The 10 Best Cartoons from the 80’s: For When You’re Feeling Nostalgic

Planting yourself in front of the TV on an early Saturday morning and binge-watching some of the legendary cartoons of the 80s that paved the way for what was coming after.

Here we go! A list of some of the famous cartoons that will make you reminisce about the past and take you all the way down memory lane

1.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987)

The Ninja Turtle fever was real among kids of all ages, and I’d bet you a slice of pizza that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was one of the most popular shows ever made. 

From Leonardo’s leadership to Donatello’s intelligence to Raphael’s determination and the iconic phrase of Michelangelo, “cowabunga!”—this  cartoon was legendary. Not to forget the turtles going up against their arch nemesis, Shredder.

1. SuperFriends (1980)

For the people in the 80’s, this is the original version of the modern-day Justice League. Produced by the legendary animation Hannah-Barbera Studio, it featured all the superheroes, like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman, facing off their arch-nemesis Lex Luthor and Riddler, who all belonged to the evil club, Legion of Doom.

1. The Real Ghostbusters (1986)

If there’s something strange in your neighborhood, who are you going to call? The Ghostbusters! 

Two years after the original movie premiere, ABC Studios added The Real Ghostbusters to its Saturday morning line-up. The Real Ghostbusters was a lighthearted, friendly take on the movie. The Ghosbusters gang fights off the supernatural baddies each week.

1. The Transformers (1984)

Optimus Prime, Bumble, and their evil counterparts fighting off the threat was a no-brainer. The animated series was created to market a line of toys that could be twisted and turned into vehicles and devices. The Transformers is perhaps one of the most popular cartoons from the 1980s, so much so they were giving the toys away at the happy meal!

1. ThunderCats (1985)

I bet while reading this, you would still be humming the catchy intro that starts off with, Thunder, thunder, ThunderCats, Ho! A cat-like alien flees from their planet to seek refuge on ‘third earth.’ An iconic series with a storyline like no other.

1. DuckTales (1987)

The list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning DuckTales. One of the iconic timeless classic cartoons from the 80’s since the day it aired on TV. The whole series is filled with adventures, discovery, and a quest for knowledge and treasure, simultaneously emphasizing the values of hard work, family bonds, relationships, understanding, and trust.

1. He-Man and the Master of the Universe (1983)

“By the power of the Grayskull… I have the power.” Every week, Skeltor would try to capture and get hold of the Castle Grayskull to control the universe, and every week, He-Man and his friends would try to stop him.

1. Garfield and Friends (1984)

Entertaining and family-friendly content that aired in the early 80’s. Garfield lives with his owner, Jon, along with his witty friend, Odie the Dog. Garfield and Friends revolves around Garfield’s humorous adventures, lazy antics, and witty conversations. Garfield loves lasagna, hates Mondays, and has a clever outlook and observations on life.

1. Richie Rich (1980)

A kind-hearted kid with immense wealth who would put his friends and family first. A popular cartoon that charmed the audience due to its blend of humor, fun-filled adventures, and fascinating lifestyle of the richest kid in the world.

1.  Voltron (1984)

Voltron: Defender of the Universe is a cartoon from the 1980s that follows the epic adventures of five young pilots with their robot lions, which can combine together to form a mighty robot known as Voltron. All the pilots have their own unique abilities, and when needed, Voltron acts as a last line of defense against the forces of evil. A classic animated series celebrated and cherished for its action, adventure, characters, and the formation of the robot, Voltron.