These 20 Iconic 70s Cartoons, Do You Remember?
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If you were a kid in the 70s, Saturday morning cartoons were life. There was never an opportunity to see animation except then……
There were two types of Saturday Morning cartoons…… The first type you didn’t really care about – if you had to run to the kitchen for more fruity pebbles or take a quick detour to the bathroom, it’s an acceptable loss. Then there’s the second type, which you wouldn’t miss a second of even if the sky was falling. Maybe it was Johnny Quest…… or maybe it was The Smurfs. Some cartoons are so special that you can’t look away from them. Every decade had them, but the 1970s had some of the best of them all. Today, we’re returning to the 70s to look at some of the best 70s cartoons of all time!
70s Cartoons, Whose Memories?
20. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
Remember Storm Shadow, the ninja member of the Cobra Organization who was always a top pick during childhood playtimes? Well, here’s a fun tidbit: Storm Shadow’s white uniform is rather impractical for a ninja who’s supposed to blend into the shadows. It’s not exactly the best choice for stealth operations, right?
Also, ever notice how the Joes never seemed to run out of vehicles, no matter how many were blown up in the fight for freedom? It’s as if they had unlimited planes, tanks, and boats.
So, whether you were rooting for the Joes or the Cobras, these funny facts about GI Joe will bring back some nostalgic laughs. Yo Joe!
19. Star Trek: The Animated Series
Why didn’t anyone warn me Star Trek: The Animated Series goes this hard?
I initially expected some lighthearted sci-fi fun, like “Space Ghost” or “Johnny Quest,” but the first two episodes cut deep. The writers of TAS didn’t need to try this hard, but I’m glad they did. It’s fantastic, and I highly recommend it to everyone.
Fun story:Â The animated series was made during a writers’ strike; the showrunner D C Fontana, a longtime writer, knew the Union rules backward and forward. She knew any Union writer could write one episode of an animated series under the strike rules. So she went to every great writer she knew who needed work during the strike and offered them one episode. This is why it had amazing scripts. Ave is the only writing Emmy Star Trek has.
18. Schoolhouse Rock!
This schoolhouse rock songs that are actually useful for adults! Unsure of the costs of being an adult?: “Where the Money Goes”
“We make a decent living, that’s true.
But we have to pay these bills when they come due!”
17. The Banana Splits Adventure Hour
70s cartoons fans, let’s take a trip down memory lane with The Banana Splits Adventure Hour! You remember the tune, right? “One banana, two bananas, three bananas, four…” It’s a jingle that’s as catchy as it is nonsensical, and it’s been stuck in our heads for decades!
The Banana Splits were a band of anthropomorphic animals, but did you ever notice that none of them were actually bananas? We had a beagle, a gorilla, a lion, and an elephant, but not a single banana in the bunch.
Now, let’s all sing together: “Na na na! Na na-na na! Na na na, na na na na!”
16. Wacky Races
Ah, Dastardly and Muttley, the dynamic duo of cartoon villainy! Their hilarious antics and never-ending pursuit of the pigeon in “Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines” have left us in stitches time and time again.
And speaking of Muttley’s laugh, did you know it was actually a recycled sound effect? The same distinctive wheezy giggle was used for another Hanna-Barbera character, Precious Pupp, a year before Muttley was introduced. It seems Muttley’s iconic laugh was a hand-me-down!
15. The Bugs Bunny Show
Ah, Bugs Bunny, the timeless trickster! Even though Bugs Bunny debuted in the 1940s, he was still a major player in the world of 70s cartoons, starring in “The Bugs Bunny Show” and “The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie.”
And speaking of the 70s, did you know that Bugs Bunny was actually the first cartoon character to appear on a postage stamp? In 1997, the U.S. Postal Service decided to honor the cultural impact of this 70s cartoon icon. However, this decision was controversial at the time because it broke a rule that individuals (or, in this case, individual rabbits) must be deceased for at least ten years before appearing on a stamp.
14. The Super Friends
Ah, The Super Friends! This 70s cartoon brought together some of the greatest heroes of the DC universe, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman.
Despite being a show about a team of superheroes, The Super Friends had a surprisingly low amount of actual fighting. This was due to strict standards for children’s programming at the time.
Also, despite being a member of the Super Friends, Aquaman was often the butt of jokes due to his seemingly less useful powers.
13. Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
Beware, villains and miscreants, the trademark battle cry of “Captain Caaaavemaaaan!!!!” is heard across the land!
12. Goober and the Ghost Chasers
There is a dog that can briefly disappear, and his human friends look into mysteries that involve the supernatural.
11. The Archie Show
A laugh track was used on The Archie Show, the first of what are now called “Saturday morning cartoons.” Most cartoon shows would use laugh tracks until the early 1980s because of how well The Archie Show did.
Archie Andrews, 17, and his high school friends from Riverdale are the show’s focus. These friends include his best friend and food lover, Jughead Jones, the witty Reggie Mantle, the beautiful and spoiled rich girl Veronica Lodge, and the pretty blonde tomboy next door, Betty Cooper.
10. Hong Kong Phooey
Penrod Pooch leads a secret life as Hong Kong Phooey, a Kung Fu crime fighter. His faithful sidekick, Spot the Cat, usually solved the crimes, but that was only a part of the charm. The Telephone operator Rosemary had a mad crush on the hero, never realizing that Penry was the only Hong Kong Phooey…… It’s a classic show and a great theme song!
9. Josie and the Pussycats
And the first of MANY attempts to copy(cat) the success of Scooby-Doo. A gang of meddling teenagers solving mysteries with a comical pet.
8. The Scooby-Doo Show
I love the whole show, but the ending was a real whack. No matter what, it’s still one of the most iconic 70s cartoons.
7. Fred Flintstone and Friends
Fred Flintstone is a likable caveman from the middle class who has a good heart and a knack for getting himself into funny situations. Fred goes on many adventures with his best friend, Barney Rubble. These adventures range from silly to sweet.
6. The Jetsons
Of all the technology they have, I want a car that folds into a briefcase the most. I hate parking so much.
5. Looney Tunes
Classic animation like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Tweety Bird made Looney Tunes one of the most famous animated shows ever. It is still popular in television history thanks to its slapstick humor and catchphrases like “That’s all, folks!”
4. The Flintstones
Fred: “How can you be so stupid?”
Barney: “Hey, that’s not very nice. Say you’re sorry.”
Fred: “I’m sorry you’re stupid.”
3. Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
The screeching of the bats and the bongo drums at the start of the theme song used to put me in a total frenzy! I’d jump up and do backflips on the couch. It’s still one of my Saturday morning favorites of all time.
2. The Pink Panther Show
Undoubtedly, the Pink Panther is the grooviest cartoon character in 70s cartoons in the world.
And the saxophone melody is stuck in my head.
1. Tom and Jerry
I’m sure you’ve seen this classic cartoon! But if you haven’t seen it, ummm… Just forget it!
Cat vs. mouse—this timeless rivalry has entertained generations!
The End
What other ’70s cartoons do you remember besides the ones I mentioned above? Feel free to share with us in the comment section below!
The 70s were imperfect, but I would still take that time over this in a heartbeat!
