Yahoo Sports 38 Iconic Cartoons You Couldn't Get Enough of in Kindergarten and Grade School
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38 Iconic Cartoons You Couldn't Get Enough of in Kindergarten and Grade School
If you always wished you had your very own Pikachu as a kid or could visit SpongeBob in his pineapple under the sea, you’re not alone. Whether it was after-school reruns or a weekend ritual with your siblings, watching cartoons has always been part of the fun of being a kid. With a cereal bowl in hand on a Saturday morning, you probably watched hour after hour until your parents yelled at you to go outside.
While some cartoons, especially from the late 1980s onward, include decidedly adult humor, others are social commentaries on a specific era. But they all take us on a trip into the imagination, where animals talk and characters bounce back, no matter what calamities (or monsters!) they confront. Most of us have a favorite from the old classics like Popeye and Road runner to the new classics such as The Simpsons, which incredibly is in its 31st season. Maybe you’ve even introduced your own kids to the old-school cartoons because so many characters such as Foghorn Leghorn or Yogi Bear transcend the test of time thanks to the animators and legendary voice actors, such as Mel Blanc and Daws Butler, who immortalized these characters.
In case you’re looking for a quick laugh or a bit of nostalgia, here’s a look at the most popular cartoons through the decades:
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Mickey Mouse
No list of cartoon characters would be complete without including Mickey Mouse, who made his debut in the 1928 cartoon Steamboat Willie. Having endured for generations, Mickey has starred in numerous shorts, a number of TV series and 11 feature-length films to date.
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Popeye the Sailor Man
The tough-guy, wise-cracking sailor, who always had a can of spinach handy, was created by Elzie Crisler Segar, a cartoonist who introduced the character in his 1929 newspaper cartoon strip, Thimble Theatre. Popeye and his pals, Olive Oyl, Bluto, Wimpy and Swee’pea, were the stars of cartoon shorts in the 1930s and early 1940s (he was even a member of the U.S. Navy during World War II), as well as numerous comic books, a TV series from 1960 to 1962, and a 1980 Popeye movie starring Robin Williams.
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Porky Pig
First introduced in 1935, the lovable pig starred in hundreds of films in the late 1930s. Often a sidekick, he had his own show from 1964 to 1967. He was voiced by Mel Blanc, who did the voiceovers for hundreds of animated characters from the 1930s until his death in late 1980s.
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Bugs Bunny
Created in 1938, Bugs Bunny is part of a whole stable of Looney Tunes characters that dominated the Golden Age of animation in America from the years 1928 to 1960. The wascally wabbit managed to outsmart Elmer Fudd for decades and remains one of the most popular cartoon characters of all time.
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Tom and Jerry
Created in 1940, the two rival characters, Tom (a cat) and Jerry (a mouse), first appeared in a series of shorts for MGM. The two rarely speak, although Tom sings in an early episode, and there are various sound effects. The cartoon has continued in many different incarnations to this present day in various TV shows, shorts and movies including Tom and Jerry: The Movie, released in 2021.
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Woody Woodpecker and Friends
First appearing in 1940, Woody and his pals were featured in an amazing 286 episodes until 1972. Whether or not you are a fan, you can't forget his goofy laugh!
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Foghorn Leghorn
Starring in only 28 cartoons from 1946 to 1963, Foghorn Leghorn had personality plus. His distinctive Southern accent and body language along with his memorable quotes ("Go, I say, go away boy. You bother me."), became part of every day speech. He actually was inspired by a character on The Fred Allen Show, a popular 1930s and 1940s radio show.
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Alvin and the Chipmunks
Actor/songwriter Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., who specialized in writing novelty songs, created The Chipmunk Song in 1958. The record shot to the top of the charts, sending its “stars” Simon, Theodore and Alvin to the top too. (It actually won two Grammys!) A string of successful records led to a short-lived TV series in 1962 and another more successful run from 1983 to 1990.
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Huckleberry Hound
First appearing in 1958, Huckleberry Hound is a bluetick coonhound with a Southern accent, who works through a series of unsuccessful jobs. Be he always maintains his cool and ends up on top. The show, which aired until 1962, was the first animated show to win an Emmy. Huckleberry has made sporadic appearances through the years in other cartoons ranging from The Simpsons to Animaniacs.
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Quick Draw McGraw
This white horse in a red cowboy hat had his own series from 1959 to 1961. He often plays a sheriff in the Old West and is accompanied by his deputy, a burro named Baba Looey.
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Rocky and Bullwinkle
From 1959 to 1964, Rocky, the flying squirrel, and Bullwinkle, the moose, had to outsmart two Cold War-era spies, Natasha and Boris. The series was one of the first to appeal to both kids and adults for its wry humor and clever cultural satire. A live action movie in 2000 got lukewarm reviews.
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The Flintstones
From 1960 to 1966, America followed the Flintstones as they navigated the ups and downs of Stone Age life. The show was the first animated series to hold a primetime spot on TV. The series also spun off two lackluster movies, The Flintstones (1994) and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000), that weren’t well-received.
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Yogi Bear
Yogi actually made his debut on Huckleberry Hound in 1958 but earned his own animated series in 1961. From then until 1988, Yogi and his sidekick, Boo-Boo, attempted to steal plenty of “pic-a-nic” baskets, generally making Mr. Ranger’s life difficult. Yogi also starred in his own 2010 feature film.
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Snagglepuss
Although it only ran for two seasons from 1961 to 1962, Snagglepuss is a memorable character. The pink mountain lion is known for his catchy exclamations such as “Heavens to Murgatroyd” and “Exit, stage left.”
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The Jetsons
This futuristic family shot to fame during its 1962 to 1963 run. New episodes were created from 1985 to 1987, and the show ran in syndication on Saturday mornings for decades. And what kid didn’t daydream of a robot maid or a spaceship after watching? There was also a 1990 feature film.
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Josie and the Pussycats
Originally a teen-focused comic book series written from 1963 to 1982, the characters got their own animated Saturday morning show from 1970 to 1973. As difficult as it is to believe, there was also a Josie and the Pussycats movie, which was released in 2001 to dismal reviews.
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Underdog
From 1964 to 1967, this series aired on Saturday mornings. The cape-wearing, masked superhero dog almost always spoke in rhymes. His most famous saying: “There’s no need to fear. Underdog is here!”
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The Road Runner
In this popular show, a determined coyote tries a number of increasingly complex gadgets (often mail-ordered from the Acme Company) in his attempts to capture the smart and speedy road runner. Before airing from1966 to 1973, the show’s characters actually debuted in a 1949 theatrical cartoon.
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Aquaman
Aquaman debuted in comic books in the 1940s, but he didn’t get his own animated series until 1967 to 1970. Able to breathe on both sea and land, he fought evil everywhere. Aquaman also appeared in his own feature film in 2018.
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The Pink Panther
Presented on Saturday mornings from 1969 to 1978, Pink Panther was a rosey-colored cat with aristocratic manners. The series went through a number of changes, but it often included two shorts featuring the Pink Panther, and one featuring the Inspector, modeled after the Peter Seller’s Inspector Clouseau character from the 1963 movie of the same title.
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The Addams Family
Running for one season in 1973, the animated series was a reboot of the TV series that originally ran from 1964 to 1966. This series focused on the family’s cross-country journey in their camper.
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Scooby Doo, Where Are You?
From 1969 to 1970, this animated show chronicled the adventures of teenage sleuths and their Great Dane, Scooby Doo, over 25 episodes. The gang solved a variety of mysteries involving monsters and other supernatural beings. A series of spin-off movies and shows continue to this day. Side note: Did you know DJ Casey Kasem was the original voice of Shaggy?
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The Pebbles and Bam Bam Show
In 1971, the teenaged kids of the Flintstones and the Rubbles got their own spinoff animated series. Though it wasn't as popular as the original program, it aired until 1975.
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Valley of the Dinosaurs
Debuting in 1975, this animated series followed a family who got lost on a rafting trip down the Amazon. They find themselves in, you guessed it, a valley filled with prehistoric creatures. Although the premise was interesting, it never gathered steam and only aired for one season.
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DuckTales
Running from 1987 to 1990, this cartoon featured Uncle Scrooge McDuck and his three nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie. The triplets first appeared in print cartoons in 1937. The series was rebooted in 2017-21.
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
From 1987 to 1996, absolutely everyone knew about these ninjitsu-trained turtle brothers who protected New York City from evil. Named after Renaissance artists, Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo and Michelangelo, they captured the attention of both kids and adults. Movies and video games followed.
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The Simpsons
Since 1989 to the present, this Fox series has parodied American life through the eyes of its title family. Although some critics say the quality declined after the late 1990s, The Simpsons is now the longest-running American animated series.
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Doug
Doug followed the adventures of an 11-year-old sixth grader who wrote about it in his journal. The series ran from 1991 to 1994, and though it wasn’t long-lived, it was one of Nickelodeon’s first original cartoon series.
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Rugrats
Debuting as the second Nickelodeon cartoon, Rugrats ran from 1991 to 2006, and followed the adventures of four toddlers and their older cousin. The series won numerous Emmys and even earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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Ren & Stimpy
This series, which ran from 1991 to 1996, followed the friendship and shenanigans of Ren, a hyperactive Chihuahua, and Stimpy, a not-too-bright cat. There’s a lot of lowbrow humor that helped it develop a cult following among teens for its shock value.
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X-Men: The Animated Series
Long before the blockbuster feature films, the X-Men appeared in comic books in the 1960s, eventually working their way into a popular cartoon series in 1992 on Fox. A revival of the animated series is expected in 2023.
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Animaniacs
This series, which aired from 1993 to 1998, featured 1930s-era characters interacting with famous people from past and present in various types of skits. Interestingly, the show was produced by Steven Spielberg and Warner Brothers.
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Beavis and Butt-Head
Even if you never watched (or were allowed to watch!) Beavis & Butthead, you knew all about these slackers. The MTV animated series for adults, which ran from 1993 to 2011, followed two unintelligent, heavy-metal loving teens through their idiotic antics. Although not appropriate for kids, it did receive critical acclaim for its satirical humor.
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Pokémon
Japanese game designer Satoshi Tajiri created the first Pokémon game in 1996 for the newly introduced Nintendo Game Boy. The Pokémon creatures became wildly popular around the world, spawning a string of video games, collectible trading cards, an animated series in 1997 and a long list of movies.
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The Powerpuff Girls
Who hasn’t daydreamed of having special super powers from time to time? From 1998 to 2005, three little girls with super powers saved the world from monsters and other evil doers. The series won two Emmys.
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SpongeBob SquarePants
Yes, the talking sea sponge and his aquatic buddies still rule! Launched in 1999, the series follows the adventures of SpongeBob, whose optimism and energy have captured fans in every age group from kids to adults. The show has spawned three films, a Broadway show and two spin-off series.
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Dora the Explorer
Running from 2000 to 2019, this series followed the title character’s adventures with her talking backpack and her monkey, Boots. The long-running show was appealing because viewers had to help Dora and her friends “solve” puzzles along the way to her destination.
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Go, Diego, Go!
What kid can resist watching a young boy rescuing animals in the rain forest alongside his pet jaguar? This series, which ran from 2005 to 2011, featured Diego, a cousin of Dora, the Explorer, who also makes an appearance in several episodes.
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