16 Saturday Morning Cartoons That Defined Your Childhood

Think back to those special Saturday mornings where you would wake up early, grab some cereal, and plop yourself in front of the TV. Saturday morning cartoons were a right of passage for kids from the 1960s to the 1980s. Join me as I reminisce over some of the many animated classics that made our weekends worthwhile.

1. The Bugs Bunny Show (1960-2000)

The Bugs Bunny Show was arguably the first Saturday morning kids show, and the first show of its kind to air Warner Brothers’ short films on television. These cartoons featured sophisticated humor and started a movement starring Bugs along with his friends: Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, and Porky Pig. The Bugs Bunny Show continued on for years as it could hold the attention of both children and adults.

2. The Flintstones (1960-1966)

The Flintstones were the first television show to use animated sitcoms as a genre and were pioneers in both social commentary and slapstick. The adventures of Fred, Wilma, Barney, and Betty were originally televised in primetime, but found even more success from Saturday morning showings and became one of the first shows to aid the creation of a new standard in family entertainment.

3. Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969-1970)

The adventures of Mystery Inc. combined the perfect amount of spooky thrills with just the right amount of comedic relief. The show’s simple yet effective formula of four teenagers and their talking Great Dane that solved supernatural mysteries (that always had a logical explanation) became so successful that it spawned many spin offs and adaptations that continue to be made today.

4. Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981-1983)

This show was the first to bring Marvel’s Spider-Man to Saturday mornings along with Iceman and Firestar. It displayed a great deal of the Marvel Universe, including guest stars like Captain America and the X-Men. The show raised the level of expectation for adventure animated shows with its superhero team episodes.

5. Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972-1985)

This series made a unique blend of animation and real-life social problems. Urban youth issues were the focus of this series, which was unprecedented for the time. The show had a distinct animation style, a wide range of characters, and the morals woven into the show were heart-felt without being too preachy.

6. Super Friends (1973-1986)

This series introduced many kids to the best superheroes of all time. The iconic characters it featured included Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. The old superhero shows were much simpler than the ones being produced now. The various reboots made it feel like a new show.

7. Hong Kong Phooey (1974)

The story of the janitor who became a timid but clumsy kung fu fighter was a good one. The show combined comedic elements with action, and it was pretty interesting. Each episode had a different plot to keep it fresh.

8. Space Ghost and Dino Boy (1966-1968)

The animated sci-fi genre was pushed to the next level with this show. Audiences loved the creative alien characters and storylines while Space Ghost retained his power and invisibility to avoid aliens.

9. The Smurfs (1981-1989)

The Smurfs taught children about the importance of working together and building a strong community. Young viewers enjoyed the show’s humor and silly plots while also absorbing more complex ideas. Each episode, Gargamel tried to trap the Smurfs. And though we all knew he would fail, his schemes kept us watching.

10. Schoolhouse Rock! (1973-1984)

The catchy songs and animations used in these educational shorts changed how we learn and have taught us everything from grammar to science. They even taught us law with “I’m Just A Bill”, a song about how a bill becomes a law. These three minute videos helped us grasp very complex ideas and taught us in a way that we would never forget.

11. Speed Buggy (1973)

His teenage friends and this talking dune buggy solved mysteries and captured our hearts. The loyal and unforgettable character Speed Buggy was a mix of Scooby Doo and the custom car craze of the time. The show used elements of the era fascination with custom vehicles to capture audiences on Saturday mornings.

12. Land of the Lost (1974-1976)

While not animated the show certainly deserves recognition for the influence it had on Saturday mornings. The Marshall family and their adventures in a prehistoric dimension used science fiction and provided a viewing experience that remains unique today.

13. Johnny Quest (1964-1965)

Johnson’s animated adventures combined with his father Race Bannon and Hadji around the globe fostered an influence on series that followed and brought a more mature style to animation. Cutting edge science and thrilling action brought a more mature level of animation.

14. H.R. Pufnstuf (1969-1971)

Living Island is where this psychedelic series from Sid and Marty Krofft took viewers. The imaginative sets, fantastic costumes, and unique characters, like Witchiepoo the wicked, Freddie the Flute, and Jimmy created a show that perfectly reflected the time.

15. Thundarr the Barbarian (1980-1982)

The series’ setting is a world devastated by an apocalypse 2,000 years into the future, in the year 3994. The combination of fantasy and science fiction elements was remarkably successful. The survival adventures of Thundarr, Princess Ariel, and Ookla the Mok in the crumbled remains of civilization are an extraordinary experience. The show’s unique premise and exceptional character designs by Jack Kirby, a legendary comic book artist, distinguished this production from most other typical Saturday morning shows.

16. Laff-A-Lympics (1977-1979)

A brilliant idea, the show fused together some of Hanna-Barbera’s most recognizable characters and set them in an Olympic-style competition. Outrageous sporting events were held around the world, where The Yogi Yahooeys, Scooby Doobies, and Really Rottens battled it out. The mix of a competitive environment and well-known characters made the show a Saturday morning classic.