Best Era for Animated Shows?

[CharmedSerenity]

I did a poll about this at my forums originally, was wondering how it would fare here.

[kev trashcan]

i voted for 80's lots of great cartoons came from the 80's ninja turtles, the real ghostbusters, transformers, g.i joe, thundercats, smurfs, etc. i was born in 1987 though, at the end of the 80's so i was more exposed to 90's cartoons that i think were just as good. besides the 80;s cartoons were still on cartoon express on usa back in the day, and cartoon network used to play all sorts of good cartoons, what happened?

[ThirdMarioBro]

Anybody who says 1980's is kidding themselves with nostalgia. 80's cartoons were all action figure commercials and Barbra Bush driven censorship. The early 1990's were the era of Fox Kids, Disney Saturdays, and when NBC still had cartoons that weren't public service announcements; a time of sexual innuendos, kick-ass video game cartoons, serious animation, political satire, Disney at their finest, and soulless ripping of celebrities.

The 90's on that poll should be split into the early 90's, and the late 90's. And there was no anime. That all came around 1996-7, a time I call the apocalypse of American animation.

[kev trashcan]

you have a good point, but i still love them equaly, 80's early 90's and mid 90's. late 90's were ok

[Raph's Girl]

Seems to be a battle between the 80's and 90's. As a child of the 80's I of course chose well 80's. I mean come on... the 80's gave us:

The Wuzzles
Care Bears
Gummi Bears
He-Man/She-Ra
Transformers
TMNT
Popples
:evilgrin:

[Cure]

TMB's right. 90's all the way.

[DrSpengler]

I also voted 90's.

The 80's definately set the groundwork for more dynamic and fluid storytelling in television animation, but it was largely a mess and a lot of trial and error. You've got Transformers which had continuity and tons of backstory, but an almost equal number of contradictions. Interviews with writer Donald F. Glut reveal that nearly all the scripts for the show were turned in at the first draft stage and went largely unchanged, with story editting being mostly an after thought. All the other Sunbow cartoons were done in pretty much the same fashion.

Still, haphazard as it was, the 80's did get the ball rolling on more intelligent and challenging cartoon shows.


The 90's, though, really refined the process. They no longer let channels run the episodes in any order they chose and wrote each episode to fit into an actual season-long story arc.

The 90's gave us shows like ReBoot and Beast Wars and Men in Black and Swat Kats and Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, shows that fine-tuned what television animation could be whilst firmly putting their 80's predecessors to shame.

[VaughnMichael]

I Voted 80's cause I like to kid myself.

[Mecha Cow]

Late 80's ~ Early 90's I guess. Generally not a fan of the later 90's stuff.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Late 80's ~ Early 90's I guess. Generally not a fan of the later 90's stuff.

That's a good lad.

[ZariusTwo]

Anybody who says 1980's is kidding themselves with nostalgia. 80's cartoons were all action figure commercials and Barbra Bush driven censorship.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

That mentality is typical of anyone who doesnt look closer, especially since He-Man, TMNT, GI Joe, Ghostbusters, Centurions, Bravestarr, Thundercats, and Transformers ALL rose above their intended purpose and told excellent storylines that set the course for your PRECIOUS 90s

And as for shows that werent "major" toylines, or even commercials at all..oooh lets see...Racoons, Galaxy Rangers Ralph Baski's Mighty Mouse, Defenders of the Earth...

You have NO argument

And I love how you used that WONDERFUL "If you think there great, its only memory" card like every other putz, which goes to show how insecure you are that you have to sink that low to insult anyone who can, and have, proven you wrong, and always will.

The 80s bashing bandwagon is a tired, useless fad that makes idiots out of anyone that thinks its "cool" to disrespect an innovative, and landmark, period of evolution in the buisness. Why dont some of you pick on animation periods that DESERVE it like the 1970s?

[Roseangelo]

I voted 90s, but I have to agree that all the gems came in the early 90s. The Disney Afternoon and Nickelodeon especially were at the top of their game during those years.

[Ra]

Late 80's ~ Early 90's I guess. Generally not a fan of the later 90's stuff.
Same here. Although I love a few new cartoons from the 2000 era, but they are few and far between ("They" being 2k3 TMNT, Justice League (Unlimited), Grim Adventures, Kids Next Door, and I'm starting to get a taste for Ben 10 now).

The Late 80's to Early 90's was where it was at for me. I find that I love quite a lot from that era, even though I never really grew up with any of them. Well, save for "The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat". That show was so high on acid I couldn't really forget it. Many a great 'toon was made in that era, in my opinion. After 1995/1996, it seems that cartoons started treading the road that they are well on today. Which is a shame, since some of the cartoons back then were great and had some sort of humor in it. Now we have crap like "Camp Lazlo" and "My Gym Partner is a Monkey" on our screens.

[KROW]

I voted the 70s (yeah, I'm such a rebel). Those cartoons were fun, flashy, and cheesy. Most of them began in the 60s and bled into the 70s, like Space Ghost, but they were basically innocent and had some good plots but also weren't targeting to sell merchandise.

As a child of the 80s, I loved a LOT of the shows that came out: Voltron, Centurions, Thundercats, G.I. Joe, He-Man, Ghostbusters, Silverhawks, Transformers; hell, even Dragon's Lair and The Simpsons. But I also noticed that about a week or two after they debuted (with the exception of DL and Simpsons), toy shelves were loaded with action figures. G.I. Joe really can't be accused of this, since there was a toyline back in the 50s, but I see the point of the cartoon aiming to sell the toys that were crafted for it. Of course, as a kid, I didn't care, but looking back on it now... hoo-boy.

The early 90s were the days of Batman:TAS, The Tick, Captain Planet, X-Men, Spider-Man, Animaniacs, and Freakazoid. At least, that's what I watched back then.

The late 90s really didn't offer anything interesting for me except Futurama, unless I'm not remembering right.

[Mecha Cow]

which goes to show how insecure you are that you have to sink that low to insult anyone
Sometimes I really wonder if you actually read your own posts, man.

[Scandia]

I put the 1980s. Too many good ones to not vote for it. The early 90s were good as well due to Captain Planet. But things have gone downhill since the late 90s for the most part. 2k3 is an exception, of course.

[ZariusTwo]

Sometimes I really wonder if you actually read your own posts, man.

I don't usually read the bible.

]ee the point of the cartoon aiming to sell the toys that were crafted for it. Of course, as a kid, I didn't care, but looking back on it now... hoo-boy.

Looking back now...what? Whats the problem? Who the hell cares that they sold toys? He-Man, TF, Centurions, they all rose ABOVE their original intentions, or did'nt you read my last post over why this 80s bashing fad is so futile and hypocritical? Especially since the DCAU sold toys, and the NEW TMNT SELLS TOYS TOO!

[Hannah]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

That mentality is typical of anyone who doesnt look closer, especially since He-Man, TMNT, GI Joe, Ghostbusters, Centurions, Bravestarr, Thundercats, and Transformers ALL rose above their intended purpose and told excellent storylines that set the course for your PRECIOUS 90s

And as for shows that werent "major" toylines, or even commercials at all..oooh lets see...Racoons, Galaxy Rangers Ralph Baski's Mighty Mouse, Defenders of the Earth...

You have NO argument

And I love how you used that WONDERFUL "If you think there great, its only memory" card like every other putz, which goes to show how insecure you are that you have to sink that low to insult anyone who can, and have, proven you wrong, and always will.

The 80s bashing bandwagon is a tired, useless fad that makes idiots out of anyone that thinks its "cool" to disrespect an innovative, and landmark, period of evolution in the buisness. Why dont some of you pick on animation periods that DESERVE it like the 1970s?

I like how you take kids' cartoons so seriously.

[愛]

I enjoyed 80's cartoons. What was wrong with them?

[SassyGal]

I voted 80's. Say what you want about them being toy commercials, but I still enjoyed them :) The 80's toons, and early 90's were the best.

[VaughnMichael]

Yeah the 80's are just so bad that's why almost every single new toy line and movie out is based on a show on property from the 80's because they can't think of anything new or better.:roll:
Dude the late 70's through early 90's rocked for cartoons. We wont ever get cartoons like that ever again and I'm happy to say I lived through that time period as a kid.:P

[ZariusTwo]

I like how you take kids' cartoons so seriously.

So do animators and animation writers. Historians are no different. Thanks for complimenting about how much I give a damn about this buisness, because these "modernist" assholes never will.

I enjoyed 80's cartoons. What was wrong with them?

Virtually nothing, but listen to any "modernist" pot/kettle/black fan and they'll say "Toyz commercialz, badz animationz, continuity errorz" and refuse to see some of the 1990s series were flawed and toy commercials as well. The best fans are the ones who can find something great in all periods (Star Trek: TAS in the 1970s for instance), the instant some twat baits anyone with the "memory" card though? He/she is looking for a fight

[Spike Spiegel]

I voted 1990s, that's what I grew up in. The cartoons that I have seen from the 80s like Transformers, GI Joe Thundercats("Hooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!"), etc are pretty good too.

I say 90s because of:

-Batman TAS, the king of modern action cartoons
-The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
-Batman Beyond
-The New Batman/Superman Adventures
-Men in Black (this one, to me, comes in a close second or third place to the DCAU as a whole, not just Batman)
-X-Men
-Spider-Man TAS and Spider-Man Unlimited
-Cartoon Cartoons like Dexter, Johnny Bravo, and the Powerpuff Girls



If I had to narrow it down to one, I'd say the 90s, but I like stuff from late 1980s too.

[Time Mistress]

:
Dude the late 70's through early 90's rocked for cartoons. We wont ever get cartoons like that ever again and I'm happy to say I lived through that time period as a kid.:P

I voted for the 80s because that's when Transformers and TMNT began but I really believe the statement above. The 90s rocked for cartoons and the late 70s also covers my childhood as well, so it was a tough choice. There were so many good ones I'm not sure I can even remember them all! 95-96 has one of the best season EVER for cartoons.

80s
Transformers
TMNT
Jem
ThunderCats
SilverHawks
G.I. Joe
Tigersharks
Galaxy Rangers
Smurfs
Snorks
Hong Kong Phooey
New Flintstones
New Scooby-Doo
Muppet Babies
Wildfire
Shirt Tales
Wuzzles
Gummi Bears
Ducktales
Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers
Garfield and Friends
Heathcliff and the Cadilac Cats
He-Man
She-Ra
My Little Pony
Superfriends
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
Mr. T
Alvin & the Chipmunks
Defenders of the Earth

90s
Animaniacs
Darkwing Duck
Tale Spin
More TMNT
Goof Troop
Bonkers
Raw Toonage
Gargoyles
X-Men
Spider-Man
Batman TAS
Fantastic 4
Iron Man
The Tick
New Adv. of Batman/Superman
Superman TAS
Batman Beyond
Phantom 2040
Beast Wars
Sailor Moon
Escaflowne
Powerpuff Girls

And I'm sure there is more I've forgotten.

[ToTheNines]

I voted for 90's, but 80's was a very close 2nd. I'm younger than all of you guys so I didn't see all of these 80's cartoons your'e talking about.

One great thing 90's cartoons was Nickelodeon. They had some great **** back then. Rocko's Modern Life, Hey Arnold!, Ren and Stimpy, Rug-rats, Doug (pretty ugly show, but enjoyable) among a few others... now look at it.

90's had some good anime too, mostly just Gundam Wing and Tenchi Muyo.

[ZariusTwo]

I voted for 90's, but 80's was a very close 2nd. I'm younger than all of you guys so I didn't see all of these 80's cartoons your'e talking about.

Perhaps a little small sampling would help courtesy of Cereal Geek.

ENZAItlLThA

[ThirdMarioBro]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

That mentality is typical of anyone who doesnt look closer, especially since He-Man, TMNT, GI Joe, Ghostbusters, Centurions, Bravestarr, Thundercats, and Transformers ALL rose above their intended purpose and told excellent storylines that set the course for your PRECIOUS 90s

And as for shows that werent "major" toylines, or even commercials at all..oooh lets see...Racoons, Galaxy Rangers Ralph Baski's Mighty Mouse, Defenders of the Earth...

You have NO argument



Oh yes master, I apoligize for even daring to consider that I, a mere mortal, could ever comprehend the capacity of your limitlessness knowledge and power. :roll:

I didn't say they were bad. I said that the majority of the were action figure commercials. That doesn't change the fact that they set the tone for the brilliant 90's era. Still, just because something was the innovator doesn't make it the superior choice.

In video game terms, its like saying Super Mario Bros. 3 is better than Super Mario World. SMB3 may have been the innovator, but that doesn't mean SMW didn't kick its ass in every conceivable way.

[Sewer Bull]

STFU all of you. I can't decide between 60s and 70s in all this gibbering.

[ZariusTwo]

I didn't say they were bad. I said that the majority of the were action figure commercials.

And your point is?

The plots were great, that's all that matters. If you want to suddenly "care" about what you were roped into watching, and feel duped, then you're making a fuss out of nothing.

That doesn't change the fact that they set the tone for the brilliant 90's era. Still, just because something was the innovator doesn't make it the superior choice.

Everything solid almost came 100% from Warner Bros or Disney in the last stages of their taking any risks. Fox Kids had many subversive comedies, but their biggest successes beyond Power Rangers were X-Men and Spiderman.

WB dominated the animation medium in the 90s stateside. In the 80s, the competitive toy companies created vast amounts of compeitive shows from various companies, sometimes leading to animation that was unprecidently superior to anything in the 90s given the money being paid to the animators.

The only exception was the unmatched Batman TAS, which was a goldmine for merchandising anyway.

And Mario World and Mario Bros 3 are both awesome and replayable titles. In short, you just said both the 1980s and 1990s were equals

Honestly, if you had'nt dropped that stupid "you only like it because of your memories" flamebait of a post, we wouldnt have had this problem,

[Zog the Equalizer]

90s all the way

Batman TAS
Superman TAS
Spider-man
Freakazoid
X-men
later seasons of TMNT
Animaniacs
and no anime
'nuf said

[Ra]

... *looks at all the posts before hand*

Can anyone explain to me why we are fighting over cartoons? :ohwell:

[Cure]

90's also had...

Pinky and the Brain
Hysteria
Mighty Max
Rocko's Modern Life
Dexter
Johnny Bravo
AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH! Real Monsters
Ren & Stimpy
Doug
Hey Arnold!
Spongebob (back when it was good)

[Revan]

wow, shocking that the 80s and 90s got basically all the votes... not. obviously people will vote for their childhood. me too. 90s all the way

[KROW]

Looking back now...what? Whats the problem? Who the hell cares that they sold toys? He-Man, TF, Centurions, they all rose ABOVE their original intentions, or did'nt you read my last post over why this 80s bashing fad is so futile and hypocritical? Especially since the DCAU sold toys, and the NEW TMNT SELLS TOYS TOO!
No problem. I meant that looking back now, I realize there was another agenda behind them besides just making cartoons. As a kid, I didn't care. I just walked around the toy aisles and yelled to my mother, "I want it! I want it!" like most kids. Quite frankly, the thought that they at first released the cartoons just to sell toys doesn't affect me in the least. I'm glad they evolved over time into programs that are actually worth watching. I didn't mean to imply that I was hating on them. Sorry for that.

Hell, I'm not bashing 80s toons at all. I loved them then and still do now that I can relive the experience on DVD.

[VaughnMichael]

... *looks at all the posts before hand*

Can anyone explain to me why we are fighting over cartoons? :ohwell:
Why not? people fight over everything else why not cartoons?;)

[ZariusTwo]

Can anyone explain to me why we are fighting over cartoons? :ohwell:

Its about respect for the industry and the fans of the 1980s, both of which some jackass went out of his way to try and degrade

[Mandi-chan]

I can't decide...I enjoy toons from all of the Eras! All thanks to Boomerang too, otherwise I probably wouldn't have seen any of the cool older cartoons.

[The Terror of Death]

... *looks at all the posts before hand*

Can anyone explain to me why we are fighting over cartoons? :ohwell:

Cartoons - SERIOUS BUSINESS.

[Drtooth]

I have to admit... I can't vote. I just can't pick any of those. Each era had it's ups and downs....

I would say the entire list except 70's. the 70's had some of the worst cartoons known to man kind. thousands of self-knockoff stuff from Hanna Barbera, and animated versions of sitcoms.... no thank you. Hong Kong Phooey and Fat Albert, however were great.

I'd choose if it were an option the 40's. Lame WW 2 propaganda pieces aside, they moved out of the 1930's "Hey! Look what I can do" type cartoons (Flowers and Trees, for example) and into the "Look how I can Apply it". The best animated cartoons came out of Bugs Bunny, Tom and Jerry, Tex Avery, and all them. They are the masters.

1950's and 60's? Well, that was the television cartoon age. A new way to make and market cartoons just dawned. And thought the Animation wasn't perfect, we got great shows like Bullwinkle, Yogi Bear, etc.

Then there was the late 60's with 2 distinct movements, the superhero movement with shows like Space Ghost and Mighty Heroes, and the comedy movement, with George of the Jungle and Wacky races.

70's revolved around how many Archie/Scooby Do ripoffs we can created (it was more an era of live action kid's shows... Sesame Street, Sid and Morty Krofft stuff).

80's was toy-etci to an extent. I can't bash them, but I can't praise them. Each show was different. We had Transformers on one hand, and Ducktales on the other.

90's we saw a break through with shows like Ren and Stimpy and Batman. not to mention a short lived comedy Superhero movement brought on by the Tick.

2000.... the start of the decade had promise, but Looking at the horrible line up this fall... yeah.... we got another 1970's coming up! Yuck!

[Aelia]

I voted for the 90's. I'd make a list of cartoons I enjoyed during that time, but it'd be a repeat of a list already listed with maybe a few minor differences.

I wouldn't say the 2000's were totally devoid of good cartoons, just severely lacking, and anything that was truly good was canceled as quick as it came. If there was one cartoon I watched in the last seven years (2004-2005 to be more precise) that I honestly wish was on DVD, it would be Megas XLR. I'd make a list of cartoons I enjoyed aside from Megas XLR, but they're already available on DVD.

[ZariusTwo]

2000.... the start of the decade had promise, but Looking at the horrible line up this fall... yeah.... we got another 1970's coming up! Yuck!

Season five of the now-improved The Batman, the final seasons of KND and Billy and Mandy, and Avatar season three constitutes another 1970s? Bulls*it. The one pro about "Modernist" animation fans is that are actually objective enough to move on and see shows now are slowly getting better, not going backwards.

[Aelia]

Season five of the now-improved The Batman, the final seasons of KND and Billy and Mandy, and Avatar season three constitutes another 1970s? Bulls*it. The one pro about "Modernist" animation fans is that are actually objective enough to move on and see shows now are slowly getting better, not going backwards.

Hmmm, I totally forgot about the third season of Avatar. Maybe it was because it took so long for it to be announced, that I started to drift away and forget about it until the recent preview at ComicCon. Still, I'm looking forward to this September 21st.

[DrSpengler]

I don't understand why Hanna Barbara self-destructed in the 70s, especially after all the work they did experimenting and revolutionizing the television animation industry throughout the 60's.

Hanna Barbara experimented with everything in the 60's. They gave us action cartoons that pushed the limits of what was allowed, violence-wise, in children's cartoons. Jonny Quest and Space Ghost featured villains dying gruesome deaths, getting shot, real guns (more so Jonny Quest) and so on. Episodes of the original Jonny Quest are considerably more violent than a lot of the stuff that came out even in the 80s and 90s.

Then there was Scooby Doo. Yes, it was copycated into oblivion through out the 70s, but when it premiered in 1969 the mystery genre was something that hadn't been explored in kids animation. The episodes were kind of spooky for a kids show and several of them even featured murder mysteries.

However, I think one of the most impressively experimental and unfortunately overlooked shows that Hanna Barbara came out with in the 60s was Wait Til Your Father Gets Home. It was an adult-oriented prime time sitcom that had lots of complex storylines and jokes about civil rights, racism, politics, sexuality and so on. It was more adult and hard-hitting than even the earliest seasons of the Simpsons and had "holy crap I can't believe they said that" jokes on par with All in the Family.

I remember the neighbor in the show was a blistering racist so he was always making these really politically incorrect jokes.

Tom Bosley: "Ya know, compared to you, the Grand Cyclops of the KKK looks like a bleeding heart liberal."

Neighbor: "I know, that's why I never joined."

And that's not a paraphrase, either. That was an actual joke from a CARTOON in the early 60s.


Wait Til Your Father Gets Home was the Simpsons decades before it time. Sadly, Hanna Barbara decided to forget about adult-oriented animation soon afterward and focus on stale Scooby Doo clones throughout the bulk of the 70s, setting American animation back by decades and the damage is STILL being felt.

[VaughnMichael]

Actully I'd say Wait Till your father gets home is more like family guy than the simpsons.

[GK Punk]

"Wait 'till your father gets home" is a long time favorite of mine. I've never really heard anyone else ever talk about it though! <3 that show.

[DrSpengler]

WTYFGH (sorry, I can't keep writing the whole title) unfortunately suffered in the rerun graveyard BECAUSE it was so edgey and adult-oriented.

Cartoon Network very well couldn't put a show with jokes about the KKK and puberty in between the Flintstones and Bugs Bunny so the only time they ever reran it was at around 1-3 in the morning. Even Boomerang has it at the unwatchable 3am timeslot. It's a miracle a lot of people even know it exists.

Thankfully, Hanna Barbara has released the first season on DVD so maybe a wider audience (ie: non insomniacs) can check it out.

[GK Punk]

I didn't even know it was released on DVD. I definetley have to pick it up now.

[Spitfire]

90's was the peak for me. Cartoons were allowed to be adult and kids STILL loved them. They used REAL guns and there was blood. Characters could be devolved and every episode didn't need a happy ending. The shows were also funny as well.

[Jo Dawn]

Yeah the 80's are just so bad that's why almost every single new toy line and movie out is based on a show on property from the 80's because they can't think of anything new or better.:roll:
Dude the late 70's through early 90's rocked for cartoons. We wont ever get cartoons like that ever again and I'm happy to say I lived through that time period as a kid.:P

Dude, I totally agree with you. Late 70's and 80's are primo for me. And, I suppose some early 90's, hehe. But you're right in that we will never get stuff like that again.

[VaughnMichael]

Dude, I totally agree with you. Late 70's and 80's are primo for me. And, I suppose some early 90's, hehe. But you're right in that we will never get stuff like that again.
yeah early 90's where pretty good also I just didn't care for allot of the wannabe tmnt shows that where on.

[ZariusTwo]

Dude, I totally agree with you. Late 70's and 80's are primo for me. And, I suppose some early 90's, hehe. But you're right in that we will never get stuff like that again.

I wouldnt say that, but again, that honestly comes down to bias from those that simply wont ADMIT some modern shows are as subversive as the ones in the 90s.

[ToTheNines]

yeah early 90's where pretty good also I just didn't care for allot of the wannabe tmnt shows that where on.

No Street Sharks? :P

[Drtooth]

Season five of the now-improved The Batman, the final seasons of KND and Billy and Mandy, and Avatar season three constitutes another 1970s? Bulls*it. The one pro about "Modernist" animation fans is that are actually objective enough to move on and see shows now are slowly getting better, not going backwards.

Actually, I will say you have a point... but I mean the up and coming ones. Avatar is still around, I have yet to see it. But with KND and B&M gone, the rest of televisision is looking a might rough. That's why I said earlier in this decade things had promise... but I feel a lot of the new shows coming and some on the air are horrendous. I mean, My Gym Partner's a Monkey? What did they do? pull a title out of a hat and said it sounded funny and decided to make a show out of it. The term may fly on a T-shirt, but as a TV show it's sub par.

And What's with all the "We're losing money on ultra kiddified animes, so let's make our own crappy anime style programs" like Magination and all that. I think it works fine for shows like Teen Titans and Avatar, which show how it can be done... but Loonatics? What's that stuff?

I feel that if anything, the 90's and this decade, cartoons belonged to cable networks. They are responsable for the rise and fall of cartoons in this last 10 years. I blame Disney's horrendous laugh track Home Alone line up for Cartoon network's new "live action series" bullcrap. I mean, Kamen Rider is one thing, but Out of Jimmy's Head makes me glad I can't afford cable.

[VaughnMichael]

No Street Sharks? :P
heh no thanks even as a kid I saw through it.

[Spike Spiegel]

I feel that if anything, the 90's and this decade, cartoons belonged to cable networks. They are responsable for the rise and fall of cartoons in this last 10 years. I blame Disney's horrendous laugh track Home Alone line up for Cartoon network's new "live action series" bullcrap. I mean, Kamen Rider is one thing, but Out of Jimmy's Head makes me glad I can't afford cable.

Yeah, CN is beginning to disgust me with all the new live action crap. I blame the Disney channel as well. Except for the fact that I think Raven-Symone is curvaceous, full-bodied and hot-looking, I can't think of a single good reason to watch the network. Their live action "comedies" blow worse chunks than a vomiting drug addicted hobo.

And have you guys noticed what they've replaced "Fridays" with?? There's this new "Fried Dynamite" thing with what looks to be a diverse group of twelve year olds. First the block was hosted by cartoon characters, then older teenagers, now twelve-year olds. Maybe next time, it'll be hosted by six year olds and their mommies.

[Peanut]

Its about respect for the industry and the fans of the 1980s, both of which some jackass went out of his way to try and degrade

I think it was just more of an "off the cuff" remark on his behalf. I seriously doubt there was any attempt on his part to degrade a generation of cartoons. You're the one who made it out to be something it wasn't.

No one here, aside from you (and probably Spengs) really cares about cartoons or animation in the same way. You're trying to pull up a fight against someone who really doesn't give a sh*t either way.

I'll go ahead and say that almost all cartoons from the 80's were piles of steaming sh*t, and that every current show you go on about all the time, (KND, Billy & Mandy and Batman TAS for instance) I find to contain zero value in any way, shape or form. And what are you going to do? Call me an ignorant fool? You can go off on your rants, but the truth is very few people here care, and you getting set off is nothing short of amusing.

[Dr. Doom]

I think I'd say that GENERALLY speaking, there are more cartoons I value as genuinely good, quality shows from 2000 on. A lot of stuff from the 80's and 90's I have fond memories of, but they haven't aged very well at all, or I just realized that there wasn't anythign left in them that I could relate to.

[ToTheNines]

Yeah, CN is beginning to disgust me with all the new live action crap. I blame the Disney channel as well. Except for the fact that I think Raven-Symone is curvaceous, full-bodied and hot-looking, I can't think of a single good reason to watch the network. Their live action "comedies" blow worse chunks than a vomiting drug addicted hobo.


They are dispicable. The acting is ass, I've seen better at elementary school plays, and the humor is just pitiful, it's embarassing. I have four cousins who watch that **** like zach and cody (holy ****! I just realized that show's main characters share the same name as two of the most annoying characters in TMNT history, I bet their dad's name is Howie, anyway...), that's so raven, hannah montana. And they will sit there, watch it, not laugh ONCE, and defend it when I try to bust on it. I think Disney uses subliminal messages now, because once they quit airing Mickey Mouse and other cartoons, that was it for me.

[Spike Spiegel]

I think Disney uses subliminal messages now, because once they quit airing Mickey Mouse and other cartoons, that was it for me.

They must be, why else are tweenyboppers so addicted to this mind-numbing crap? It's the only way they could make anyone watch.

[Drtooth]

Except for the fact that I think Raven-Symone is curvaceous, full-bodied and hot-looking, I can't think of a single good reason to watch the network. .

Scarey as hell, considering I saw her as a cute and cuddley little baby on The Cosby show. Vomitrocious.

But I mean, other than some of their anime and the fact they're trying to bring back Courage the Cowardly Dog, their network is tumbleweeds, and their pathetic attempt to compy the pathetic Disney Tween Coms (that make the Home Alone movies look like the Esoteric wit of Woody Allen's films in the 70's) makes me want to commit Sepuku on myself. Good thing I'm way too cheap for cable.

However, I think one of the most impressively experimental and unfortunately overlooked shows that Hanna Barbara came out with in the 60s was Wait Til Your Father Gets Home. It was an adult-oriented prime time sitcom that had lots of complex storylines and jokes about civil rights, racism, politics, sexuality and so on. It was more adult and hard-hitting than even the earliest seasons of the Simpsons and had "holy crap I can't believe they said that" jokes on par with All in the Family.

I remember the neighbor in the show was a blistering racist so he was always making these really politically incorrect jokes.

Tom Bosley: "Ya know, compared to you, the Grand Cyclops of the KKK looks like a bleeding heart liberal."

Neighbor: "I know, that's why I never joined."

And that's not a paraphrase, either. That was an actual joke from a CARTOON in the early 60s.


Wait Til Your Father Gets Home was the Simpsons decades before it time. Sadly, Hanna Barbara decided to forget about adult-oriented animation soon afterward and focus on stale Scooby Doo clones throughout the bulk of the 70s, setting American animation back by decades and the damage is STILL being felt.

You know, other than the fact that I'm still a might sore they released that before they attempted to make a DVD release of Atom Ant/ Secret Squirrel, this actually looks like a worth while show. I saw the preview, and I was trying to get over the fact a fat Nerdy girl wanted to dress very revealing (Don't ask why). It seems like it actually could be more than just a cheap attempt to cash in off All in the Family than I previously thought (Unlike the Barkleys).

[Time Mistress]

They used to air it on Adult Swim on CN, they still might in the Sunday Night block. It seemed like an interesting show when I watch an episode. I had no idea it was as old as the 60s, that's kinda cool.

As far as 60s and 70s cartoons go, I thought most of the best ones of that era wound up being shown again on the USA Cartoon Express. I remember the Roman Holidays, Hair Bear, Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch, Trollkins, Dinomutt, Inch High Private Eye,etc. There was some pretty good stuff.

[DrSpengler]

I always saw WTYFGH as a show inspired by All in the Family, perhaps, but never a knock-off. It had a similar vein of politically incorrect and daring humor, but the characters were never direct clones of All in the Family's cast (well, not all of em).

Now the Flintstones, that was an unashamed parody/rip-off of the Honeymooners with absolutely identical main characters, yet the Flintstones is revered as a classic.

[Drtooth]

I always saw WTYFGH as a show inspired by All in the Family, perhaps, but never a knock-off. It had a similar vein of politically incorrect and daring humor, but the characters were never direct clones of All in the Family's cast (well, not all of em).


From what I read The Barkleys was. They even gave the main character the name "Arnie Barkley" which is basically 2 letters off the real thing. But then of course that decade also saw a bad ripoff called "The Oddball Couple," the difference being they weren't mismatched roomates, they were mismatched crimefighters. Once again, just having read about it.

As far as 60s and 70s cartoons go, I thought most of the best ones of that era wound up being shown again on the USA Cartoon Express. I remember the Roman Holidays, Hair Bear, Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch, Trollkins, Dinomutt, Inch High Private Eye,etc. There was some pretty good stuff.

I remember seeing one episode of Roman Holidays a while back, and it was just not as memorable as Flintstones or Jetsons for time related family animated sitcoms.... Dinomutt, which I've never seen, was actually one of the first things Andy Heyward (CEO of DIC entertainment) did, and it inspired him to create Inspector Gadget (at least according to the interview he did for the Shout factory IG DVD).

I never saw Inch High, but I've heard it was just Hanna Barbera knocking off Get Smart, and borrowing the plot device from this old cartoon no one remembers. (http://home.alphalink.com.au/~roglen/king_kong.htm)

Off Topic, anyone remember a mixed bag live action/ Cartoon show called "Wake Rattle and Roll" that had a Wacky Races like cartoon with Yogi, Top Cat, and Dastardly and Muttley in it?

[VaughnMichael]

good lord drtooth you've missed out on allot of really fun great cartoons from the 70's! The Blue falcon and dinomut was one of my faves as a kid along with inch high and the hair bear bunch.

[Drtooth]

I still think the 70's were an era more of groundbreaking sitcoms than animation.

[VaughnMichael]

I still think the 70's were an era more of groundbreaking sitcoms than animation.
oh for sure some of my favorite shows come from that time like the muppet show.

[Jester]

I think it depends on your age. I would say the late 80's on into the 90's. Shows like TMNT, Batman, Tiny Toons, Animaniacs, The Fox Marvel Comics series, Duck Tales, Darkwing Duck the list goes on. I guess I only say this because they were my favorite shows growing up....

But I do have one question for those who are uber-opinionated:
What do you think of the 60's marvel comics shows, like Spider-man (Does whatever a Spider can...), The Incredible Hulk (Dr. Bruce Banner, pelted by gamma rays...) and Captain America (When Captain America throws his mighty sheild...)?

[Drtooth]

I've seen some, some of the 1960's Spiderman... but not any of the others.

But I do recall seeing some late 70's early 80's Spiderman cartoon with his Amazing Friends. That was pretty enjoyable.

[DrSpengler]

Of the 60's Marvel shows, Hanna Barbara's Fantastic Four was always my favorite. They pretty much just animated issues of the comic panel to panel and while the animation was date, it wasn't even remotely as limited as the animation in Spider-Man, which I never liked. The voice acting for that series was also really good, I thought, and I still hear 60's Thing's voice when I read a Fantastic Four comic.

[Jester]

I can't believe I forgot Hanna Barbera's FF...although what about H/B's Thing....

"Thing Ring do your thing!"

[Drtooth]

I can't believe I forgot Hanna Barbera's FF...although what about H/B's Thing....

"Thing Ring do your thing!"

Ugh... that "Fred and Barney Meet the Thing" where they don't really meet the Thing? No the 1960's one with Paul Frees as the Thing? Greatness. Just for the fact they had the great Paul Frees as the voice of my favorite Marvel character.

[Sage Ninja]

Can I be a comeplete cop out and say the 80's and 90's?

Well I guess I'll say 40's since those cartoons where sort of aimed at not just children but adults as well. Actually I don't think they actually cared if children where watching them or not. These cartoon like Bugs Bunny and Tex Avery cartoons had alot of adult humour with out being raunchy and inappriate but also was littered with innuendo, cross dressing violence, and stero-types that would be deemed politically incorrect by todays standards.

Quit a few Bugsbunny cartoons have to be edited or censored now adays so that it doesn't offend todays standards.

Heck have you guys ever watch some of the Tex Avery cartoons involveing the wolf club scenes as an adult? Those cartoons where wicked risque!

[Time Mistress]

The 40s had a lot of great stuff Sage. I defiantely am way too young for the 40s but I do remember the 80s when cartoons from the 40s could still be aired uncensored.:) Saw Song of the South IN THEATERS in both 1980 and 1986!:D Those were the days.;)

[pannoni1]

1985-1995 was the sweet spot IMO, but I said the '90s, because I'd say the late '90s shows beat out the early '80s ones which still had that flat animation and dark age feel (possibly except for the Smurfs), though the '80s are close on their tail. Inspector Gadget, Danger Mouse, Muppet Babies, and much more all had quality entertainment without having the intent on selling toys.

After that, I'd say the '60s, which was when Hanna-Barbera was at its peak, and Saturday Morning had its golden age. You also had Rocky & Bullwinkle, Speed Racer, Underdog, George of the Jungle, The Alvin Show, and even the campy but fun comic book series. There were some duds, but also a lot of great classics that I enjoyed in reruns growing up like my parents did. It was a very family friendly decade for animation.

The '00s are next, but tend to be hit-or-miss with so many cartoons released during that decade, and due to the fact that there are many different targeted demographics than there were in the '90s in terms of what the series appeals to, with Adult Swim being the homeplace for adult animation, to family friendly material on The Hub and Cartoon Network, kid friendly stuff on Nickelodeon and especially Disney, and even some little kids stuff on PBS Kids sprout and some Saturday morning programming on networks that once carried great material.

The '50s was a fledging decade for television animation, often being part of a segment of a greater show. But since this is about "shows", this doesn't include all the excellent movie shorts and features, and it wasn't until late in the '50s that TV animated series really began to come of age.

The '70s are the worst of course for all that infamous animation age ghetto.

It's a bit too early in the '10s to decide on that decade, but it looks to be a bit better than the '00s so far and almost as good as the '80s, but still noticeably less than the '90s.

[Logan]

I voted the 80s. Not sure if the nostalgia argument works in my case, though. Most these cartoons I've watched now in my 20s and I probably get more appreciation out of them now then I did as a kid. OT's more topical humor being an example.

Plus, anime was starting to get more attention, even if it oftentimes was "re-versioned". I love Voltron and Robotech, just as I love GoLion and Macross.

[AT-Man]

2000. I mean, come on! the new He-Man and TMNT were alot better than originals and then there's Avatar and Metalocalypse... well Ren & Stimpy is not 2000 but overall newer is better.

[Darth Knuckles]

I voted for the 80's for a reason a lot of you have already stated. It was the era that really got the ball rolling on good American animation. There were a lot of good shows on during the 80's and through 1996 I'd say so I voted for the 80's. And because our original TMNT series started in......wait for it.......1987, I had to go 80's! :twink:

[Green Machine]

80's for me no doubt!

TMNT, He-man, Transformers, Gi Joe, Thundercats, Silverhawks, and the list goes on and on!

[billbot85]

I think it was the 1990's for me, although the 80's comes in at a very close second. But with shows like BTAS, Animaniacs, and all of the animated shows that ran on Nick and Cartoon Network, the decade was pretty hard to beat. Growing up in the 90's, I felt it was one of the best times to be a kid. The youth these days don't what awesome TV shows are. :tlol:

[TheBlueTurtle1]

I think its a close call between the 80s and 90s.

80s had, He-man, Thundercats, Tmnt, Transformers, Gummi bears, Wuzzles, Dino Riders, to name a few

90s had Spider-man, Rugrats, Recess, Dexters lab, Chip and Dale, Tiny toons, and the ever unbeatable X-men animated series!

[T-U-R-T-L-E POWA!]

He-Man, Thundercats, GI Joe, The Muppet Babies, TMNT, The Real Ghostbusters, Ducktales(my favorite show of all time), Gummie Bears, Chip and Dale's Rescue Rangers, Silver Hawks, Voltron, Transformers, and even The Simpsons. In other words: THE 80's! Woo Hoo!

[CyberCubed]

The 90's is where all the best cartoons were airing.

The early 2000's also had a number of gems as well.

[blindturtle02]

I voted 90's. Although I love 80's shows like Transformers, G.I. JOE, Defenders of The Earth, etc. And of course the original Turtles was airing in the late 80's. Shows from early 2ks were awesome like TMNT 2k3, He-Man 2002, Justice League, Batman Beyond, JLU and others. I might have picked the 90's but I'm all over the friggin board here. When it comes to the 90's, I love X-Men, Batman TAS, Gargoyles, Spider-Man, Beast Wars, etc. The Tick, Eek The Cat, and Animaniacs were also awesome. I'd often watch Ren & Stimpy and Rocko's Modern Life. My list goes on.

[pennydreadful]

I said the 80's but I admit that I'm basing that on nostalgia. The 80's was a really major stepping stone for the cartoons that we got in the 90's, so even though it may not have had the "best", I feel that it deserves credit for that.

[Fjaj]

I said the 50's 'cause Looney Tunes. That's as good as it gets.
Surprising that no one else picked that...

[TMNT_Guy]

I said the 50's 'cause Looney Tunes. Surprising that no one else picked that...
Well, to be fair the poll is “Which decade had/has the best animated series?”. The term “animated series” is usually used to describe an animated television series, not theatrical short cartoons like the Looney Tunes. However, you could “cheat” and say the Bugs Bunny Show which showed the Looney Tunes shorts with new host segments hosted by the Looney Tunes cast. But that began in the 60’s, not the 50’s, and lasted until the year 2000.
Looney Tunes. That's as good as it gets.
Can't argue with that.

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[T-U-R-T-L-E POWA!]

Well, to be fair the poll is “Which decade had/has the best animated series?”. The term “animated series” is usually used to describe an animated television series, not theatrical short cartoons like the Looney Tunes. However, you could “cheat” and say the Bugs Bunny Show which showed the Looney Tunes shorts with new host segments hosted by the Looney Tunes cast. But that began in the 60’s, not the 50’s, and lasted until the year 2000.

Can't argue with that.

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Well if we're going back to then I would say that ANY of the early Disney stuff with the touch of Walt, Ub, and the 9 Old Men would trump all the WB stuff. But, in fairness, I am a Disney fanboy. LOL.

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

For me, it's a tie between 80s and 90s. 80s for Transformers G1, TMNT and Spider-man (bet you never see anyone bring THAT one up). Meanwhile, the 90s had Spider-man, Batman the animated series and X-Men.

It's too tough to call for me.

[ZariusTwo]

For me, it's a tie between 80s and 90s. 80s for Transformers G1, TMNT and Spider-man (bet you never see anyone bring THAT one up)

Spider-Friends, go for it!:)

(I presume you also mean the equally great 80s solo Spidey cartoon, which is often ignored)

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

(I presume you also mean the equally great 80s solo Spidey cartoon, which is often ignored)

You got it!:D

[TheSkeletonMan939]

Overall I think the '90s were when the best shows were airing.

In terms of super-hero shows though, the golden age was from '95 to early 2013. The DCAU, Teen Titans, GL:TAS, Young Justice, Spectacular Spider-Man, Beware the Batman, Brave and the Bold, Avengers: EMH, and Wolverine and the X-Men were all great.

[T-U-R-T-L-E POWA!]

How does this whole thing break down by age? I'm 32 and grew up on 80s AND early 90s cartoons and they both were awesome but I think the 80s had a better overall lineup. Are those of you born more in the late 80s more prone to pick the cartoons of the early 90s whereas I am prone to pick the cartoons of the 80s and late 80s?

[pennydreadful]

How does this whole thing break down by age? I'm 32 and grew up on 80s AND early 90s cartoons and they both were awesome but I think the 80s had a better overall lineup. Are those of you born more in the late 80s more prone to pick the cartoons of the early 90s whereas I am prone to pick the cartoons of the 80s and late 80s?

... I'm not sure about anyone else, but for my part, I was born in the early 80's so grew up watching both 80s and 90's toons! :) It's a really tough question as there's so much iconic stuff in each decade.

[Stugehen]

I voted for the 90's. The shows were mostly coherent and there was a lot of variety. A Saturday morning could consist of Animaniacs to Spider Man to Doug to X-Men to Bobby's World. All good stuff! Plus some shows that started in the 90's are still going today like South Park and SpongeBob.

[The Green Ranger]

As much as I loved my classic 80's cartoons, the 90's began shows that were more mature yet still appropriate for kids. Cartoons became less stereotypical and campy.

The 90's produced one of the greatest animated series of all time, Batman: The Animated Series. PERFECT blend of dark and light, edge and child friendly, mature but not above kid's ability to understand.

Shows like that aren't made anymore...

The 90's also made toons that were so clever, they were able to hide adult jokes in a child friendly shows. It made it so everyone could enjoy them. It was an era right before shows became so blatant, vulgar and raunchy. It takes less imagination to directly be vulgar and not be clever, that's why mainstream rap music sucks, it takes no imagination at all.

[TheCanadiandrome]

the era i grew up in...80s/90s!

[BabyTurtles]

90's and early 2000's!! totally!! :D (avatar the last airbender is the best cartoon of all time!)

[T-U-R-T-L-E POWA!]

90's and early 2000's!! totally!! :D (avatar the last airbender is the best cartoon of all time!)

I say Ducktales is the greatest of all time. Then I would say Batman The Animated Series. I really need to watch Avatar though because I hear so many people bragging on it. Is it on Netflix or is there some other way to watch it?

[Leofan26]

I loved the late 80s shows / 90s shows the best, even with Anime :D

Well let's see, I'm not sure all of these shows came out in the 90s or 80s but..

Darkwing Duck / Duck Tales / Gummie Bears / Rocko's Modern Life / Older Rugrats episodes ( Later Kimmi episodes sucked! Though, I must be one of the few old school Rugrats fans who actually enjoyed All Grown Up :lol:)

Even CBS Older Arthur episodes were a blast, I enjoyed that show a lot in seasons one through I'd say maybe six.

Some of the newer shows can be ok, however a lot of them are potty humor and the characters are too stupid at times to enjoy :()

Anime wise, my first few were Pokemon / Dragon Ball Z and I loved them both:D