10 Underrated Cartoons That Defined Childhood for Many ’80s Kids
Parents are rediscovering childhood favorites through their own kids
If you grew up in the 80s, chances are the Saturday morning cartoons were your habit. There were shows like He-Man and She-Ra, Rainbow Brite, Voltron, Transformers, G.I. Joe, Thundercats, and Jem and the Hologram.
1. BraveStarr
BraveStarr is an American Western Space animated series aired from 1987 to 1988. Produced by Filmation, the same group behind He-Man and She-Ra, the story revolves around Marshall BraveStarr, who was given powers derived from animal spirits (hawk, wolf, puma, and bear) by the Shaman. These spirit animals help him protect Fort Kerium from the evil of Tex Hex and his henchmen.
BraveStarr is joined by his pal Thirty/Thirty, Judge J.B. McBride, and Deputy Fuzz of the Prairie People.
2. Bionic Six
Bionic Six is an animated series that aired in 1987. The story focuses on the lives of the Bennett family, composed of Jack and Helen Bennett and their kids Eric and Meg. The Bennett family has also adopted two other kids – James, their smart African-American son, and Bunji, their Japanese son who loves martial arts.
Jack was working as a secret agent and known to the world as Bionic One. But when a radioactive avalanche injures his family and puts them in a coma, Jack turns to Professor Sharp who bestows them bionic powers, making them the Bionic Six.
3. Ghostbusters
There was The Real Ghostbusters and there was the Ghostbusters. Produced by Filmation, the Ghostbusters focuses on Eddie Spencer Jr and Jake Kong Jr, the sons of the detectives of the 1975 series The Ghost Busters. They are joined by Tracy the Gorilla in their adventure of fighting against Prime Evil.
4. Centurions
The Centurions is an animated series broadcast in 1986. Three men – Ace McCloud, Jake Rockwell, and Max Ray are equipped with an Exoframe, giving them weapons they can use on land, air, and sea transported through Skybolt from space to defend earth
The team later expanded with the addition of two more members – Rex Charger and John Thunder.
5. Challenge of the Gobots
Challenge of the Gobots or Gobots is an animated series that aired from 1983 to 1987 produced by Hanna-Barbera. The show follows the battle between the Guardians led by Leader-1 and the Renegades led by Cy-kill who are on a mission to look for what is called the Last Engineer.
6. The Comic Strip Series
The Comic Strip is a TV series broadcast in the US in 1987 that comprised four cartoons – The Mini-Monsters, Karate Kat, Street Frogs, and Tiger Sharks.
7. Heathcliff
Heathcliff is a show derived from a comic strip of the same name. It follows the adventures of an orange cat named Heathcliff and his friends called the Catillac Cats.
8. Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs
Saber Rider and the Star Sheriff is an animated series aired in 1987. Saber Rider together with Fireball, Colt, and April has been appointed by the Calvary Command to defend the earth from Outriders, out to control the earth.
Saber rides his mechanical horse named Steed, with Fireball as the lead pilot of Ramrod and driving his turbo car. Colt meanwhile flies his spaceship called the Bronco Buster.
9. Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget is the story of a bumbling cyborg inspector who has been forced out of retirement to go after the evil Dr. Claw. It first aired in 1983 and later was revived with a new look in 2015.
A live-action film was shown in 1999 starring Matthew Broderick.
10. Ducktales
Before the 2017 version aired, Ducktales aired in 1987. The show revolves around Donald Duck’s snooty Uncle Scrooge and the adventures of Huey, Louie, and Dewey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Marshall BraveStarr receives his mystical abilities from a Shaman. These powers are drawn from animal spirits, granting him the distinct capabilities of four specific beasts: the eyes of a hawk, the ears of a wolf, the strength of a bear, and the speed of a puma, which he uses to protect the town of Fort Kerium.
While patriarch Jack Bennett secretly operates as the secret agent Bionic One, his family is caught in a radioactive avalanche that leaves them in a coma. To save their lives, Jack takes them to Professor Sharp, who implants them with specialized bionic technology, transforming the entire family into the Bionic Six.
The Filmation series is an animated sequel to a 1975 live-action TV show and follows the sons of the original human detectives, Eddie Spencer Jr. and Jake Kong Jr. Accompanied by a brilliant gorilla named Tracy, they battle the villain Prime Evil, making it completely separate from the famous movie-based franchise.
The main heroes—Ace McCloud, Jake Rockwell, and Max Ray—are equipped with specialized suits called Exoframes. When facing a threat, they shout the command “PowerXtreme,” which allows custom weapon systems to be beamed down directly to them from the Skybolt space station for land, air, or sea combat.
The bumbling cyborg inspector is constantly assigned to thwart the global criminal schemes of the mysterious, hidden leader of M.A.D., Dr. Claw. The cartoon was so popular that it was adapted into a big-budget, live-action feature film in 1999 starring Matthew Broderick.
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