Should Retro Cartoons Come Back?

I am the biggest cartoon freak alive on Earth!

Ever since I discovered what television is, I’m amazed and overwhelmed by the silly people and the movements they make in the electrical box. I remembered those days the movies was in black and white. But then I was magnetized with the colored cartoons and the way it was animate from the 80’s. I gave my utmost respect and salutation to the cartoonist during that era as all the cartoons are hand illustrated! And the essential of it was to make it look as real as possible. Unlike cartoon nowadays; where cartoons are easily created by computers flash animations. And cartoons nowadays will look as ugly as possible. And some of the cartoons these days don’t have the touch of moral compared to the 80’s cartoons.

To all retro 80’s cartoon lovers, browse through below and prepare to be warp back to time in the Milky Way. These pictures will reminiscence the fond memories when we were as a child in the 80’s. Here we go…

Sesame Street are one of the programs that helped me on learning to count, speak correctly, playful, diligent, to draw, to sing…way before Barney the Lovable Purple Dinosaur exist. Muppets are well known for their puppet lifelike actions. For those who like puppet shows, music, singing, family oriented, then get ready to explore more about Kermit the Frog and his Muppet gang movie coming out this Christmas 2011. Then you have Thunderbirds; a more serious crime fighting saving the world epic. A comedy series called Alf (acronym for Alien Life Form); an abandoned furry alien with a big mole on his nose that eat cats. The mischievous little creature Mr. Bogus is a witty character that goes into adventures. It also comes with a short plasticine clip before and after the cartoon. But as far as I can remember, my very first childhood cartoon that I start watching was Gumby and his horse Pokey, created by Art Clokey.

By the Power of Grace Skull…I have the Power!!!! He-Man and his twin sister She-Ra Princess of Power are one of the most famous barbaric like warriors/ defenders cartoon hero, and you will be flabbergasted by the cartoon smooth animation. The other cartoons from the almost similar group are Black Star, Thundarr, Conan the Barbarian, Fire & Ice movie, Freedom Force, Flash Gordon, etc. Then there cometh dragons, knights and wizards! I’m sure there are many table top RPG gamers are crazy over D&D (Dungeons & Dragons). A different kind of story about King Arthur, in the alternative group of American Football players been magically warped back in time, giving them powers they can imagine and protect Camelot. Thus the name of the cartoon: King Arthur and the Knights of Justice. But one of my favorite was Visionaries and the Knights of the Magical Light: where there are animal and creature symbols on the knights’ chest which enable the knights to transform into the animal or creatures whenever necessary.

Captain Caveman!!!!! Would shout…sorry, scream out his name proudly whenever he is ready for a fight. A big vicious infamous gigantic monster: Godzilla. I learned the word “What the heck!” from the cartoon Beany and Cecil. Another kiddy cartoon I like is Diplodo, whereby they are Dinosaurs from another planet and they possess stationery abilities. Then there is 3 funny dinosaurs that I can’t recall the name of the cartoon, but it is linked to a cartoon called Eek! The Cat. A more serious Dino action; Dinosaucers. They are from a different planet, crashed down to Earth and team up with teenagers. (I have no idea why Dinosaurs team up with teenagers, but kinda cool) Dino Riders is still my favourite, they have secret weapons concealed as part of the Dinosaur suit. DINOSAUR is about a Dino family that they face everyday. It is not a cartoon, but more to a Dino suited TV series. But another well known Yaa-Baa Da-Ba Doo family is the FlintStones. There is one cartoon of 5 T-Rex brothers in a dinosaur city living their life as jazz singers. But when there’s crime, they will enter to their secret room and suit up as heroes in the Adventures of T-Rex.

Besides jazz singers, there’s another cartoon about Denver the last Dinosaur that loves playing guitar and Rock & Roll. In these groups of cartoons are more about singers, bands, Rock & Roll, more into music mania. You can enjoy the songs from the Archie’s, JabberJaw, Josie and the Pussy Cats. HAMMERMAN was produced from the famous singer Mc Hammer. And not forgetting the famous Alvin and the Chipmunks. I used to enjoy watching Jem and the Holograms. Another fun cartoon is the Super Mario Brothers Super Shows. Don’t tell me you don’t know who Super Mario Brothers is. I will bang my head on my PC monitor. Captain N (acronym for Nintendo) is one cartoon filled with Nintendo game characters. Teenagers as heroes, and adventure seeking to fight against baddies; Jaycee and the Wheeled Warriors, Mighty Max, Johnny Quest, etc the adventure like stories are thrilling. Smurfs and other famously known cartoons; Dennis the menace, Mr. Magoo, Rainbow Brite, Snorks, the Glo Friends, My Little Pony, Astro Boy, etc. Cartoon characters from animals are mostly children’s favourite; Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers, Tale Spin, Duck Tales (uncle Scrooge), Duckula, Darkwing Duck, Gizmo Duck, Tom & Jerry, Speedy Gonzalez, Mighty Mouse (here I come to save the day~), Danger Mouse, Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats, Garfield and Friends, Felix the Cat, the Crow Brothers, Woody Woodpecker, Gummy Bears, Care Bears, Village of the Ewoks, Yogi Bear, Muttley, the Adventures of Sonic and Tales, Looney Toons, Tiny Toons, Animaniacs, Mickey Mouse, etc

Those who like animal or mutated heroes, everybody should know Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and X-Men; from comic, to cartoon, to collectibles and merchandise to real life movies on theatres. Earthworm Jim, Swamp Thing, Battle Toads, Street Sharks are the not so famous cartoons, but can be remembered because of their slapstick comical jokes. If there is something strange, in your neighborhood, who do you call? Ghostbusters and the cute (ugly but adorable) green ghost Slimmer going around with Ecto-1 catching evil ghosts. Decipher in revealing mysterious cases, a group of teenagers with the famous cowardly dog; Scooby Doo. There’s another series where Scooby Doo’s nephew Scappy Doo; a small little brave pup help solving unrevealed cases. Puppy Power! Cool effects and adult like storylines, I’m personally impressed with Gargoyles and Mummies Alive.

Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman and Super Friends! Who doesn’t like superheroes like Batman, Spider Woman, Phantom and Defenders of the Earth, Spiderman and his Amazing Friends; Firestar & Iceman? Not forgetting the comic like cartoon Ironman; whereby big explosive words like ‘PUNCH! POW! BOOM! KA-POW! GAH!’ whenever the superhero gives a good come back to the villains. Popeye the sailorman, Blue Falcon & Dyno Mutt, The Tick and Freakazoid are the few superhero cartoons that can make you giggle and laugh by their comical act. Saving the planet when 5 power rings combine to summon Captain Planet! The not so superhero type, but as police officers and soldiers protecting civilians; Inspector Gadget, COPS and RAMBO. Earths most powerful soldiers; Spiral Zone and G.I. Joe, the real American hero became an icon to kids to follow becoming a hero. Power ON! Captain Power is a half 3D and real life actors.

Here are some of my favorite childhood heroes that I believe a lot of people will agree with me stating these groups of heroes are undisputed in the cartoon world. Sky Commanders with equipment attached to cables from 1 mountain to another as transport, Centurions (Power X-Treme), Inhumanoids fighting against giant monsters, Starcom and M.A.S.K both have the most coolest transforming vehicles, Galaxy Rangers and Bionic 6 have bionic abilities, Bravestar the space Red Indian, G-Force: Battle of the Planets where their plane can turn into a fiery phoenix, Ultraman Adventures, Tiger Shark, Silver Hawks, Thunder Cats, Saber Rider and the Star Sheriff with Ramrod….what more can I say? They are all so cool! Upholding the law; Robocop never sleeps. Bots Master leader Zip Zulander (Z.Z)have a team of robots fight against evil baddies. The classic transforming robots are Gobots, and I believe there’s another series of Gobots are Rock Lords; instead of vehicles, these robots transform and disguise themselves as rock or crystal. Then the evolution of robots Robotix, Transformers (more than meets the eye, robots in disguise), Macross/ Robotech and Mospeada the collest motor bike suit ever! Godmars, Mighty Orbots, Voltron Lion Force and Vehicle Team: Defender of the Universe are some of the famous combining of 5 or more vehicles/ robots merging into 1 giant super robot. Ninja Robot, Mazinger, Daimos, Grendizer, Gai King, Gigantor are few of the Japanese well-known mecha heroes. Until today, Gundam has evolved far too many seasons and still millions of fans are following the series.

I’ve been sharing a lot of my childhood memories; I’m very sure there are more cartoons out there. Forgive me if I missed them out or wrongly spelled the cartoon names; I don’t mean to spoil your childhood memories. Let me conclude my article with 4 of the adult comedy family cartoon The Jetsons, The Simpsons, Family Guy and American Dad.

Hope you enjoyed this warp zone back to childhood times. And answering to my own question: Should 80's cartoons comeback? My answer is definitely yes! But hope the new version of the cartoons are not too flamboyant and excessive with unwanted changes. Maintaining the originality of the characters is the best! Until then, may the force be with you. Live long and prosper!