Hey, Saturday morning cartoon fans! Do you remember those special Saturday mornings waking up with your kids (or grandkids) to watch the latest animated wonders? We had the best cartoons in history! The 80s were definitely the best decades for cartoons so let’s go back in time to an era where cartoons ruled the world!
Table of Contents
- 1 1. He-Man (Masters of the Universe)
- 2 2. Inspector Gadget
- 3 3. Rainbow Brite
- 4 4. Garfield
- 5 5. Lion-O (ThunderCats)
- 6 6. Michelangelo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- 7 7. Optimus Prime (The Transformers)
- 8 8. She-Ra
- 9 9. Slimer (The Real Ghostbusters)
- 10 10. Duke (G.I. Joe)
- 11 11. Scooby-Dum (The Scooby-Doo Show)
- 12 12. Orko (Masters of the Universe)
- 13 13. Heathcliff
- 14 14. Danger Mouse
1. He-Man (Masters of the Universe)
From 1983-1985, He-Man was one of the most famous cartoons of the decade! _“By the Power of Grayskull!”_ was an iconic line that turned many kids into He-Man fans of the franchise. Each episode taught kids strong moral values while being exciting as he fought the evil witch, Skeletor to protect the Grayskull castle!
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2. Inspector Gadget
Don Adams was the voice of the very popular cartoon show MG (Masked Guy) from 1983 to 1986. Despite being a bumbling idiot, Dr. Claw was a bad guy and the main person who wanted to stop him! He had to solve all the problems from his niece, Penny, and his dog, Brain. It was a mixture of comedy and adventure which was totally new during that time.
3. Rainbow Brite
Rainbow Brite (Wisp) is one of the most well-known cartoons. She brought a lot of color and joy to TV from 1984. She and her horse, Starlight, fought bad guys (Murky and Lurky) who turned Rainbow Land into a dull place. She is a hero of Rainbow Land. She and the Color Kids repeatedly had to protect Rainbow Land. Young watchers loved the bright animation and she had a strong, positive message.
4. Garfield
Garfield The lasagna-loving cat first hit our screens in 1988, but we had known him years before that thanks to comic strips. Lorenzo Music voiced Garfield and his tone deaf laziness mixed with sardonic wit was a hit with everyone. His many memorable moments with owner Jon Arbuckle and dog Odie are many.
5. Lion-O (ThunderCats)
ThunderCats The 1985 animated series ThunderCats began with the battle of good vs evil between the ThunderCats protagonist Lion-O and the antagonist Mumm-Ra. Mumm-Ra’s evilness was countered by Lion-O’s Sword of Omens and ThunderCats set new standards for action cartoons with its blend of sophisticated animation in the sci-fi fantasy genre.
6. Michelangelo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Michelangelo was the fan favorite amongst the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when the series started in 1987. His love for pizza and catchphrases showcased a perfect blend of action with humor. He was the fun-loving turtle who embodied martial arts and what it took to be a hero.
7. Optimus Prime (The Transformers)
Transformers The first Transformers series started in 1984 and Peter Cullen voiced the lead Autobot known as Optimus Prime. He became an icon of courage and leadership as he fought against evil and taught the viewers valuable lessons about being responsible and having honor.
8. She-Ra
She-Ra, Princess of Power When He-Man’s twin sister Princess Adora changes into She-Ra in 1985, she leads the Great Rebellion against Hordak on the planet Etheria. She uses her strength and leadership to set a powerful example and shows the true heroic qualities of caring about others.
9. Slimer (The Real Ghostbusters)
Beloved for his messy eating habits the green ghost was a new character with the start of the Real Ghostbusters animated series. Slimer’s friendly personality was a hit and he became a fan favorite, so much so that his very own segment called Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters was created.
10. Duke (G.I. Joe)
Duke was the top commander of G.I. Joe and fought against the evil Cobra villains starting in 1983. He was the ideal hero of the animated show because of his solid leadership and outstanding dedication to the role. The character’s unforgettable catch lines and moral fiber personified the show’s patriotic essence.
11. Scooby-Dum (The Scooby-Doo Show)
Scooby Doo and his mystery solving pals started airing in the 1960s, but it was the mid-1970s when the team added the new character Scooby-Dum that laughter became widespread. This endearing character wore a detective hat and bumbled his way to winning many a mystery.
12. Orko (Masters of the Universe)
Orko, a floating magical friend from Trolla added comic relief to He -Man’s world starting in 1983. Although his spells often went awry his friendship with Prince Adam was heartwarming and added depth to both characters. He was very mysterious as he always kept his huge, only eyes were visible.
13. Heathcliff
In 1984, Heathcliff became a new animated character in the adventure comics along with many other new characters. Unlike Garfield the other animated cat character, Heathcliff was an outdoors troublemaker. He pulled pranks and got into fights with the neighborhood dogs, setting himself apart among the other cartoon cats with his mischievous and street smart personality.
14. Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse is Britain’s biggest secret agent since Penfold and him have been charming us since 1981. Danger Mouse’s greatest mission is to keep Baron Silas Greenback’s evil plans away from the world. Because of the show’s British humor and parodies of spy movies, the show became one of the most pretentious cartoons of the decade.
