Top 10 Best 80s Cartoons You Forgot Existed
#10: “Dungeons & Dragons” (1983-85)
The 1980s was a halcyon decade for both imaginative cartoon ideas and adaptations of established properties. “Dungeons & Dragons” belongs to the latter, and it lives, rent-free, within the hearts and minds of many ‘80s kids who watched it on Saturday mornings. The show was a colorful and enthusiastic take on the classic role-playing adventure, placing a group of modern-day kids inside of an alternate reality full of mythical monsters and evil wizards. Sadly, the three season run of “Dungeons & Dragons” never received a proper ending, although an original script was adapted as an audio play for home video release. Additionally, the 2023 live action D&D film featured a cameo by some of our favorite heroes, so at least they live on!
#9: “The Wuzzles” (1985)
Top 10 Best Cartoons You Forgot Existed
Sure, you’ve heard of the “Care Bears,” and maybe even “Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears.” But do you remember “The Wuzzles?” This was The House of Mouse’s first foray into televised animation, yet it only endured for a single season back in 1985. The titular “Wuzzles” were hybrid amalgamations of two different animal species. This made for bright, frankly beautiful animation, and a concept that was fun and fresh for ’85. “The Wuzzles” didn’t quite make it in America, but ‘80s kids in the U.K. seemed to take more to these cuddly creatures with a “split personality.” Still, this cartoon remains a minor but welcome footnote to Disney’s animation history.
#8: “Centurions” (1986)
Hey, did you know that legendary comic book icons Gil Kane and Jack Kirby worked on a cartoon show in 1986 called “Centurions?” No? Well, we can’t say we’re surprised, since this show came and went faster than you can say “Bat Shark Repellent.” Yet, those who did see “Centurions” during its original run recall a program with square-jawed, cybernetic superheroes with hyper-masculine names like “Jake Rockwell” and “Ace McCloud.” “Centurions” was action-packed and animated to crisp perfection by Nippon Sunrise’s Studio 7. The show also tied into Japan’s culturally rich history of giant mechs and robots, making “Centurions” a show that was somewhat ahead of its time in America.
#7: “Muppet Babies” (1984-91)
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The origins of the “Muppet Babies” franchise dates all the way back in 1984, specifically with a sequence filmed for the film, “The Muppets Take Manhattan.” From there, it was only a matter of time before a small screen adaptation of this brilliant idea took shape, and ‘80s kids had their “Muppet Babies” animated on Saturday morning TV screens. The show lasted an impressive eight seasons, although it’s historically been an elusive property on physical media, thanks to the bulk of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg-related media that makes cameo appearances. Still, “Muppet Babies” never truly went away, and it was even rebooted for Disney Junior in 2018!
#6: “The Raccoons” (1985-91)
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Every kid, no matter where you live, has a hometown favorite. And for many ‘80s kids in Canada, their favorite animated show was likely “The Raccoons.” This beautifully animated production (in association with the CBC) presented likable characters and an environmentalist message with tons of heart. “The Raccoons” also possessed not one, but two great theme songs. The opening song (with narrative introduction) was great, of course, but you know what we’re here for, right? “Run With Us” by Lisa Lougheed played over the show’s closing credits, and it’s the sort of 1980s ear worm that sticks with you. Call it misty-eyed nostalgia, or call it true love, but we’ll never forget singing along to “Run With Us” each and every time.
#5: “RoboCop” (1988)
It seems impossible. Like some sort of fever dream that swept us up in the night, creating a hallucination that this show actually existed. But no, an animated version of the very, VERY violent 1987 film “RoboCop” was indeed marketed to children. And, you know what? We have to admire the fact that “RoboCop,” the animated series changed NOTHING about the film’s original premise. Alex Murphy is still shot to pieces (albeit offscreen) by Clarence Boddicker and his thugs, and transformed into RoboCop by OCP. The only difference is the level of violence that’s allowed for a kid’s show, such as using lasers instead of bullets. Other than that, however, “RoboCop” is a faithful adaptation of director Paul Verhoeven’s subversively original film.
#4: “M.A.S.K.” (1985-86)
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It’s virtually impossible to discuss the 1980’s animated series “M.A.S.K.” without emphasizing the show’s absolutely amazing theme song. This is a title tune that goes so hard that it makes it virtually impossible for “M.A.S.K’” to live up to that frantically electrified hype. However, we’d argue that this French/American co-production did its best, with a fun premise of marauding, fantastic vehicles operated by masked heroes and villains. Oh sure, “M.A.S.K.” was probably, like most ‘80s cartoons, developed with the specific intent of marketing toys. But when the end product is this boss, we will one-hundred-percent allow it.
#3: “Dinosaucers” (1987)
Dinosaurs have always been BIG business when it comes to children’s programming. This will probably never change, and rightfully so. However, there were a number of righteously unique takes on dino properties back in the 1980s. One was “Dino-Riders” from 1988, but another aired a year earlier. It was called “Dinosaucers,” and if you blinked…you missed it. This was a show with a bangin’, synthesized title tune and an interesting premise. An intergalactic dinosaur battle with humans serving as go-between scouts in their war for dominance? What’s not to like? We were ALL IN for “Dinosaucers,” but sadly, it only lasted a single season. Today, however, it enjoys a certain cult classic status, nostalgic appeal for those who remember.
#2: “Ronin Warriors” (1988-89)
“Voltron” and “Robotech” weren’t the only animated Japanese imports to enthrall American audiences back in the 1980s. “Ronin Warriors” arrived at the tail end of the decade, a U.S. adaptation of the anime “Legendary Armor Samurai Troopers.” Unlike some other anime of the time, however, “Ronin Warriors” changed very little from its original source material. Apart from the English dub, animated intro and some other eye-catch sequences, this is a pretty faithful presentation for the American market. And kids who saw “Ronin Warriors” in the late ‘80s remember an action packed and intense story that thrilled and excited in equal measure, while also never dumbing down its content. Before we name our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions! “Star Wars: Droids” (1985-86) R2-D2 & C-3PO Step Out as Stars “Defenders of the Earth” (1986-87) Old-Time Heroes team Up with Their Kids to Save Earth “Silverhawks” (1986) Part Metal, Part Real Heroes Fight in Space
#1: “Danger Mouse” (1981-92)
Was it likely that the parodic nature of “Danger Mouse” was largely lost on kids back in the 1980s? Probably, but that didn’t mean that audiences in both the U.K. and abroad didn’t delight at watching this secret agent’s exploits in front of their Tellys. “Danger Mouse” was a smart and silly export from Britain’s Thames Television, and aired in America on the Nickelodeon Network. The humor here was anarchic, intelligent and brilliantly sarcastic, and “Danger Mouse” even managed to spawn a spin-off hit with one of its quirkiest side-characters, Count Duckula. Quite simply, there was no cartoon quite like “Danger Mouse” at the time, and we’ll never forget how fun and energetic it felt watching this show as kids.
