Favorite action/superhero cartoons of all time

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by sdp

So, Jackie Chan Adventures is actually good? The concept seems dumb, the only reason I've ever been vaguely interested in it was because I love Jackie Chan movies which is dumb since this only takes his name for the title..

The first two seasons of JCA were obsessive tv for me...after that it was kind of diminishing returns, but it was still very entertaining even in spite of how irritable Jade can get...and Michael Rosenbaum eventually joins the cast as a villain in the final seasons, so that's another plus

[Powder]

I haven't watched it in quite a few years, so I can't say if it holds up or if it's as good as I remember, but I know I was in looove with that series back in the day. Was really solid. Though JC wasn't voiced by the real fella, the show was full of his spirit & influence, & the character was on point.

[CyberCubed]

What put me off from watching Avatar was the anime style they used for animation. It's like the producers wanted to make a cool action cartoon but instead of using Anerican style animation they went anime to attract the teen anime side.

I hate it when American cartoons mimic anime. It's like they feel cartoons are not good enough to attract the anime crowd that they have to include their anime mannerisms and fanservice.

God I miss the days of the DCAU, gargoyles, TMNT and the good Spiderman and X-men cartoons that proved cartoons can be better than anime.

[Netkeeper]

Yeah, again I didn't like that about ATLA either. But it isn't anime, and I don't think they were trying to appeal to anime being so popular back when it came out since they don't follow most anime standard tropes in either storytelling or animation aside from the visual style. TMNT 2k3 looks more anime than ATLA does.

[sdp]

I would classify Avatar as "inspired" by Anime instead of "influenced" by anime, for example Teen Titans was clearly trying to emulate the chibi formula and it was influenced by Anime, and TT was still a great western cartoon. But Avatar is clearly a western cartoon. Any fan of animation in general is doing themselves a disservice not checking out Avatar. And I definitely don't think 2k3 is "more" anime than Avatar but I do think Avatar is better written. It's not a superlong series either, only 60 something episode, and after the first season you'll be hooked. When the show starts you think it's just a normal adventure show and it's a premise that you would enjoy in a show that lasts a long time but the status quo ends up changing every other episode and that ends up making it even more memorable.
edit:Avatar was the Gargoyles of the 2000's.

I'll think about watching JCA, though the 100 episode length makes me question it since while apparently good it's nothing mind blowing and I just don't have the time. I also started watching the X-Files which is a pretty damn long show doesn't help the idea of starting another long show, especially with limited time.

Originally Posted by Leofan26

4. Speed Racer Next Generation ( I don't care what the old timer fandom thinks, I enjoyed the action the most out of all the Speed Racer shows. Season two is when things really got rolling though. Too bad I can't find the episodes other than Amazon and that costs money :

That's interesting, it looked kinda bad, hope to check it out one day. I watched the original Speed Racer like 2 years ago and it was alright but got burnt out on SR for a while I do want to watch the other shows in the series though, New Adventures/X/Next Generation.

[turtlefanforever]

What about Rambo's animated series? That count?

[BabyTurtles]

Avatar the last Airbender XD it has everything!

1) good story (all the way through!)
2) awesome characters
3)great action!
4) continuity!!
5) the art is pretty to look at~
6) bonus, the girl characters are perfect.

I also like Kim Possible, TMNT 2003, JLA, Ben10, Batman, The Batman, Young Justice, Green Lanturn

[MrTMNT2012]

Basically if you haven't seen Avatar, you haven't seen how far epic storytelling and characters developed throughout Animation.

[CyberCubed]

I find it hard to believe Avatar is so much more developed than Gargoyles, TMNT 2k3, JLU, etc.

People act like it broke barriers.

[MrTMNT2012]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I find it hard to believe Avatar is so much more developed than Gargoyles, TMNT 2k3, JLU, etc.

People act like it broke barriers.

Maybe you'd find it easier to believe when you actually watch it...

[CyberCubed]

I will eventually but people act like we haven't already had action cartoons with strong continuity, plot and characters.

[Redeemer]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I will eventually but people act like we haven't already had action cartoons with strong continuity, plot and characters.

I have watched both shows completely through within the last few years. I personally like Avatar the Last Airbender better bc of the universe and comedy. I feel that Gargoyles forgot to put comedy in the series at times.

[MrTMNT2012]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I will eventually but people act like we haven't already had action cartoons with strong continuity, plot and characters.

We had but never to this level.

[sdp]

I just realized no one here mentioned Todd McFarlane's Spawn cartoon, it only ran 3 seasons and a total of 18 episodes but even with such a short run it accomplished more than most animated Superhero shows do in a full run. It aired in the late 90s and isn't very well known, since it aired on HBO they had no restrictions on what they could do. Keith David voices Spawn and all the voice work is fantastic, the tone is dark and it has plenty of action and story. I think it's BTAS level good, I think it's worth checking out even if you don't like premise from a few comics or even the movie since the show is pretty different, like the best of the character without the BS.

Too bad they haven't been able to get another Spawn show off the ground, I know McFarlane had been trying for years but it's been years since we heard of anything. Surely the biggest (new)superhero from the 90s will get a revival eventually.

edit:this thread needs more pictures:



And my favorite characters Sam and Twitch:

[pennydreadful]

That show was ace, SDP. Love me some Keith David voice acting!

[Shred Head]

Spawn was a pretty bold show although from what I remember of it it had a pretty good first season but the second was just painful wish I could see it again and get refreshed on it. Sadly is it even on DVD I heard there was some problems with rights for some characters. With a Marvel character being on it now I wonder if you can legally find it anywhere now.Sadly it never really broke new ground like Batman: TAS. America still feels cartoons are for kids outside comedy shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy. Its still very rare to find an action drama animation series meant for adults that's not anime.

[sdp]

I don't remember the show well enough, I really need to re-watch it but the first season while awesome wasn't the best, I think S1 is bogged down by the fact that they were trying to show that this wasn't a kids cartoon by showing too much blood and nudity just because they could, the other seasons don't cave in and only do when necessary, even live action shows fall to that trap like Spartacus and Game of Thrones. I think it's Season 3 that is inferior because it tried to put in as much story as it could since it knew it wasn't getting renewed I think and S2 is the best because we have some amazing Twitch moments, but I could be wrong, it's been a while since I watched it.

I don't think the show was in any legal trouble, for many years they sold it as three separate "Movies" for about 10 bucks each. I think around 2007 they released a set that had all the episodes separately instead of stitched together as movies which is the superior way to see the show. Maybe the DVDs just went out of print...you can still find the show on youtube but it's the movie versions.

[pharaohyami5000]

Huh. Forgot about this one.

Okay. Action series I've seen that remain my favorite shows currently below are:

-Batman TAS
-Batman Beyond
-Spider-Man TAS
-Spectacular Spider-Man
-X-Men TAS
-Storm Hawks
-Avatar the Last Airbender
-Transformers Beast Wars
-Transformers Beast Machines
-Justice League series
-Avengers Earth's Mightiest Heroes

And of course, TMNT Classics + 2k3.

Currently considering Young Justice as my next series to watch once I complete Breaking Bad.

[Redeemer]

Originally Posted by pharaohyami5000

Huh. Forgot about this one.

Okay. Action series I've seen that remain my favorite shows currently below are:

-Batman TAS
-Batman Beyond
-Spider-Man TAS
-Spectacular Spider-Man
-X-Men TAS
-Storm Hawks
-Avatar the Last Airbender
-Transformers Beast Wars
-Transformers Beast Machines
-Justice League series
-Avengers Earth's Mightiest Heroes

And of course, TMNT Classics + 2k3.

Currently considering Young Justice as my next series to watch once I complete Breaking Bad.

You will add young justice after watching it

[Slade]

Ooo..I forgot about Spawn. I think I have a season of it. It's really good.

Speak up, you wanna be heard?