Summary

• Saturday morning cartoons in the '80s offered diverse entertainment options for young audiences with memorable animated series.
• The concept of the toy commercial genre led to the creation of popular animated series like He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
• Franchises like DuckTales, ThunderCats, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from the '80s continue to be loved by audiences today.

Saturday morning cartoons were a big deal during the '80s and some TV shows were universally loved by children of the decade. The excitement and demand for Saturday morning cartoons have dwindled over the years, but young audiences during the '80s were overwhelmed with choices for their weekend entertainment. From crime-fighting animals to sentient robotic beings, there was an endless amount of fun during this time. Though not every show was a crowd-pleaser, there were a few animated series that stuck with general audiences.

Much of this came as a result of the "toy commercial" genre on TV in which popular toys at the time were made into animated series to promote action figures. While parents weren't entirely pleased with this concept, kids were thrilled to own figures of their favorite cartoon characters. Soon enough, the toy line and its accompanying animated show transformed into massive franchises, many of which are still active and enjoyed by young audiences today. ​​​​​​The popularity of these franchises has been ed by children in the following decades, but began with kids from the '80s welcoming the initial cartoon series into their lives.

10 Inspector Gadget (1983-1985)

A clueless detective prevents evil.

An entertainingly ruthless villain and a clumsy detective make for a memorable Saturday morning cartoon. Inspector Gadget aired in 1983 and in many of the episodes during its two seasons, audiences ed in on the fun adventures in which the titular human cyborg barely made his way out of sticky situations. As a cyborg, Gadget's body is made up of various gadgets that prove to be extremely useful when up against the antagonist, Dr. Claw.

Due to Gadget's tendency to get tangled up in dangerous situations, his niece and the family dog, Penny and Brain, secretly carry out many of his investigations. It's a unique aspect of the animated series that allows audiences to be in on the operation since Dr. Claw and Gadget himself are oblivious to Penny and Brain's involvement. Inspector Gadget was beloved by many, so much so that live-action sequel films were released by Disney in the '90s and early 2000s.

9 Dungeons & Dragons (1983-1985)

The game inspired the series' adventures.

Based on the tabletop role-playing game released almost a decade earlier, Dungeons & Dragons takes its main characters through fantastical adventures. The series centers around a group of friends who enter the world of Dungeons & Dragons after riding an amusement park roller coaster. Dungeons & Dragons continued as the friends tried to find a way back home, with the help of the Dungeon Master, which resulted in some unfavorable suggested violence.

There have been a few on-screen adaptations of the game in more recent decades, but the 80s cartoon remains one of the best.

Dungeons & Dragons had more action and violence for a children's Saturday morning cartoon than parents would have preferred. Still, this heightened sense of danger was appreciated by audiences as the trendy game was brought to life with engaging characters and storylines. There have been a few on-screen adaptations of the game in more recent decades, but the 80s cartoon remains one of the best.

8 ThunderCats (1985-1989)

The fantasy adventures of catlike aliens.

The ThunderCats franchise started with an animated series in 1985 and eventually expanded to video games, merchandise, and comic books. ThunderCats follows humanoid catlike aliens that are made to leave their home planet of Thundera and land on Third Earth, where they meet their enemies, the Mutants of Plun-Darr. Though two additional ThunderCats TV shows were released years later, neither held up as well as the original cartoon.

ThunderCats has a strong legacy and a special place in the audience's heart because the sharp writing of the series yielded fan-favorite characters such as Snarf, Panthro, and the ThunderCats' leader, Lion-O. The memorable feline group is equipped with special abilities that come in handy in battles against the main antagonist, Mumm-Ra. The ThunderCats' confrontations with their nemesis prompted peak action sequences and showcased the characters at their best, proving ThunderCats to be one of the best-animated series of the decade.

7 He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe (1983-1985)

A prince lives a secret life as a superhero.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe made a mark in pop culture and spawned various spin-off TV shows, video games, and films. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is an action series that follows Prince Adam on planet Eternia, who lives a double life and turns into the titular hero to prevent Skeletor from ruling the universe. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is based on Mattel's toy line and though children didn't mind seeing their favorite action figures on TV screens, parents felt differently.

Many parents felt that He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was just an elaborate commercial for the toy line. As a result, the cartoon ended each episode with lessons for audiences to take away from the episode. The actions of He-Man that led to these lessons made the character an iconic hero figure and secured a place for his name alongside well-known comic book superheroes.

6 The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991)

A paranormal team hunts ghosts around the world.

Following the film from a few years prior, The Real Ghostbusters continues the adventures of the famous paranormal investigators. The animated series didn't include the voices of the original actors, but the fresh talent allowed for a welcomed seven seasons in which audiences' love for the team grew. Just like the original film, The Real Ghostbusters chronicles the day-to-day chase of spirits and ghosts around the world. Behind the scenes, The Real Ghostbusters went through tonal changes and character redesigns to meet the demands of ABC.

The love for Ghostbusters has lasted for decades and doesn't seem to be fading anytime soon as more Ghostbusters TV series are in the works

Around season 4, The Real Ghostbusters had a more kid-friendly tone to it and was much more lighthearted than previous seasons. Despite these changes, The Real Ghostbusters is a strong entry in the Saturday Morning lineup, and a few years after its series finale, another animated TV show entered the franchise, Extreme Ghostbusters. The love for Ghostbusters has lasted for decades and doesn't seem to be fading anytime soon as more Ghostbusters TV series are in the works.

5 The Transformers (1984-1987)

Robotic rivalries take place on Earth.

Just as Mattel had done with Masters of the Universe, Hasbro's Transformers toy line was put onto the screen for kids of the '80s to enjoy. The Transformers follows two groups of characters that have become widely well-known within pop culture: the Autobots and the Decepticons. These two groups represent the heroes and villains, respectively, and their conflict in The Transformers takes place on Earth.

Two years after the series' successful debut, The Transformers: The Movie was released, and it took place after the events of season 2. Helped by the fact that audiences could own figures of their favorite Transformers, the series quickly grew into a franchise that's ongoing to this day and is enjoyed by a wider age range. As the first installment of the franchise, The Transformers isn't perfect, but it did establish a group of cherished onscreen characters that would grow to have a lot of heart within their robotic frame.

4 The Smurfs (1981-1989)

Blue, human-like creatures live among mushrooms.

Originally a Belgian comic series, the popularity of The Smurfs grew exponentially with the TV show in the early '80s. Since then, the blue species have become well-known figures for their distinct characteristics and fitting names, such as Brainy Smurf, Grouchy Smurf, and the group's leader, Papa Smurf. Many find the characters lovable and charming because of their small, cartoonish design and their unique language where the word "smurf" is inserted at random.

The Smurfs had a live-action adaptation in 2011.

Contrasting the peaceful, woodsy setting of Smurf village where the characters reside, danger lurks in every episode as the Smurfs fight off their archenemy, Gargamel. The Smurfs' adventures lasted for nine seasons, but the characters have continued to appear on screens in film and TV. Though the Smurfs have been seen in a blend of live-action and computer animation in recent years, images of the cartoon version from the '80s linger in the audience's minds.

3 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996)

Pizza-loving turtles fight evildoers in the city

​​​​Like other action cartoons based on toys, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles faced a few criticisms for being too violent or too much of a commercial for a kid's show. However, this didn't matter to the series' target audience. Kids of the decade happily tuned in as the turtles fought against several villains in New York City. While the turtles did have a few main antagonists they were up against, the villains in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles often rotated and gave room for fresh storylines.

The series' strong writing was elevated by the voice acting done for Leo, Donnie, Ralph, and Mikey. Before Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the characters were only in comics, so the cartoon provided entertaining personalities that would stick with the characters as the franchise evolved. Mixing the best elements of other '80s cartoons, allowed the four turtles to become household names outside their inspired famous painters.

2 Jem (1985-1988)

A rock star aims to keep her double life a secret.

Decked out in colors and fashion trends synonymous with the decade, Jem is the quintessence of the '80s. Jem follows the life of its protagonist, Jerrica Benton, whose similarities to a superhero resonate with young audiences. Jerrica lives a double life as Jem, the lead singer of the band Jem and The Holograms, and as seen in countless superhero content, Jerrica tries her best to keep the two identities separate and protected.

Jem also had a live-action adaptation in 2015:

Jerrica works to make sure her company and band can succeed without others getting in the way, whether it's rival bands or greedy business owners who want to stop her. In addition to the big hair and extravagant outfits worn by characters in Jem, the series' music plays a large part in the show's success and distinctiveness. Jem is bold and features memorable songs performed by musical acts within the series, which were edited to resemble popular music videos of the time as seen on MTV.

1 DuckTales (1987-1990)

The mishaps and adventures of a duck family.

Before there was Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, there had to be DuckTales, as the latter has been widely recognized as paving the path for popular animated TV shows by Disney. DuckTales follows the amusing adventures of Scrooge McDuck and his three grandnephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Together, the ducks gather treasure for Scrooge or fight those who try to come after it. DuckTales has a fairly simple premise, but the care behind the series' writing and characters is apparent.

It's likely not something young audiences paid attention to at the time, but it's something that's highly appreciated when looking back as an adult. The characters in DuckTales are easily recognizable thanks to the original series and reboots that followed more recently. Of course, as many beloved animated series do, DuckTales also has an unforgettable theme song, penned by Mark Mueller, that's delightfully been stuck in audience's heads since the '80s.