Toonin' In: Iconic Cartoons That Will Transport You to Saturday Mornings as a Kid

As modern TV shows emerge, some of our favorite cartoons from childhood have slipped into the shadows. But these animated gems, once the highlight of Saturday mornings or after-school TV, are now fond memories for those who grew up watching them. While some of these classics shaped generations, many have since been replaced by newer hits that feature more advanced animation and themes.

Here’s a nostalgic look at cartoons that once ruled the airwaves, but may have been forgotten about or replaced by newer shows. 

While the little mouse with Superman-like abilities made his movie debut in 1944, it wasn't until 1955 that he came to TV, staying for a little over a decade. Ironically, he didn't stay off TV for long, coming back in The New Adventures of "Mighty Mouse and Heckie & Jeckle" from 1979 to 1980 and "Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures" from 1987 to 1988.

This show about a dimwitted horse sheriff and his deputy Baba Louie was on TV as we rolled into the '60s. If you don't remember his Old West characterization, you might remember the more thoughtful Mexican donkey, Baba Louie, who tried to talk him out of doing something stupid without success.

Known to many as a classic, this show was stuffed with memorable TV in the '60s. Rocky and Bullwinkle, flying squirrel and moose duo, were faced with two vaguely Russian spies, Boris and Natasha, while helming a variety show format that featured Fractured Fairy Tales, Dudley Do-Right (a parody of silent films), and Peabody's Improbable History (a dog and his boy Sherman traveling through time). 

The series was exactly what you'd expect: fairy tales through a fractured lens. If you remember correctly, the show ran as a segment on "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends" (more on that show later). While these were just segments, it seems like the show dug into every fairy tale you can imagine in the four seasons it was on the air.

An animated, prehistoric take on "The Honeymooners," this show ran in prime time (a first for an animated series) with its catchy theme song for most of the '60s. Fred and Wilma have a daughter, Pebbles. Their best friends Barney and Betty Rubble had a weirdly strong son, Bamm-Bamm. Watching the characters drive "cars" using their feet to make them move is still pretty great comedy.

What began as "The Bugs Bunny Show" in 1960 aired in prime time for two years. Recycling content that had been in theaters, new sequences were created to transition between the individual cartoons. In 1966, "The Road Runner Show" aired from 1966 to 1968, and the two finally came together for an hour long show in 1968. It was dropped entirely in 1973 for violent scenes.

This futuristic series only lasted one season, though it's hard to believe given how much George, Jane, Elroy, Judy, and Astro have become part of the conversation even today. Even though more episodes were later produced in the mid-1980s, they didn't change the fact that when we think of the Jetsons, we think of that one season in the '60s.

Boomers may remember "Johnny Quest," which aired once upon a time for just one season on ABC. For the rest of us, Johnny Quest was a kid who roamed the seven seas in search of high adventure. In 1986, it was revived for 13 episodes in syndication, but it seems the show didn't stick.

This series about a superpowered dog (the alter ego of a character named Shoeshine Boy) who saves reporter Sweet Polly Purebred on a fairly regular basis. The show ran for a few years, and was primarily sponsored by General Mills.

Go ahead, tell your kids you were into manga before it was cool. What we know as 'Speed Racer' was known as Mach GoGoGo in Japan. The show about a kid who loves racing didn't have much going on but if you loved sports cars, it was made for you. A movie based on the manga came out in 2008.

If you want to feel old, "Scooby Doo" premiered in 1969. "Sesame Street" came out a few weeks later. And wondering where the name came from? Not a real dog, but Frank Sinatra. Fred Silverman, the former director of daytime programming at CBS, dreamed up the name after hearing Sinatra scat, “Do be do be do.” Many of us enjoyed this silly pup for seven fun years, and luckily the show also spurred multiple spin-offs.

The animated series was created after the cartoon version appeared in the credits of the live action "Pink Panther" films starring Peter Sellers as a bumbling detective. The slinky pink critter was popular enough to spin off from the films. One Redditor complains about excitedly sitting down to view "The Pink Panther" only to get nothing more than an intro followed by a "grown up" movie.

This show about an all-girl band was a comic book before it was brought to television in the early '70s. In 1972 it was reconceptualized as "Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space" from 1972 to 1973. If you saw it outside of those short windows, it was in reruns for six years and then was the basis for a movie in 2001.

This animated series was created by none other than the famous comedian Bill Cosby. While Fat Albert's catch phrase "Hey, hey, hey" (as well as Cosby's much later legal troubles) are memorable even today, the show got points at the time for featuring a racially diverse cast and tackling the issues of bullying, racism, and peer pressure in a way that was accessible to kids.

Anyone who can remember the Preamble to the Constitution can probably thank Schoolhouse Rock! Cooler than it had any right to be, the animated short films about grammar, history, and any other topic kids learned about in school lasted seven seasons, which probably wasn't long enough.

If you're wondering why movies starring the DC comics universe seem strangely familiar, "Super Friends" might be to blame. The series had some famous voices: radio DJ Casey Kasem and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" star Ted Knight.

While Mel Blanc voiced many Warner Bros. characters, such as Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Sylvester the Cat, Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, and the Tasmanian Devil, what most people don't know is that he was also Captain Caveman.

While this animated series was only actually on the air for two months, the weird, white, bowling pin-like Shmoo was created in 1948 and became a hot trend in the '50s, becoming the source material for songs, toys, and comic books. Frank Sinatra even has a line about cops "multiplying like shmoos" in "On the Town," if you can believe it.

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This Hanna-Barbera series on NBC was based on a Belgian comic that was created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo (Pierre Culliford) in 1958. Believe it or not, the blue creatures were TV stars way back in the day. They had their own series in 1959, and there are more than 40 Smurf comic albums. If you're wondering, the word "smurf" is the Dutch translation of the French word "schtroumpf," which Peyo came up with when he forgot the word for salt during a meal. 

'He Man and the Masters of the Universe' debuted in 1983 and ran for two seasons, then got a makeover. 'He Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword' was a TV movie that introduced She-Ra as He Man's twin sister. 'She-Ra: Princess of Power' would last two seasons, from 1985 to 1987.

Whether you watched the NBC series from the '80s or the original series that ran from 1961 to 1962 called "The Alvin Show," you undoubtedly know these critters. They were born as a virtual band created in 1958 by Ross Bagdasarian for a novelty record. If you're wondering who provided the voices of the chipmunks, those were all Bagdasarian, speeded up.

This Spanish-imported cartoon featured David, a wise gnome, and his adventures as he frolicked with his wife in a magical forest. It was slow-paced, gentle, and deeply rooted in themes of nature and friendship — a contrast to the more action-driven shows of the era. But as more fast-paced, dynamic cartoons gained popularity, "David the Gnome" quietly disappeared from TV schedules across America.

In this short-lived series, intelligent, humanoid dinosaurs from outer space battled for control of Earth. Despite having a strong concept, "Dinosaucers" never gained the lasting popularity of other dinosaur-themed shows like “The Land Before Time.” After just one season, it was replaced by more commercially-successful programs. Despite its brief run, the show still has a cult following, with some fans hoping for a reboot.

Given that dogs have been the stars of many a comic strip, cartoonist Jim Davis decided to do one about a cat, drawing on his experience growing up on a farm with 25 felines. Thus was born Garfield, the laziest, most sarcastic cat of all time.  While it's hard to imagine barn cats sitting around and eating lasagna, Garfield was relatable either way and was a hit in both newspaper and on TV. Eventually there was also a "Garfield" movie featuring Bill Murray.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were an answer to the comic "Daredevil" created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1983. And though they mostly worried about pizza on TV, they were fretting about the environment in the comic books. The action stayed alive with feature films that followed the show.

This environmental superhero cartoon was a favorite for teaching kids about pollution and conservation. Captain Planet fought villains polluting the earth, aided by five teenagers representing the elements. Despite its educational intent, the show lost traction as edgier, action-packed cartoons gained popularity. Today, its eco-friendly message feels ahead of its time, but the show itself is largely forgotten.

Created by comedian and actor Howie Mandel, "Bobby's World" features a young boy with spiky hair and a wild imagination as he navigates the challenges of childhood with his quirky family. Though it highlighted humorous and heartwarming takes on everyday life, its animation style and tone began to feel outdated. As flashier cartoons emerged, "Bobby's World" was quietly shelved and largely forgotten. 

A superhero parody, “Darkwing Duck” was both an adventure show and a comedy as it followed the misadventures of its bumbling masked hero, Darkwing. Though it was a huge hit in the early ’90s, it didn’t sustain the lasting popularity of other Disney shows like “DuckTales," and "Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers." As superhero shows evolved, Darkwing’s slapstick style was replaced by more action-packed, flashy fare. 

“Doug” followed the life of an awkward yet endearing middle schooler named Doug Funnie. It was praised for addressing relatable adolescent struggles, such as crushes, bullies, and friendships. But as Nickelodeon expanded its animated universe (cleverly named "Nicktoon,") popular shows like “SpongeBob SquarePants” and "Hey Arnold!" overshadowed “Doug,” eventually pushing it out of the limelight. 

Despite having a brief revival on Disney, the series quietly faded away from mainstream culture. But real ones know "Doug" will forever hold a special spot. 

"Mighty Max" was another short-lived but beloved series about a boy who is transported to different worlds to battle evil. Featuring a mix of action, mythology, and horror, it was praised by audiences for being ahead of its time. Despite its popularity, the show didn’t last long and was replaced by lighter, less intense programming. 

"The Tick" was a parody series that followed a clueless yet lovable superhero that resembled a giant blue tick. With its absurd humor and quirky characters, it stood out among other action-oriented cartoons of the time. But it struggled to hit mainstream status and was ultimately replaced by more traditional superhero shows. A live-action adaptation that premiered on Amazon Prime was also canceled after two seasons. 

This educational series followed Ms. Frizzle, an elementary school teacher, and her students as they took magical field trips into space, inside the human body, and beyond. The show was praised for making science fun and approachable for young audiences. However, as more fast-paced, less educational shows became dominant, "The Magic School Bus" was replaced in many TV schedules. 

Though it's been recently rebooted on Netflix under the name "The Magic School Bus Rides Again," the original has been largely forgotten by modern viewers.

A group of half-man, half-shark heroes battled villains in this action-packed cartoon, which was one of many ’90s shows inspired by “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” The street-smart sharks protected their city with their brawn, but their popularity never reached the heights of their reptilian cousins. With the rise of more polished superhero animations, “Street Sharks” was quickly outpaced and canceled in 1997. 

This darker, mythological cartoon followed ancient gargoyles coming to life in modern-day New York. Known for its complex storylines and mature themes, "Gargoyles" had a loyal fan base, especially in the Big Apple. But the series struggled to compete with other lighter fare and was eventually canceled. Though it enjoys a cult following to this day, it's often overshadowed by more mainstream Disney shows. 

This Nickelodeon show featured a group of monsters in training as they learned how to master their skills to terrify and taunt humans. Its dark humor and unique art style made it a favorite among kids who enjoyed something a bit edgier (myself included). But as animated comedies became more mainstream, this quirky show faded into obscurity. Today, it’s a forgotten gem from the golden age of Nickelodeon. 

One of the first fully computer-animated TV shows, “ReBoot” took place inside a computer system, where guardians fought viruses to protect the system's inhabitants. Groundbreaking at the time, it quickly became a cult favorite. But as technology evolved and 3D animation became more commonplace, the show’s novelty wore off — and it was eventually replaced by more polished and modernized CGI cartoons.

This coming-of-age cartoon followed the quirky, redheaded Pepper Ann as she navigated adolescence. Though it had a unique animation style and featured a feminist protagonist who was both girly, smart, and strong, it never reached the iconic status of shows like “Rugrats” or "Rocko's Modern Life." Though it enjoyed a cult following, it was replaced by flashier, more modern cartoons after three years. 

This show about, well, recess was only on the air for four years. While that wasn't the longest run, there's a Reddit of devoted fans (including a Redditor who has a "Man that whomps" tattoo) and the show can still be seen on Disney+ and YouTube. 

Centered around a family traveling the world to film nature documentaries, this Nickelodeon series brought animal conservation and adventure to the fore. The show's star, Eliza, had the special ability to talk to animals, which added a unique, mystical element to the family’s escapades. But as newer shows with heavier action emerged, "The Wild Thornberrys" became less popular and was eventually taken out of rotation.