Saturday morning cartoons are a staple of television that has been lost as streaming sites become more and more popular. However, the tradition of airing cartoons on Saturday and Sunday mornings lasted from the ’60s to most of the ’90s. Even though most children don’t watch open television anymore, this tradition still continues on some networks.
Since a lot of people grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons, it makes sense that some of the most beloved animated series come from this programming. From oldies like Tom & Jerry to epic superhero shows like X-Men: The Animated Series, these cartoons will forever live in fans’ hearts.
10 Tom & Jerry Is Everyone’s Favorite Classic
One of the most famous Hannah-Barbera properties, Tom & Jerry, is known for its timeless quality. Initially, the famous Tom & Jerry episodes that everybody knows were short films displayed in theaters by MGM from 1940 to 1958, but later on, they were aired on television.
Tom & Jerry has become such an emblematic cultural phenomenon that through the years, there have also been films, holiday specials, and even several video games about the rivalry of these two characters. Few shows give such as sense of nostalgia as this one.
9 X-Men: The Animated Series Is So Loved That It Will Get A Revival
People who were born before the MCU may not know that before the Avengers, X-Men was the most popular superhero group from Marvel. X-Men: The Animated Series was one of the children’s favorite cartoons during the ’90s, and Marvel fans still love it.
X-Men: The Animated Series is so loved that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has already announced a revival called X-Men ’97, which is supposed to be released this year on Disney+. Those who grew up watching this cartoon couldn’t be more excited.
8 Wile E. Coyote And The Road Runner Is One Of The Funniest Shows On TV (Even Now)
First appearing in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes short film Fast and Furry-ous in 1949, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, later on, got their own TV show and became one of the most known and beloved cartoon characters in television.
Wile E. Coyote’s extreme and absurd methods to hunt the Road Runner, while always being outsmarted by the latter, have caused people to laugh for decades. These characters have one of the most iconic rivalries in cartoons, and few people have grown up without watching this series.
7 Jonny Quest Is Peak Sci-Fi Nostalgia
Originally known as The Adventures of Jonny Quest, an animated series created by Hannah-Barbera in 1965, Jonny Quest has gotten several animated series throughout the years. In the ’80s, it was released as The New Adventures of Jonny Quest, and in the ’90s as The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest.
Since the show has been around for almost 60 years, this sci-fi series has many fans of all ages. In this era of nostalgia, where many shows get revivals, fans hope Jonny Quest soon gets another animated series. It’s interesting to think how this show would look in 2023.
6 Scooby-Doo Never Gets Old
Just like most iconic cartoons, Scooby-Doo has gotten plenty of projects, including many animated series, a couple of live-action films, comics, and even video games. This whole franchise is one of children’s and adults’ favorite cartoons in TV history.
This Hannah-Barbera production is a staple series in most people’s childhood. Scooby-Doo is one of those shows that make fans particularly nostalgic. For this reason, the show never dies, and it continues evolving and changing the characters for each generation.
5 Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends Is The Reason Spider-Man Is Such A Popular Character
Another Marvel classic, Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends aired between 1981 and 1983, and it followed the friendly neighborhood superhero as he and his superhero friends, Iceman and Firestar, fought several villains from the Marvel Comics universe.
Since the show not only aired in the ’80s but continue to be on TV for many years, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends is a big part of the reason Spider-Man is such a well-known and beloved superhero. Many adult fans still remember this show with a lot of love.
4 Super Friends Is The Most Iconic DC Animated Series
One of the most iconic DC Comics animated series, Super Friends, was the favorite cartoon of those who love the Justice League. Even though it had several titles over the years, all the shows had the Justice League in the center, and it was a lot of comic fans’ first interaction with these emblematic characters.
Super Friends aired from 1973 to 1985, and it was a staple of Saturday mornings in most households. Since the show, like many from this time, was produced by Hannah-Barbera, it even got a couple of cross-overs with Scooby-Doo. Maybe the DCEU should take some notes.
3 DuckTales Is Disney’s Most Beloved Animated Series
While everyone is most familiar with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, most people’s favorite animated series from Disney is DuckTales. This classic show from the ’80s follows Huey, Dewey, and Louie in their adventures with their eccentric uncle, Scrooge McDuck.
The show was so beloved by viewers that Disney recently released an updated version of this show, in which Scrooge McDuck is voiced by David Tennant. The TV show is one of the best revivals out there, especially for those who love nostalgic series.
2 The ThunderCats Revival Sadly Failed
One of the most-watched cartoons from the ’80s, ThunderCats, follows a group of extraterrestrial cat-like people who have to escape from their home planet, Thundera. Living on Third Earth, they have to face Mumm-Ra, a sorcerer who wants to get the Eye of Thundera, a gem in ThunderCats’ hold.
ThunderCats is one of those series that combine science fiction and fantasy in a masterful way. From its lore to its emblematic characters, it completely charmed kids all over the world. Because of this TV show’s great fanbase, it has gotten two revivals, one in 2011 and one in 2020. Sadly, none of these series was as successful as the first one.
1 Looney Tunes Will Always Live In People’s Hearts
There isn’t a more nostalgic show than Looney Tunes. This animated series aired from 1930 to 1969, but it also became a staple of Saturday morning cartoons. The hilarious and absurd situations in which these characters always find themselves make it a timeless show.
It doesn’t matter the age; most people recognize the iconic characters of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig. On top of that, most of the characters featured in Looney Tunes have gotten their own TV show at some point, like the one featuring the Tasmanian Devil, Taz-Mania.
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