cartoons - Retroland

Spiderman

It didn’t take a rocket science to predict that the legendary Marvel Comics superhero, Spiderman, would eventually show up on the Saturday morning airwaves. And from the moment it first aired in 1967, the cartoon was destined to be a classic. With legendary animator Ralph Bakshi supervising the production and a swinging theme song so catchy it adhered to the brain cells as securely as Spidey climbing a skyscraper, it was pretty clear from the get-go that Spiderman would find a loyal following.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

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It’s virtually impossible to avoid the tidal wave of commercialism that accompanies each holiday season, sending shoppers scurrying to the nearest department store to empty their wallets. Perhaps to provide some counterbalance, a quaint little cartoon airs each year, serving as a reminder that other aspects of Christmas might be more worthy of celebration. A favorite since it first aired in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas has touched the hearts of millions of television viewers with its back-to-basics approach to Christmas. Its enduring success stems from its charming simplicity, endearing characters, and an infectious, jazz-laced musical score that replays in one’s memory long after the cartoon’s conclusion. Join us as we take a look back at this beloved classic.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

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Ask any random group of people what their favorite annual holiday television show is you will likely get substantial votes for How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Based on a children’s book of the same name, written in 1957 by Theodor Geisel (better known as Dr. Seuss,) the characters were brought to life (in animated form) on television for the first time during the Christmas season of 1966 and over 40 years later, there are no signs of diminished popularity.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is a time of traditions, and for kids of the past few decades, one of the most beloved of them, besides the behemoth meal, is curling up in front of the television to watch the classic animated special, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Created by master illustrator Charles M. Schulz and filled with all of his colorful Peanuts characters, this seasonal cartoon has delighted kids for over 35 years.

The Bugs Bunny Show

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A half-hour of sheer fun kicked off every Saturday morning, with kids across the nation curled up in a blanket and a box of cereal at their side, ready to be entertained. All the Warner Bros. favorites were there – Bugs, Elmer, Porky, Daffy, Wile E. and their many colorful cohorts – taking turns in one cartoon misadventure after another. The Bugs Bunny Show, in its many incarnations, meant that the weekend had arrived – to millions of children over a 40-year broadcast run.

Scooby Doo

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Don't ever let them tell you that your personal challenges will keep you from reaching your dreams. We of Generation TV know better, because we've watched a dog with a truly brutal speech impediment become the longest-running cartoon star in network TV history. If Scooby-Doo can do it, then by golly so can you.

Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling

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In the 80s, popularity of the oft-maligned “sport” of professional wrestling soared to staggering new heights, thanks in no small part to Vince McMahon and his World Wrestling Federation. Perhaps the biggest star of the WWF was Terry Bollea, better known by his stage name – Hulk Hogan. He made a memorable appearance in the 1982 film Rocky III, where his character “Thunderlips” threw Rocky around the ring a few times and his popularity only grew from there. With the combined success of Hulk Hogan and the WWF, especially with youngsters, it was only natural that the big guy be given his very own Saturday morning cartoon series, Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling.

Animaniacs

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With the overwhelming popularity of Tiny Toon Adventures in the early 90s, Warner Brothers followed up with an even crazier offering called Animaniacs. Featuring three siblings - brothers Yakko and Wakko, and their sister, Dot - plus a whole collection of other interesting characters, this Steven Spielberg produced animated series made a memorable impression on many a fan.

Hey Arnold!

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Life is hard enough when you are ten-year-old boy, even harder when you are forced to live with your grandparents, and inconceivable when you have a head shaped like a football. Such were the tribulations of Arnold, an orphaned fourth grader and star of the long running Nickelodeon animated series, Hey Arnold!

The Littles

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Created by author John Peterson, The Littles were a series of popular children’s novels written in the late 60s and featured a family of tiny intelligent creatures that were part-human and part-rodent (evidenced by their long tails and mouse-like ears). In 1983, they emerged from the books to star in their very own Saturday morning cartoon series on ABC called, you guessed it, The Littles.