The Best of 80s Saturday Morning Cartoons
Remember waking up young as a kid on Saturday mornings, racing to the TV to make sure you didn?t miss your favorite 80s cartoons? What would happen on the plays that was G.I. Joe today? Would He-Man put the smackdown on Skeletor?s high-pitched butt? Maybe this time Starscream would lastly weasel his way in as instigator of the Decepticons! (Come to think of it, Starscream sure sounded a lot like Cobra Commander…)
It?s time to relive those wondrous days of awe during the decade of excess. So for all of you Gen X?ers out there, zip up your parachute pants, set down the Rubick?s Cube, and pass on some leg warmers (unless you?re a dude). Flip the substitute on the flux capacitor and warm up the Delorean since we?re parting back in time to revisit the record decade of pop culture coolness ever — the 80s! Radical!
Contents at a Glance
Cartoon Theme Songs
Number 10 — Thundarr the Barbarian
Thundarr the Barbarian on DVD
Number 9 — M.A.S.K.
M.A.S.K. on DVD
Number 8 — Dungeons & Dragons
More
Contents at a Glance
Cartoon Theme Songs
Number 10 — Thundarr the Barbarian
Thundarr the Barbarian on DVD
Number 9 — M.A.S.K.
M.A.S.K. on DVD
Number 8 — Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons DVD
Number 7 — Visionaries
Visionairies DVD
Number 6 — Spiderman & His Amazing…
Spiderman & His Amazing Friends DVD
Number 5 — Superfriends
Superfriends DVD
Number 4 — Thundercats
Thundercats DVD
Number 3 — He-Man and the Masters of th…
He-Man cartoon DVD
Number 2 *snicker* — Transformers
Transformers cartoon DVD
Number 1 — G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe cartoon DVD
80s Cartoons — Honorable Mention
Best 80s Cartoons on DVD
80s links
80s Cartoon Poll
80s Guestbook
Share This Site!
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Cartoon Theme Songs Smurfs theme, GI Joe theme, Transformers theme, He-Man theme
Click the specter to the left to pay attention to your favorite cartoon motif music!
Number 10 — Thundarr the Barbarian Lords of Light!
"The year 1994: From out of gap comes a escapee planet, hurtling between the Earth and the Moon, unleashing cosmic destruction. Man?s More´s is cast in ruin.
Two thousand years later, Earth is reborn…
A strange new planet rises from the old: a planet of savagery, super science, and sorcery. But one man bursts his bonds to fight for justice! With his companions Ookla the Mok and Princess Ariel, he pits his strength, his courage, and his fabulous Sunsword onto the forces of evil.
He is Thundarr, the Barbarian!"
Ah, Thundarr. You reminded me so much of Conan the Barbarian. Yet it appeared as though you were acquaintances with Luke Skywalker since you had borrowed his lightsaber and were obviously BFF with Chewbacca?s cousin Ookla the Mok. Copyright flouting issues aside, you were soundless one bad mofo.
I have a fond childhood remembrance of live Thundarr with two neighborhood girls from down the street. They were sisters though you couldn?t tell since one was cute and the other not so cute. I pretended to be Thundarr, the cute girl was Ariel and we made the ugly pullet be Ookla. True story.
Thundarr the Barbarian on DVD 80s Cartoons on DVD
Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1980s, Vol. 1
Amazon Price: $14.15 (as of 03/05/2011)
Number 9 — M.A.S.K. movable Armored Strike Kommand
Enter a planet of adventure and trap someplace illusion is the ultimate weapon. New technology has led to the development of vehicles that can remodel from ordinary looking cars and planes into advanced war vehicles. Hi-tech helmets have also been industrialized each having a celebratory power. Miles Mayhem and his Viscious Evil Network of Mayhem plan to use this new technology for evil. Join Matt Tracker and the agents of the movable Armored Strike Kommand on their search to stop the V.E.N.O.M.
My little brother was the M.A.S.K. fan in our house. I idea the cartoon and the toys were cool but the action figures felt a bit too small (that?s what she said). I would take the M.A.S.K. vehicles and add them to an all out G.I. Joe/Transformers/Star Wars battle royale! What?s up?!!
M.A.S.K. on DVD MASK cartoon DVD
M.A.S.K. – Collection 1 (4 Disc Box Set)
Amazon Price: (as of 03/05/2011)
Number 8 — Dungeons & Dragons
D&D was one of the most powerful cartoons I pickup as a kid. Venger was so badass, but Tiamat was equally all roughly the badassery and the two did not care much for each other. I mean, Venger had a giant horn on the side of his head yet Tiamat was a dragon with 7 heads. C?mon, it doesn?t get much cooler than that.
Admittedly, the "Cloudbears" were a deviant mutated propagate of the Ewoks. We all knew it. I?m abashed to admit this but I appreciated Uni. *tear* When I got older, it weirded me out to learn that the character of Eric was voiced by none other than Ralph "The Mouth" from Happy Days. Eww. And I always idea Diana was hot. So did Hank, with his little jungle delirium havin? self. Booyah!
Dungeons & Dragons DVD D&D cartoon DVD
Dungeons & Dragons: The Complete Animated Series
Amazon Price: $9.49 (as of 03/05/2011)
Number 7 — Visionaries Knights of the Magical Light!
Visionaries featured a very cool mix of swords, scorcery and science, much like He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. They wore flippin? sugary shell that had magic totems which would grant them to remodel into their designated creature.
Cryotec was my favorite Spectral Knight, one of the good guys. He had the potential to turn into a giant bear (and to prevent Wood´s fires). As far as the Darkling Lords were concerned, the baddest bad guy of them all was Cravex. He may turn into this zany pteordactyl-looking bird thing and clomp your face. If I were him, I would have just flown over the good guys and pooped on them. Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do when Dukey Airlines is flyin? over you?!!
Now that I think roughly it, Cravex sounded plumb like Starscream…who sounded plumb like Cobra Commander…hmm…
Visionairies DVD Visionairies cartoon DVD
Visionaries DVD Boxset – Complete Series (2 Disc)
Amazon Price: (as of 03/05/2011)
Number 6 — Spiderman & His Amazing Friends With powerful potency comes powerful responsibility. And big box office numbers.
At the time Spiderman & His Amazing Friends launched, I had never heard of Iceman (I was just getting into comics and initially reading DC books). I hadn?t heard of Firestar either. Later I discovered she was created for the show possible to draw in the female audience, but man did she draw me in. (What?s wrong with me?)
The cartoon was fun. Guest stars in abundance from the Marvel Universe made appearances including Captain America, Iron Man, The X-Men and more. The Godfather of all things funny booky, Stan "The Man" Lee, narrated different episodes. And like I said earlier–Firestar. Wow.
Aunt May was lame and Ms. Lion, the coin pet mascot, was full of suck. But alas, it was a children?s cartoon. There were definitely moments of high cheese but it did not detract from the grand kitschy, winning quaintness of Spidey and crew.
As a side note, my nephew was obsessed with Spiderman from age 5 to age 7. I don?t think present is a record see of him in lifespan during that timeframe someplace he wasn?t shooting a pretend web out of his wrist, visible only to him.
…Firestar.
Spiderman & His Amazing Friends DVD Spiderman & His Amazing Friends cartoon – perform 1st season
Spiderman and His Amazing Friends: The Complete First Season
Amazon Price: (as of 03/05/2011)
Number 5 — Superfriends Wendy, Marvin, and Wonder Dog suck.
"Gathered together from the cosmic reaches of the universe! Here in this powerful Hall of Justice, are the most powerful forces of good ever assembled! Superman! Batman and Robin! Wonder Woman! Aquaman! And the Wonder Twins Zan and Jayna with their gap primate Gleek! Dedicated to truth, lawfulness and quiet for all mankind!"
Not sure why the rest of the Superfriends got the shaft in the cartoon?s opener. They skipped over emerald Lantern (my individualistic fav), Flash, Apache Chief, Samurai (Red Tornado?s retarded brother), and Black Vulcan who had to be Black Lightning?s cousin. Or doppelganger.
Superfriends got me ongoing on funny books, which I soundless read to this day. Yay, marketing! In fact, fairness League of America is soundless my favorite comic. These are the classic, iconic writing that plumb ongoing it all back in the day.
Superfriends DVD Superfriends cartoon DVD
Super Friends!: Season One, Vol. One
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 03/05/2011)
Number 4 — Thundercats Thunder! Thunder! Thundercats! HOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
"Thundercats are on the move, Thundercats are loose! Feel the magic, hear the roar, Thundercats are loose! Thunder, thunder, thunder, thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, thundercats! Mumm-ra: ?RRRrraaaaaaaaa!? Thundercats!"
I used to sit and wish my cat would mysteriously turn into a Thundercat. Maybe if she was struck by lightning or something? It may happen. Shut up.
It seems one key element for a successful 80s cartoon is an Ewok-knockoff; enter the Berbils. The Berbils were cute little cyborg teddy bears that were peaceable by nature yet assembled with robotic war parts. Wha? Lion-O was powerful as the instigator and had a great, near-Optimus Prime plumb voice. But the hardcore killa of the group was Panthro. If you even idea roughly talkin? swat to Panthro, he would slap you upside your head with his cat feet nunchuks previously you may say meow. How ya like me now? Go home to your momma and show to her why you gots cat scratch delirium up the side of yo face.
If you?ve read this far down through this page, you?ve probably deduced by this plug that I have an odd tendency to hot female cartoon characters. So who am I to disconcert you? Here?s some fine, fine Cheetarah. BAM!
While you may probably surmise I?m parting to pick on Snarf here, I?ll plug this one out by informing you that I have a crisp old Snarf doll session on my bed as you read this. *Sigh* …I know.
Thundercats DVD Thundercats cartoon DVD
Thundercats – Season One, Volume One
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 03/05/2011)
Number 3 — He-Man and the Masters of the Universe By the potency of Grayskull…I have the power!!!
"I am Adam, prince of Eternia, and apologist of the secrets of Castle Grayskull. This is Cringer, my stalwart friend. Fabulous secret powers were out to me, the day I held aloft my magic sword and said, ?By the Power of Grayskull! I have The Power!? Cringer became the mighty Battle Cat. And I became He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe! Only three others go halves this secret; our acquaintances the Sorceress, Man-At-Arms and Orko. Together we defend Castle Grayskull from the evil forces of Skeletor!"
I absolutely appreciated the 80s He-Man and the 2002 cartoon revival was even better. Beast Man was as badass as they come, but at the end of the day he was soundless Skeletor?s b*tch. Orko, or as my acquaintances and I referred to him, "Dorko," was a dupe but occasionally helped out by accident as the funny relief sorcerer/court jester. Apparently present were no skilled barbers in Eternia, and the only tavern hairdresser must have been Dutch. Poor, poor Prince Adam.
Quick note, if you haven?t heard Ludacris? version of the He-Man motif song, stop, drop, and roll and JFGI right now. You?ll thank me later.
He-Man cartoon DVD He-Man and the Masters of the Universe DVD
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe – Season One, Vol. 1
Amazon Price: (as of 03/05/2011)
Number 2 *snicker* — Transformers Transformers — More Than Meets the Eye
"Transformers, more than meets the eye, Transformers, robots in disguise, Autobots wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons!"
Optimus Prime arguably has the coolest voice in any cartoon in the history of EVER. I was joyful to learn the same voice actor (Peter Cullen) would perform his voice in the Transformers movie as well. On the Decepticon side, Soundwave was like a smooth, pimped out robotic version of Billy Dee Williams (at smallest in my head) sans the 40 oz of Colt 45.
If Soundwave existed in today?s planet I wonder if he would end up committing suicide, given that his technology as a boombox is obsolete. Snap.
Transformers cartoon DVD Transformers G1, Transformers Generation 1 Complete First Season
Transformers: The Complete First Season (25th Anniversary Edition)
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 03/05/2011)
Number 1 — G.I. Joe Yo Joe!
"Yo Joe! He?ll fight for freedom wherever there?s trouble, G.I. Joe is there. It?s G.I. Joe onto Cobra the enemy, fighting to save the day. He never gives up, he?s always there, fighting for freedom over land and air!
GI Joe–a real American hero.
GI Joe is there.
GI Joe is the codename for American?s daring, we´ll practiced celebratory mission force. It?s purpose: to defend human freedom onto Cobra–
a ruthless, terrorist organization determined to rule the world. He never gives up, he?ll stay til the fight?s won. GI Joe will dare.
GI Joe–a real American hero.
GI Joe!"
Ah, G.I. Joe holds a very celebratory plunk in my heart. I had great VHS tapes I made of recordings of Joe cartoons all throughout my childhood. Thank God for the internet…and DVDs…and Megan Fox. Anway, G.I. Joe captured my attention like no other. I actually cared roughly these writing and was really drawn in to their lives. I wanted wind Eyes to kick Storm Shadow?s tail. What would happen if Quick Kick connected in the fray? Who would win in an arm wrestling game between Gung Ho and Roadblock? The Joes had Sharp personalities and soap opera-esque storylines. You just knew Zartan was parting to plunk it to Cobra Commander at some point. Assuming Destro didn?t get to him first. And the Baroness–schwing!
The late 2009 movie aside, G.I. Joe has earned it?s triumphant plunk at the top of the list as the all time record cartoon of the 80s! YO JOE!
G.I. Joe cartoon DVD G.I. Joe A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe A Real American Hero: Season 1.1
Amazon Price: $19.49 (as of 03/05/2011)
80s Cartoons — Honorable Mention Didn?t relatively make top 10 but soundless powerful 80s cartoons!
In no specified order:
* Battle of the Planets
* Voltron
* Muppet Babies
* Jem and the Holograms
* Peanuts (not an exclusively 80s cartoon, but Charlie chocolate and Snoopy soundless make the cut)
* Rainbow Brite
* Mr. T
* Pac-Man
* Captain Power (technically not a cartoon yet one way or another belongs here)
* Strawberry Shortcake
* Care Bears
* Garfield and Friends
* C.O.P.S. (Central Organization of Police Specialists)
* Smurfs
* Gummi Bears
* Hulk Hogan?s Rock N? Wrestling
Best 80s Cartoons on DVD Best of 80s Saturday Morning Cartoons
Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1980s, Vol. 1
Amazon Price: $14.15 (as of 03/05/2011)
Highly suggested for 80s nerds like myself!
80s links Visit my other 80s pages here
80s Movie Quotes Quiz
Do you pickup waking up young to superintend Saturday Dawn cartoons in the 80s? At one plug did you have really bad feathered hair and/or terribly tall bangs? Were parachute pants your gear of choice? Did you get lost by the Rubik?s Cube (and wan…
80s One Hit Wonders Quiz
The 80s is a decade given for producing many catchy one hit wonders. “Hey Mickey”, “Whip It” and “Turning Japanese” are classic examples of one hit wonders from the decade of excess.
How well do you know your 80s one hit wonders? Take the totally…
80s Cartoon Poll "Yo Joe," "I have the power!", or "more than meets the eye"?
– hair styles for face shape