Best Cartoons From The '80s Ranked By A '90s Kid
I'm a '90s kid, but that being said, some great cartoons definitely spilled over into my childhood from the '80s...and these shows are MONEY.
Walt Disney Television Animation
*DON'T JUMP INTO A PILE OF GOLD COINS, KIDS*
Here's a ranking of the most popular cartoons from the '80s that people still enjoy today:
***IMPORTANT NOTE*** TV Shows like The Simpsons, the original Dragon Ball, The Looney Tunes, etc. did not necessarily define the '80s even if they started in late '89, were reboots, or didn't blow up in the States yet. I made an executive decision to exclude shows that didn't ooze "EIGHTIES."
20.The Care Bears
LBS Communications
There's no denying the popularity of Care Bears. The show, on the other hand, wasn't that well-received, but still rode the popularity train for three seasons. I'm not going to lie, I don't know if I can name a single Care Bear. Moon Bear? Rainbow Bear? Bear Bear? Sneezy? Bashful? No clue.
IMDb 6.1 stars from 6.1k votes.
19.My Little Pony
Claster Television
The My Little Pony brand is still going strong to this day, BUT the original show wasn't as popular as the more modern renditions of these colorful pals. I can name Fluttershy, which is more characters I can name for some toy brands on this list, so that's got to count for something.
The show only ran from '86 to '87.
IMDb 6.8 stars from 843 votes.
18.Spider-Man
ARP Films Inc.
Probably better remembered today for the modern memes, but the Spider-Man series (debuted in '81 and only lasted 26 episodes) felt like Peter Parker webbed right off the comic book pages... kind of. The animation can be a little jarring at times, but the show was campy and had a unique feel to it. It is definitely one of Marvel's oldest pieces of work that is still referenced to this day.
IMDb: 7.0 stars from 1.5k votes.
17.G.I. Joe A Real American Hero
Claster Television
G.I. Joe might have been the most stereotypical "toy for boys" during the action figure boom. BUT the show's popularity would not match the toyline itself only running from '83 to '86. When you think about how popular the toys were, even a subpar show should have run for five seasons off that red, white, and blue gravy train.
iMDb 8.0 stars from 1.9k votes.
16.Voltron
NBC
I am bummed that I didn't get to watch this show as a kid. As a Power Rangers fan growing up, I would have eaten this up. The animation is awesome and the character designs are too cool. The Japanese show only ran from '84 to '85 in the U.S., but it left a lasting legacy and even got a Netflix reboot.
iMDb 7.9 stars from 4.7k votes.
15.Jem
Claster Television
I grew up and always thought the full show title was "Jem & the Holograms." I love the animation style of this show, and although it didn't have a huge following, the fans of Jem really enjoyed it. Fun fact, the same team that made the Transformers and G.I. Joe series created this show...dare I say, my favorite animation style on this list.
iMDb 7.5 stars from 2.7k votes.
14.She-Ra: Princess of Power
Group W Productions
Like many on this list, She-Ra was actually a toyline turned into a TV show. The animated series ran from '85 to '87, and was created to target a female audience to compliment the rising popularity of He-Man. The character has become so popular over time, she even got a revived Netflix series in 2018.
I legitimately thought She-Ra was a Masters of the Universe character. A new BuzzFeed list I could make would be "20 '80s Misconceptions From A '90s Kid."
iMDb 6.9 stars from 6k votes.
13.Alvin & the Chipmunks
Warner Bros.
From 1983 to 1990, the most recognizable version of Alvin and the Chipmunks captivated kids with their voices. Their very, very, very squeaky voices. You don't have to get it, but kids love them.
Let's just say there was a superior band of chipmunks on this list.
iMDb 6.6 stars from 3.1k votes.
12.Dungeons & Dragons
New World Television
D&D wasn't that mainstream in the TV world, so it's no shock most people probably didn't even know it had a cartoon series. The show only ran from '83 to '86, but the concept of regular kids going on a ride and being tossed into the magical realm of Dungeons & Dragons is a very clever way to introduce non-D&D fans into the world.
iMDb 8.0 stars from 5k votes.
11.Beetlejuice
Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Running from '89 to '91, the Beetlejuice series, like the movie, belongs on the side of the '80s. Beetlejuice was still gross and hilarious and Lydia was still strange and unusual...how couldn't the show be just as entertaining as the film? I believe this TV spin-off has a cult-following that actually prefers the series over the movie itself!
iMDb 7.3 stars from 7.1k votes.
10.Inspector Gadget
Lexington Broadcast Services Company
In-spec-tor Gad-get...Woot Woot. Running from 1983-1986, this swiss army knife of an inspector would get into some wild situations. A show that kind of blew up on American soil and even lead to a live-action film in the '90s.
iMDb 6.8 stars from 20k votes.
9.The Real Ghostbusters
Coca-Cola Telecommunications
Who ya' gonna call? Animation studios!
The Real Ghostbusters '86 to '91 and OG four ghostbuster characters return for one-off adventures. Much like Beetlejuice, viewers believed the show stuck to a similar sense of humor as its film.
iMDb7.6 stars from 9.6k votes.
8.Garfield and Friends
Film Roman Productions
BARELY getting the nod for two years in the '80s, this show ran from '88 to '94. I think its animation style definitely suits the '80s, and how was I not going to put this food-loving feline on the list. Just look at him. Find one flaw in him. I'll stop you right there, because you can't.
iMDb 7.3 stars from 11k votes.
7.ThunderCats
Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Running from '85 to '89, ThunderCats had STYLE. This feline, superhero-like team was something that actually felt straight out of a comic book. Even the animal (animal-person-people) villains were very unique. This one wasn't as popular as other cartoons in the '80s, but I'd argue they might be the coolest team.
iMDb 7.9 stars from 17k votes.
6.The Transformers
Marvel Productions
Something tells me these robots are vehicles in disguise. A trailblazing concept that led to many trying to replicate it. Although Voltron came first, Transformers really stayed with kids over time, and it still has a big presence today from toys to cinema.
iMDb 8.0 stars from 22k votes.
5.The Smurfs
Taft Broadcasting/Great American BroadcastingTelevision Program Enterprises
Although the reviews were never through the roof for the little blue people from Smurf Village, the show's longevity proved to be strong running from '81 to '89. That pretty much means the Smurfs ran the cartoon world throughout the '80s, and whether you like them or not, they are one of the biggest cartoons to come out of that decade.
Pro tip: remember it is "Papa Smurf" and don't accidentally Google images for "Daddy Smurf" like I did.
iMDb 7.2 stars from 18k votes.
4.Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers
Walt Disney Television Animation
These chipmunks get the edge over Alvin and...company. There's a reason this show is getting a 2022 film on Disney Plus. People loved this show and although it had a short lifespan (1989-1990), it still made a lasting impact for kids growing up watching the Disney Channel.
iMDb 7.6 stars from 19k votes.
3.He-Man And the Masters of the Universe
Group W Productions
From 1983-1985, He-Man (by the power of ratings!) was a very popular series with maybe the most popular TV toys of the '80s. From He-Man to Beast Man, Skeletor to Cringer, I can go on, but this colorful cast was practically boxed as toys directly from the TV screen. It was a weird blend of Sci-Fi, Super Heroes and Fantasy that just screamed "EIGHTIES."
iMDb 7.5 stars from 18k votes.
2.DuckTales
Walt Disney Television Animation
Arguably the greatest Disney cartoon show ever, the animation and voice acting really stand out (from what I've seen of this show). Often considered one of the most underrated cartoons ever, the show ran for four seasons after debuting in September of 1987.
It was very tough deciding between No. 1 & No. 2, and it honestly came down to a lasting legacy.
iMDb 8.1 stars from 31k votes.
1.Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Group W Productions
It's 2022, and I don't think there is another 80s cartoon that is as influential as the Ninja Turtles. Running from 1987-1996, toys flew off the shelves for this TV show. I never was into those pizza-eating turtle...uh, people, but the show was a hit and kids really related to the goofy, younger leading characters compared to other hit cartoons of the '80s.
It sits atop because kids of the '80s and today still love these characters and it is really a good representation of '80s animation.
iMDb 7.9 stars from 33k votes.