Remember the glory days of Saturday morning cartoons? When the living room floor was littered with bowls of sugary cereal and we’d spend hours glued to the TV, mesmerized by the most obscure and forgotten animated gems? Those were the times!
While staples like Transformers, G.I. Joe, and ThunderCats had the entire schoolyard talking, there were a handful of more niche shows that never quite made it into the mainstream consciousness. But we remember them fondly – and we’re shocked when nobody else seems to recall their existence.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit 7 wonderfully weird 80s cartoon shows that deserve much more love:
1. The Snorks
We all sang along to that catchy theme song, didn’t we? “Come along with the Snorks, swim along with the Snorks…”
These little blue underwater creatures may have been overshadowed by their cetacean counterparts, the Smurfs, but we knew they were the superior aquatic animation.
Who else wishes they could just ditch this whole “air-breathing” thing and join the Snorks in their tranquil undersea paradise?
2. Danger Mouse
British cartoons had a delightfully quirky sense of humor in the 80s, and Danger Mouse was the cream of the crop.
This suave, eyepatch-wearing mouse super-spy and his dimwitted hamster sidekick had us in stitches with their over-the-top adventures.
We still crack up remembering lines like “Penfold, you Numpty!” Does anyone else randomly break out into the Danger Mouse theme song from time to time?
3. Babar
Long before Dumbo or Simba, there was Babar – the dapper, crown-wearing elephant who charmed us with his regal adventures.
The lush animation and soothing storytelling had us falling in love with Babar and his woodland kingdom.
How many of us had Babar books lining our childhood shelves?
4. Disney’s TaleSpin
The Disney Afternoon lineup was a treasure trove of classic cartoons, but TaleSpin always stood out to us.
Mixing anthropomorphic animal characters with a 1930s art deco aesthetic, this high-flying adventure series captured our imaginations.
Who else remembers binge-watching TaleSpin, DuckTales, Darkwing Duck, and Rescue Rangers after school? Those were the days!
5. David the Gnome
With its serene, watercolor-style animation and gentle storytelling, David the Gnome lulled us into a state of pure tranquility.
We’d get lost in the soothing narration as we followed the adventures of the kind-hearted, wise old gnome.
Sure, it was a bit boring at times, but the show’s calming vibe was exactly what we needed to unwind.
6. Pirates of Dark Water
This short-lived fantasy series had us hooked from the moment we saw the swashbuckling opening credits.
The epic quest to retrieve the legendary Thirteen Treasures of Rule and save the dying planet of Mer was the stuff of pure imagination.
Whatever happened to that ill-fated prince Ren and his motley crew of pirates, anyway? We’re still waiting for that story to be completed!
7. Thundarr the Barbarian
Thundar the Barbarian is a fierce warrior from the northern wastelands, known for his immense strength and skill with a battle axe.
His legendary exploits include slaying the three-headed dragon of Mount Doom and uniting the warring tribes under a single banner.
Despite his fearsome reputation, Thundar is guided by a strict code of honor that prevents him from harming the innocent or refusing aid to those in need.
So there you have it – a small sampling of the weird and wonderful 80s cartoons that occupy a special place in our hearts.
What other obscure gems from that era do you remember fondly? Share your nostalgic memories with us!