Top 20 Cartoon Theme Songs
#20: “Arthur” (1996-)
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Titled “Believe in Yourself,” the theme from this long running kids’ cartoon has a reggae flair to it. And it works perfectly. The lyrics emphasize cooperation and faith in oneself. Meanwhile, the visuals follow the title character, his friends, and family going about their daily lives in various situations. It’s a perfectly wholesome and catchy song that matches its show to a tee. “Believe in Yourself” may be aimed at young children, but its lessons are ones we could all do with reminding of. And since it's so memorable, you won’t forget the song’s heartwarming messages.
#19: “Batman: The Animated Series” (1992-95)
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Composed by Danny Elfman and bearing similarities to his theme for the 1989 “Batman” movie, the theme for “Batman: The Animated Series” is fantastic. It’s brooding, bombastic, and fits the dark tone of the show flawlessly. Along with the music, we’re treated to an action-packed scene of the Dark Knight foiling a robbery. Honestly, the only reason it isn’t higher on our list is that it’s not exactly a song we go around singing to ourselves all day. But while we’re watching or listening to it, we’re completely immersed. It’s positively epic!
#18: “SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)
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You wouldn’t think the question “who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” would ever have an answer worth knowing, but here we are. Inspired by the sea shanty “Blow the Man Down,” the theme for “SpongeBob Squarepants” is sung by a pirate and a chorus of kids. The lyrics are full of colorful descriptions of the titular character and plenty of repetitions of his name. And the theme song, much like SpongeBob himself, is plenty weird, kind of annoying and yet still impressive. One thing’s for sure – there’s not another cartoon theme quite like it out there.
#17: “The Transformers” (1984-87)
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Just as the Autobots and Decepticons take several forms, the theme song to “The Transformers” has a few different versions during the show’s run. However, most of them feature variations of the original’s iconic lyrics, as well as robotic accompaniment for some of them. While it may be short and repetitive, there’s “more than meets the eye” to this theme. It has become synonymous with a franchise and brand that has lasted nearly 40 years. The song may be all about “robots in disguise,” but there’s no hiding how excellent it is.
#16: “Inspector Gadget” (1983-86)
This opening shows the bumbling Inspector Gadget carry out his duties assisted by his niece and her dog. He’s also seen causing accidental injury to his boss and failing to capture Dr. Claw. Honestly, the whole show is encapsulated here. As a bonus, the snappy tune chugs along at a great pace and features some of the easiest lyrics to remember in any song. Seriously, there are a grand total of 4 words in this song! The music itself and the numerous sound effects help round it out to be the goofy, quirky theme that Inspector Gadget deserves and which we’ve been humming for decades.
#15: “The Flintstones” (1960-66)
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Titled “Meet the Flintstones,” this theme song has been embedded in pop culture for over half a century. While it wasn’t the first theme song to “The Flintstones,” it’s the one we’re all still singing. Performed by a 22-piece big band and featuring a harmony from several singers, “Meet the Flintstones” is an effortlessly catchy tune. Opening and closing each episode, the song manages to get you excited for the show and acts as a perfect way to round it out. Whether we’re listening to it, or singing it ourselves, it’s a theme we always “have a gay ol’ time” with.
#14: “Tiny Toon Adventures” (1990-92)
Much like the soundtracks of the “Looney Tunes” cartoons that inspired it, the theme for “Tiny Toon Adventures” is fully orchestrated. Zany and moving along at a breakneck pace, the song will have you hooked from start to finish. The lyrics have jokes aplenty and describe the show’s premise, setting, and characters using creative rhymes. Not only that, but the whole thing is sung by the extended cast. While it may not be the best of the ‘90s Warner Bros. cartoon theme songs, it’s still one of the best cartoon theme songs ever. It just goes to show that the company’s composers create classics for their serious and looney shows.
#13: “Danny Phantom” (2004-07)
This theme essentially acts as a quick and catchy retelling of the title character’s spooky origin story. It details how Danny acquires his ghost powers, what they are and his goal of capturing all the ghosts that have escaped his parents’ portal. The song’s thumping beat and the visuals’ dark, yet distinct colors give this opening a very cool vibe. Rap can be hard to pull off in an opening theme, but “Danny Phantom” arguably manages it the best, at least among animated shows. You might say that he can pull it off, ‘cause he’s “Danny Phantom!”
#12: “Kim Possible” (2002-07)
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The “Kim Possible” theme is properly called “Call Me, Beep Me,” and is sung by famed singer Christina Milian. The lyrics detail Kim’s tendency to save the world, despite also being an average girl, and how she’s always ready to help those in need. Meanwhile the visuals show Kim doing just that along with her friends, family, and enemies. “Call Me, Beep Me” simultaneously manages to sound like both a snappy R&B song and a kickass spy anthem. While the song alone hasn’t saved the world, it has certainly helped us feel like it’s…possible.
#11: “Dragon Ball Z” (1989-96)
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Yes, yes, we know “Dragon Ball Z” is an anime. But we’ll be discussing its American theme, not the original one, which is why it’s on this list. Unofficially referred to as “Rock the Dragon,” this hard rock song features simple lyrics as well as some thumping drums and wicked guitars. All of this is set over the fight scenes and screaming power-ups that the show is famous for. Although oddly enough, a large portion of footage is from the movies and not the show itself! Regardless, it’s pure distilled testosterone that’s sure to get your blood pumping every time you watch it.
#10: “Teen Titans” (2003-06)
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Sung by the Japanese singing duo Puffy AmiYumi, the “Teen Titans” theme has an energetic rock vibe to it. It’s also two themes in one, with the show alternating between using a version with Japanese lyrics for comedic episodes, and one in English for the more serious adventures. This is fitting, since, while the English lyrics are all about the Titans fighting bad guys, the Japanese ones are sillier and worth reading in full. With a memorable beat and visuals that use color theming with the characters, the “Teen Titans” main tune always has us ready to go: “1, 2, 3, 4 – go teen titans!!”
#9: “ThunderCats” (1986-89)
They went all out on the “ThunderCats” opening, and it shows. The animation is gorgeous even today, as we’re treated to dynamic action shots of all the main characters in battle. Admittedly, the song’s lyrics aren’t exactly complicated. Although they’re filled with a lot of repetition of the show’s title, that only makes them easier to remember and get stuck in your head. The music itself is quintessential ‘80s rock, with some amazing drum work and wailing guitar. The “ThunderCats” theme gets you pumped for adventure every time you watch it. It hits like, well, thunder.
#8: “Animaniacs” (1993-98, 2020-)
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The “Animaniacs” theme has all the hallmarks of its fellow Warner Bros. animation theme songs – stellar orchestrated music, fourth wall breaking humor, and an introduction to all the main characters. However, it’s arguably done best in this show. The gags are as fast-paced and memorable as the lyrics and there’s so much packed into the short tune that it feels very satisfying. There are even variable lyrics right before the end with a new gag, depending on the episode. Regardless of whether it’s the original or the revived version of the song, the “Animaniacs” theme makes us laugh ‘til we collapse. Much like the baloney in their slacks, those are the facts.
#7: “The Simpsons” (1989-)
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Another Danny Elfman composition, “The Simpsons” theme is as iconic and memorable as the show itself. While it’s only notable lyric is the title itself, sung by Elfman and his friends, the music uses a variety of instruments, and feels at once madcap, comforting, and utterly timeless. The animation meanwhile, sees each member of the Simpsons family returning home from work, school, and errands, while encountering Springfield’s many colorful residents. The intro also features several variable gags in the form of Bart’s chalkboard lines and the moment they all sit down on the couch. When it comes to cartoon opening themes, “The Simpsons” is unquestionably one of the best.
#6: “Pokémon” (1997-)
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There have been a lot of theme songs for “Pokémon’s” English dub. But the first one left an indelible mark on not only the franchise, but also its fans and even the Billboard Charts. Essentially acting as the anthem of “Pokémon” in general, the lyrics describe the drive of its Pokémon trainer protagonist to catch ‘em all, explore, and bond with their Pocket Monsters. The soaring music and vocals beg everyone who hears it to join in and we certainly have a hard time stopping ourselves from singing along.
#5: “DuckTales” (1987-90, 2017-21)
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One of the catchiest theme songs ever written, the “DuckTales” theme is like a literal call to adventure. Its lyrics describe the many adventures the waterfowl protagonists get into, with plenty of mentions of the series title. The original series version and the reboot’s take are both fantastic in their own way. While the original is a bit slower and features more horns, the newer theme relies more on stringed instruments and is more fast-paced. Everyone involved with both may as well have dived into a pile of gold themselves, because this theme is a treasure beyond comparison.
#4: “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969-78)
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“Scooby-Doo” is a franchise that has been around for half a century. That’s left us plenty of time for its first theme song to get stuck in our collective memories. Reminiscent of a ‘60s beach tune mixed with spooky overtones, the “Scooby-Doo” theme describes the titular dog’s character, particularly his cowardice. It also details he and the rest of the gang’s investigations into scary mysteries. It’s one of the most iconic theme songs to one of the most famous cartoons ever made, and it has even been remixed and covered by popular artists. Like a Scooby-snack, this theme is an absolute treat.
#3: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (1987-96)
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While there have been more than a few “Ninja Turtles” cartoons, none of their theme songs have the kind of staying power that this one does. Surprisingly, the first television credit for Chuck Lorre, the creator of many successful sitcoms, was actually for writing this theme song. Even before he took off, the man knew how to make a hit. While cramming the show’s mouthful of a name into lyrics may seem awkward, it totally works. The song delivers exposition on all the turtles, Splinter, and their nemesis Shredder, all over a beat that never lets up. All in all, it’s as radical now as it was in the ‘80s.
#2: “X-Men” (1992-97)
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This superhero cartoon theme song may lack vocals, but that hasn’t stopped all of us from trying to sing along with it – it’s just that catchy! Moody, fast-paced, and vaguely menacing, the “X-Men” theme is a rock song that will get you in the mood for action! The visuals help with this impression too, featuring tons of action shots of the main characters and their names. Some of the series’ themes of oppression and discrimination are also touched on. Thrilling and awesome throughout, the “X-Men” theme is so fantastic, it’s almost criminal that it hasn’t been used for any of the live-action “X-Men” movies…yet. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors” (1985-86) Quintessential ‘80s Power Rock “Captain Planet and the Planeteers” (1990-96) We Will Never Understand Why They Stuck This Banger in the Ending Credits “Pinky and the Brain” (1995-98) This Song is as Manic & Madcap as the Hilarious Mice It’s About “Darkwing Duck” (1991-92) Dangerously Catchy & All Kinds of Funky “Adventures of the Gummi Bears” (1985-91) Most People Have Probably Forgotten This Show, But Its Theme Is “Beyond Compare”
#1: “Spider-Man” (1967-70)
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Spider-Man, Spider-Man does whatever a spider can. And one of the things he can also do is top our list. The wall crawling superhero has had some incredible opening cartoon themes over the years. And while the ‘90s animated series and “The Spectacular Spider-Man” are both, naturally, spectacular, it is hard to top the original. The jaunty tune describing Spidey and his powers is sung by a chorus, like many songs of the era. The ‘60s “Spider-Man” theme has become the anthem of the character. It’s been referenced throughout pop culture and received numerous covers and references. Even if you’ve never seen the show – you know this song.
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