Back then, we had to wait until Saturday morning to watch cartoons, kids! Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most iconic cartoons we loved watching on Saturday mornings.
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00:00 "Oh, look, I think I'm in love."
00:04 Welcome to Ms Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most iconic
00:08 cartoons we loved watching on Saturday mornings.
00:11 We're including shows that originally aired in that time slot, but also those who may
00:16 have been weekday offerings, but grew to become Saturday morning staples.
00:21 "I gotta admit, that's some act."
00:24 "Koopy-doop!"
00:28 Number 10. Garfield and Friends
00:30 There's no denying Garfield the cat is a true cultural icon, and that he played a big part
00:36 in defining our childhoods. Garfield and Friends was a staple of the Saturday morning animated
00:41 lineup, anchored by Lorenzo Music's expert voice work as that lazy lasagna-loving feline.
00:47 "He's on the show. Be back here tonight."
00:50 "Me? On TV? Well, it took him long enough to discover my natural talents."
00:57 The lines on both the Garfield and US Acres segments of this show could occasionally be
01:03 subversive, often absurdly funny, and featuring well-written jokes.
01:07 "I really am sorry."
01:09 "Well, you should be. Imagine thinking I would mail Nermal to Abu Dhabi again."
01:14 "Be quiet, Odie. You'll like the Yukon."
01:18 It didn't matter whether certain punchlines went over children's heads, or were more physically-based
01:23 wacky nonsense, Garfield and Friends was the best.
01:26 "So our tale is adjourned. With this lesson, to be learned, helpless folks you shouldn't flog,
01:33 people love an underdog. The end."
01:38 Number 9. Thundercats
01:40 "Thunders, thunders, thunders, thundercats! Ho!"
01:46 The 1980s were a big decade for toy marketing disguised as Saturday morning animation fare.
01:52 This takes nothing away from the importance or legacy of these shows, of course, with Thundercats
01:57 enduring as one of the best. The show was full of adventure, memorable character designs,
02:02 and a great opening.
02:04 "Thunders, thunders, thunders, thundercats! Thunders, thunders, thunders, thundercats!"
02:12 Thundercats was one of those shows that was just intense enough for older kids, while
02:17 also possessing enough moments of levity. Additionally, the animation was gorgeous,
02:22 particularly the atmospheric monster design of Mum-Ra, avatar for the ancient spirits
02:27 of evil. Thundercats had it all on lock.
02:31 "For the price I must pay for doing so, Mum-Ra will transport you."
02:41 Number 8. X-Men - The Animated Series
02:44 Kids of a certain age probably remember how X-Men - The Animated Series not only helped
02:49 make their Saturday mornings more fun, but sparked a love of superheroes.
02:53 "Discover our extraordinary powers at about your age. Professor Xavier is our leader,
02:59 and he has named us the X-Men."
03:02 The topics were often mature, and the way each episode fed the next was a big deal.
03:08 As a result, kids of all ages were able to watch these Marvel mutants touch on topics
03:13 such as prejudice while also enjoying amazing action.
03:16 "Wolverine, what did I teach you about revenge? How often have I warned you about letting
03:22 your personal feelings endanger the work of our team?"
03:25 The animation for its part was fluid and captivating, possessing a palette as colourful as the characters
03:31 themselves. Meanwhile, the opening sequence and theme that introduced Gambit, Rogue, Cyclops,
03:37 and more to Saturday mornings endures in our hearts.
03:40 7. Animaniacs
03:45 What can we possibly say about Animaniacs that hasn't already been said?
03:50 Watching it was something of a ritual for many kids. After all, no matter what was going on,
03:55 we knew we could count on its trademark anarchic humour to bring us joy.
04:00 "Nice wig you got there." "The Chanel you're borrowing it?"
04:03 "What are you snickering at?" "It made me laugh. She obviously has good taste."
04:09 The Warner Brothers and their sister Dot were true agents of the uncanny,
04:13 bringing an anything-goes sentiment to Saturday mornings.
04:17 "And the moral of today's story is... don't spit in public."
04:22 "Of course, it all makes perfect sense now. Thanks for clearing that up."
04:26 "My pleasure."
04:27 The show's storylines were often absurdist and silly, and even went places that would
04:32 make adults crack a smile. Or raise an eyebrow. Animaniacs was truly an ensemble piece,
04:38 as well boasting an impressive array of ancillary characters who truly shot.
04:43 "I've been coaching Crystal Mantle." "Yeah, so what the heck's that mean?"
04:46 "It means a quake." "A quake?" "Oh, really?" "Yeah." "No fake?"
04:49 "We kind of had that feeling when the ground began to shake."
04:52 6. The Transformers
04:54 The line is gloriously blurred between the original Transformers toyline
04:58 and the Generation 1 television series.
05:01 "Transformers! The Lord that meets the eye! Autobots raise their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons!"
05:11 Each sort of serviced the other. Really, it was a symbiotic relationship of art and commerce,
05:17 but that probably meant little to kids watching during the original run.
05:21 All we cared about was giant robots fighting for supremacy.
05:24 "Another planet! That's awesome!"
05:27 "Those who tried to harm you are called Decepticons. We must stop them before they destroy your world."
05:34 Naturally, though, the combination also worked perfectly for '80s audiences,
05:38 with the breakneck pace and action resulting in trips to the toy store.
05:42 That tradition continues today as well, of course,
05:45 but the Transformers helped turn this business model into an art form.
05:49 "Maybe you better ask your father." "Can I, Dad?" "Only if I can go with you."
05:54 "Alright, let's go home. Autobots, transform!"
05:58 Number 5. The Smurfs.
06:00 There's just something pleasantly nostalgic about the innocence of The Smurfs.
06:04 "The thought of flying to other planets is tempting, but I'll never be as happy as I am here. There's no place like home!"
06:13 "Ahh!"
06:15 This classic kids' show didn't rely too heavily on heavy-handed themes
06:19 or boundary-pushing action set pieces to be entertaining.
06:22 Oh, there was conflict with the evil sorcerer Gargamel, sure,
06:25 but The Smurfs was more about its wonderful world of characters.
06:29 "Hold me go, you dumb wizard!"
06:32 "Well, well, well, my first Smurf!"
06:38 "Ow!"
06:40 This was a beautifully crafted show with plenty of imagination that delivered moral life lessons
06:45 in a way that never felt preachy or ham-fisted.
06:48 It was essentially fairy-tale-style entertainment in the old-school way that both kids and parents could enjoy on Saturday mornings.
06:56 "Papa Smurf knows what's best, so..."
06:59 "So go out and do a..."
07:03 "Bang-off job!"
07:06 Number 4. Alvin and the Chipmunks.
07:09 Music has always been a big part of what draws kids to animated stories.
07:14 Alvin and the Chipmunks proves this in spades, building upon a quirky premise by giving it an imaginative life.
07:21 "But we want it with you!"
07:23 "We aim to be, we aim to be, we aim to be!"
07:28 These singing chipmunks emphasised just how important the arts are for growing minds,
07:33 and they did it through some certified bangers to boot.
07:37 The visuals were also nothing short of wonderful, infusing the series with plenty of style.
07:42 "And the night is here!"
07:44 "Night is here!"
07:46 "We stamper back to our hideaway, and then we sleep all the night away."
07:53 Speaking of style, the personal idiosyncrasies of Alvin, Simon and Theodore were also well-crafted,
07:59 giving each chipmunk their own distinct identity.
08:02 "About $40,000?"
08:05 "$40,000?!"
08:09 "I'll come back when you're in a better mood!"
08:13 Alvin and the Chipmunks lives on as a brand, proving that this wasn't just a novelty act.
08:19 Number 3. G.I. Joe - A Real American Hero
08:23 The folks at Hasbro have always been kings of marketing.
08:26 G.I. Joe - A Real American Hero was the perfect show, with the perfect toys and the perfect time.
08:32 "So you want the G.I. Joe team to try a break-in to test your defenses, am I right General?"
08:37 "Affirmative, Duke. You're way ahead of me, as usual."
08:41 This was the 1980s. The Cold War still raged, and pro-American sentiment was at an all-time high in the United States.
08:49 As a result, G.I. Joe captured something in the zeitgeist.
08:52 It became a staple of Saturday morning action that saw things in simple terms, black and white, good guys versus bad guys.
08:59 "If we give up, Cobra will have a stranglehold on the world. We've got to keep fighting, somehow."
09:06 Through it all, though, the show still felt sincere, and definitely burned some important lessons about issues like fire safety into the minds of its audience.
09:15 "Call the fire department from outside the house."
09:18 "From a neighbor's phone!"
09:19 "You got it. You're both safe."
09:22 "Your advice really hit home, now I know."
09:24 Number 2. Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
09:27 There's one key to the success of Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
09:32 It's similar to The Simpsons, in that mystery incorporated stays the same.
09:36 It's just everything around them that changes.
09:39 "Zoinks! He's alive!"
09:41 "Scooby-Doo?"
09:50 This makes the storylines feel immortal, since we know how Shaggy, Scooby, and the gang are gonna react to the shenanigans they encounter.
09:58 The original Scooby-Doo was creative with plenty of flair. It's what made it so perfect for watching in PJs early on Saturdays.
10:05 "Thelma?"
10:06 "Shaggy? Scooby?"
10:08 "Are you guys alright?"
10:09 "Couldn't be better. We found a clue!"
10:12 "Yeah, woo!"
10:13 Subsequent iterations have tinkered with the formula just enough while retaining the IP's heart and soul.
10:20 Your grandkids are probably still gonna be watching Scooby-Doo, and that's a great thing.
10:25 "Like Scoob needed a dance partner, and he couldn't have gotten a better one."
10:30 "I gotta admit, Scoob has style."
10:33 "Yeah, he's all over the floor!"
10:35 Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honourable mentions.
10:39 The Jetsons. This cartoon had us really excited for the future.
10:43 "Goodnight, ma'am."
10:45 "You too, George. Come on, all of you."
10:48 "Yes, ma'am. Beep, beep."
10:50 "Thank you, ma'am. Beep, beep."
10:52 "Goodnight, ma'am. Er, mom. Beep, beep."
10:54 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
10:57 By the power of Greyskull, this cartoon combined humour and excitement.
11:02 "By the power of Greyskull!"
11:05 "I have the power!"
11:11 DuckTales. The animated theme song to end all animated theme songs.
11:16 "Tales of daring, do bad, and good DuckTales. Not only tales of Captain Tails, no DuckTales."
11:26 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. These heroes in a half-shell became our friends.
11:32 "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!"
11:40 "Heroes in a half-shell. Turtle power!"
11:43 Tom and Jerry Kids. The cartoon cat and mouse returned to their hilariously adversarial ways.
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12:13 Number 1 - Looney Tunes Franchise
12:16 The Looney Tunes gang have been packaged and repackaged a lot over the years,
12:21 including the fantastic The Bugs Bunny Show.
12:23 "What's up, Jack?"
12:25 "What's up? Your time's up, rabbit! Now get out of that gun!"
12:31 "Uh-uh, I like it here. I just love the smell of gunpowder."
12:36 Whether you were watching that, the Porky Pig Show, the Roadrunner Show,
12:39 or another offering when you woke up on Saturdays,
12:42 there was and still is no denying the timelessness of the programs.
12:47 There's a reason generations upon generations continue to enjoy them.
12:51 "Cheap guns never work when you need 'em!"
12:54 "Here, let me see that thing."
12:57 "Here, it's okay now."
13:02 Looney Tunes has become a fabric of our collective society.
13:06 A patchwork quilt of catchphrases, animation styles, and hilarious characters.
13:11 Everyone has a favorite, from Bugs and Daffy Duck to Wile E. Coyote and beyond.
13:16 The comfort they brought us as we ushered in the weekend will never be forgotten.
13:21 "Take a peek up and see if he's still around. Right-o."
13:25 "Is he still there? Still lurking about?"
13:32 What are your favorite memories of Saturday morning cartoons?
13:35 Share them with us down in the comments.
13:37 Oh, and save us a bowl of cereal too, will ya?
13:40 "Let's face it, I'm hooked."
13:42 Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
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13:50 [ ♪ Outro ]