as relevant today as they were back then.
Chris Claremont is and remains the greatest X-Men writer of all time and this show remained fairly faithful to the comics and Claremont's seminal stories. The Phoenix Saga remains one of the greatest events of any cartoon series I ever watched (and they showed us Ch'od and the Starjammers!). The saga with Apocalypse forever shaped my view of the great villain. And the cameos from other heroes like Captain America and Ms. Marvel were welcome surprises.
The X-Men series set in motion a number of other Marvel shows, among them Spider-Man, Iron Man, Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, and The Silver Surfer. Spider-Man was probably the one I of these that I latched onto the most. I loved the Silver Surfer show too. But the one of these that I should've been crazy for, The Incredible Hulk, I couldn't watch! The Hulk show was on the channel UPN, the only one of these Marvel shows not on FOX. What the hell?!
I also have a theory, had the comic industry not tanked in the mid 90's and had Marvel not gone bankrupt, that the next Marvel cartoon series in the works was a GHOST RIDER show. Marvel was already testing him in their other shows like Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk. ARG! I would've freaked out had that actually happened! Shame it didn't.
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| And it would've been the Danny Ketch Ghost Rider too! |
#4
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
Original Air Date: 1987
Episode Run: 193
I can remember what my first TMNT toy was: Michelangelo. From there it became my goal to acquire all the different character toys. And to watch every single episode of the show. For the longest time this show was the pinnacle of my cartoon watching. I thought nothing could get better than this. Reinforced by the toys, the movies, the comic books, and the video games, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were KING in my young life for a time. And despite current, less than desirable, iterations there is a part of me that still loves them.
This cartoon, according to some, hasn't held up with age. I say you gotta place yourself in the right mindset and the show becomes just as addictive as it once was. I still love particular episodes like the four mutant frogs, the introduction of SLASH, and the Eye of Sarnath saga. And I gotta say this show was pretty wild and far out with alternate dimensions (Dimension X), Krang, the Technodrome, time-travel, and all manner of mutant creatures. The show was a far cry from the original gritty vigilante style comic book.
A classic regardless if you think it doesn't hold up.
#3
THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS
Original Air Date: 1986
Episode Run: 140
Some say this show is the greatest spawn of the movie Ghostbusters. Then there are some that claim this show is responsible for the downfall of the Ghostbusters property. Well, maybe it did effect how Ghostbusters 2 turned out, but I absolutely love this show. And it is still a great show today. Strong scripts from J. Michael Straczynski, quality animation, the music, and wonderful voice acting and characterizations enabled this show to stand the test of time. Don't believe me? Watch the first season and you'll see.
When someone says Ghostbusters I think of Lorenzo Music, Arsenio Hall, Frank Welker, and Maurice LaMarche almost as quickly as I think of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson. I used to get together with my friend Eliot as kids and watch this show on repeat. I remember loving all the weird monsters populating every episode and even thinking the Boogey Man character was scary. And who can forget the awesome toys and action figures?
Few kids shows from this era are as good as this but when you look at the cast and crew you begin to understand why. Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis supervised the show (to a degree) and other favorite comic scribes of mine like J.M. DeMattias, J.M. Lofficier and Randy Lofficier, and Keith Giffen contributed episode scripts too.
#2
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE
Original Air Date: 1983
Episode Run: 130
Masters of the Universe is part of what defined an era of my life. He-Man and Skeletor are a part of what composed the 1980's for me. Sure, there were a bunch of great movies like Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, and Crocodile Dundee to name only a few, and He-Man was just as vital. Pure fantasy and science fiction given form. Probably the very first action figures I ever owned (the first I can remember having) were He-Man and Skeletor. And I can remember the television show theme music eliciting unbridled excitement from my childhood self (and I wouldn't be lying if I said it still does today, if only a little bit).
Looking on the show today, it is incredibly dated and you can easily tell that the production company had practically no money to make the show. And it's true. They didn't have much of a budget at all for the show, which makes the feat they accomplished all the more remarkable. Even within the show's shortcomings there is an inherent charm. You begin watching it today after not having seen it for, say, thirty years, and go, "Oh my that's bad." But then you keep watching... and soon you find yourself a person in their mid-thirties and totally addicted. There is a "Power" to this show.
For me it's all in the characters and the imagery (as the stories, animation, and voice acting leaves something to be desired). The character of He-Man is such a powerful image, inspiring and exciting. Conversely the image of Skeletor is frightening, evoking the essence of nightmares. Then you hear them talk and all sense of grandeur is lost. But then you embrace it anyway. One of the finest pieces of the show are the background templates. The scenery was incredibly well drawn and surprisingly creepy. Eternia is a frightening looking world, more suited to Skeletor and the Evil Warriors.
There are many horror elements that no doubt captured my attention as a child and are still captivating today. With a few exceptions I prefer the designs for the villains over most of the heroes. There are monsters galore in this show and as a kid I couldn't wait to
see what kind of monster I'd be treated to with every episode. Mer-Man is my Creature From the Black Lagoon analog. Trap Jaw is Frankenstein, Beast Man is the Wolf Man, and Evil Lyn is the Bride or a classic Witch. Truth be told I think I like Skeletor as much as I like He-Man. And therein lies the true strength of the show: you have a villain as potent as the hero. For me, if you're crafting a hero, that hero's rogues should be just as captivating.
Then there's She-Ra: Princess of Power. As a young boy I didn't really go for She-Ra. Watching her show today I've realized that I should've fully embraced her. She-Ra's show has higher production value across the board and it's obvious to see. And there are just as many horror-elements and monsters in her show as there are in He-Man's. In fact I think the character Shadow Weaver is one of the best characters among both shows. I now consider She-Ra essentially the next chapter of He-Man (as He-Man or Skeletor show up every third episode or so).
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| Shadow Weaver |
So, now you're all asking... where the hell are the THUNDERCATS?! I can't explain this at all. Many consider the Thundercats to be far superior to the Masters of the Universe, and rightly so. While I was aware of Thundercats growing up, and thought the badguys looked awesome, I never watched the show. And I can't tell you why I never watched Thundercats. Similar to how I missed the show Gargoyles, why I missed Thundercats is a mystery even to me (I do think Mumm Ra's design is epic!).
Now G.I. JOE, I can tell you why I never quite latched onto that show. Simply put, there were no monsters. Same with Transformers or Robotech. No monsters or overt horror elements (that and my giant robot phase didn't occur until later). Gatchaman, Silverhawks, Ronin Warriors, and Gobots were others too that I, for some reason or other, didn't watch despite knowing I'd most likely love them. Know that I don't think there is anything wrong with shows like G.I. Joe or Transformers nor do I think they are inferior to any of the shows listed here. I just didn't watch them when I was a kid (despite how it may appear I actually played outside a lot too).
#1
INHUMANOIDS
Original Air Date: 1986
Episode Run: 13
Ancient primal gods, sealed away deep below the Earth's crust eons ago, have awakened. Released from their elemental prisons, these three giant monsters set about the ruin of mankind with a desire to bring about the apocalypse. Four super scientists, the heads of the Earth Corps foundation, set about preventing the Inhumanoids from destroying the world. In order to stand a chance of succeeding the Earth Corps must ally themselves with the primeval elementals who sealed the Inhumanoids away in times long forgotten.
Giant evil monsters rise up from the bowels of the Earth. Tell me what's not to like about this. The first five episodes form a single story arc which, when edited together, make for a pretty good movie. It's dark. It's scary at times. And it has three great monsters at the center of it. The three Inhumanoids are:
Tendril ~ Ravager of the Earth. Tendril is a green tentacled monster inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu. He's either plant-like in nature or crustacean (akin to an octopus). If any piece of Tendril is separated, no matter how small, it will grow into another smaller Tendril creature. Tendril was ultimately subdued and sealed within a stone chamber deep in the Earth by a race of stone people called the Granites.
D'Compose ~ The Undead Horror. D'Compose is the personification of rot and entropy, an elder god of death, and lord of the zombies. D'Compose lives in the darkness and shadows, unable to stand the light of day. His merest touch will transform any flesh and blood creature into a zombified monster. He rules over a subterranean necropolis called Skellweb, a city of the living dead. D'Compose has an exposed ribcage with which he can trap people inside where his guts will dissolve the person into his being. Like the myths of vampires, D'Compose is weak to sunlight, the sun's rays anesthetizing him. A race of sentient tree beings called the Redwoods once subdued D'Compose via sunlight and then, while paralyzed, encased the monster in amber.
Metlar ~ Hellish Demon of the Underworld. Metlar is the strongest of the Inhumanoids and hellbent on ending the human race. His domain is at the fiery center of the Earth, the realm of Infernac. At home in the lava and master of the primal flame, Metlar can breath fire and spew chunks of lava from his mouth. He possesses a hypnotic gaze able to still any creature who looks upon him. Composed of molten flesh and metal, powerful magnetic forces can paralyze him and water can weaken him. Metlar is the beast prophesied to end the world and was the creature who inspired the first images of the devil in early man. During the war of the Inhumans Metlar was subdued by the elemental creature know as Magnocore, the embodiment of Earth's magnetic field.
And this was a kids show?! Awesome! In truth it was probably the dark storyline and frightening imagery that led to the show being cancelled. There's a moment in the show where D'Compose touches one of the main characters and you see her transform into a nightmarish creature the likes of Evil Dead II (one of my favorite moments in the show). In today's market this show would probably work well with an older audience (I am even more into it now as an adult). Marvel Comics partnered with Sunbrow Productions and Hasbro to produce the show, hence the reason the show was so well written.
Inhumanoids is my "Be All End All" and "Holy Grail" of childhood cartoons. The show was short lived, a part of a Hasbro toy initiative in the spirit of Transformers and G.I. Joe, and sadly never really caught on. But my three year old imagination was captivated the likes of never before. I remember the Christmas of 1986 (the first Christmas I can remember) and the pièce de résistance of my presents that year was an Inhumanoids action figure: D'Compose. If you hadn't guessed it, D'Compose is my favorite of the Inhumanoids (even when I was a kid). I still have that 32 year old figure and it stands in my man-cave as a testament to my undying love for this show.
In fact I probably owe my love of monsters and horror to the Inhumanoids as this was likely my first real exposure to both. Man, do I love this show!
And there you have it! My favorite shows growing up! So, maybe I watched a lot of television as a kid. And when it comes to these show that time spent parked in front of the television was well worth it.
Now this list was only the shows I loved from when I was a little kid to twelve years old. There are other cartoon shows that I fell in love with the years after. And that's not including anime either! Expect more lists chronicling these other shows in the future.
And for even more Top Ten lists of mine, check out these other posts below
