'80s Cartoons
Many people in their late 20s to mid-30s grew up watching '80s cartoons on Saturday morning. In fact, many of us loved them so much that we buy the DVD box sets of them just so we can relive those mornings when we would wake up early, grab a bowl of cereal and sit back for a few hours of "The Smurfs," "Rainbow Brite" and "The Muppet Babies."
Types
There were several types of '80s cartoons on Saturday morning and throughout the week. There were the "feel good" cartoons of fantasy lands, such as "The Smurfs," "The Care Bears," "The Snorks" and "Strawberry Shortcake," among others. These cartoons typically had a moral lesson or some other underlying meaning that was beneficial for children.
Another type of '80s cartoon was the adventure genre. This category included cartoons like the "Transformers," "Thundercats" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." These cartoons were aimed at young boys and they included battles between the good guys and the bad guys. In the end, there was usually a lesson for children to keep in mind.
A third type of '80s cartoon focused on a hero or a heroine. "Popeye" (reruns in the 1980s) is one example of this. "Rainbow Brite" and "My Little Pony" also focused on heroines involved in different situations throughout the episode. At the end, the heroes and heroines came through the situation and learned a valuable lesson during their ordeal. "He-Man" and "G.I. Joe" are also examples of this type of cartoon. You could even consider "Scooby-Doo" part of this category.
In addition, there were also miscellaneous cartoons, including "Garfield and Friends," "Jem," "Fat Albert," "Pound Puppies" and many others.
Benefits
One of the biggest benefits of '80s cartoons is that they gave children something to do on Saturday mornings when their parents were sleeping. Also, they were on after school so children could come home in the afternoon and watch some good-natured television. Cartoons in the '80s typically had an important moral that they taught in an entertaining way that children could understand. One of the main lessons was that good will always win out over evil. Other lessons taught included: perseverance pays off, friendship is important and hard work is vital to success.
Theories/Speculation
Since adults create cartoons, many people theorize that some cartoons have underlying meanings and agendas. "The Smurfs," for instance, have been rumored to be about Communism. Since all of the Smurfs live in a small community and they work together, even though each one has a specific purpose, some people have theorized that this was an indoctrination method for kids during the Second Cold War.
Others say cartoons like the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "G.I. Joe" were too violent and young kids should not watch them. They believed children would try to imitate the violence with their friends and risk injury.
Another speculation involves "Scooby-Doo." Some concerned parents theorized that there were occultist teachings and symbols throughout the cartoon. In addition, many rumors have also spread that Scooby and Shaggy were "potheads" because they always had the "munchies."
Time Frame
The time frame for '80s cartoons generally lasted through the 1980s. However, some of the more popular cartoons began much earlier than the 1980s. "Scooby-Doo," for instance, began in the 1960s. Because of its popularity, though, television stations would show reruns in the 1980s so a new generation could enjoy it. In addition, they created new generations of "Scooby-Doo," including "A Pup Named Scooby-Doo."
There were other cartoons indicative of the 1980s. When talking about "The Smurfs," there is no question that one is talking about '80s cartoons. Although the comic strip began in Belgium in the 1950s, the actual animated series as we know it was not created and shown until 1981. It ran for the entire decade of the 1980s until it was canceled in 1990 due to poor ratings.
Effects
Almost anybody who grew up during the 1980s remembers at least one of these popular cartoons and its lessons. Many adults today can still sing the theme song from "The Smurfs." Many cartoons have also made a comeback because adults today want to remember their youth and pass some of it on to their children. You can find a wide range of Care Bears merchandise and every so often, another '80s cartoon will have a resurgence of popularity and then its merchandise becomes available, too.
