One of the best things about being a kid in the 1980s was waking up on a Saturday morning, pouring a huge bowl of sugary cereal, adding a little more sugar to that cereal, and then plopping down in front of the TV to zone out to some cartoons. And in between Saturdays, kids had loads of cartoons that came on during the week in those precious hours after school but before dinner.
These days, cartoons are on all day every day, and there are plenty of great ones for kids and adults alike, but it's hard not to think back to those halcyon days of sugary Saturday mornings filled with flashing colors, loud noises, and lame jokes. The time has come for some of the great cartoons of the 1980s to return to the airwaves.
10 Blackstar
When future astronaut John Blackstar and his ship get sucked into a black hole, he finds himself stranded on the alien planet Sagar where swords and sorcery rule. Blackstar finds himself becoming a hero to the alien race called Trobbits as he and his friends Mara the Enchantress and the shapeshifter Klone battle against the evil Overlord, ruler of Sagar.
Blackstar's weapon, the Star Sword, has the ability to absorb and redirect energy blasts, and it gives Blackstar a number of powers, including superhuman senses, strength, speed, agility, and invulnerability to extreme temperatures. And as if all of that isn't cool enough, Blackstar uses his half of the rides around on a dragon named Warlock.
9 Defenders of the Earth
Originally set in what seemed like the far off future of 2015 when it aired in 1986, Defenders of the Earth was a team made up of heroes owned by King Features Syndicate. The group, led by Flash Gordon, also included The Phantom, Mandrake the Magician, and Mandrake's assistant Lothar as well as their children, Rick Gordon, Lothar's son L.J., Mandrake's son Kshin, and The Phantom's daughter Jedda Walker.
The Defenders of the Earth faced off against Ming the Merciless, his son Prince Kro-Tan, his daughter Princess Castra, and their legion of warriors. With superheroes all the rage on TV and in the theaters, it seems like the perfect time for the Defenders of the Earth to return.
8 Inhumanoids
Co-produced by Marvel Productions, which made Marvel's cartoons. to support a toyline and a comic book, Inhumanoids lasted just thirteen episodes but left an undeniable mark on many children of the 80s.
The series followed the adventures of the geological sciences research team Earth Corps as they battle the Inhumanoids, monstrous beings that come out from the Earth's core. With monsters like Meltar, Slither, and D'Compose - who had no flesh on his chest and could open his ribcage to hold people captive, the Inhumanoids are a perfect mix of high-tech superheroes and terrifying monsters.
7 M.A.S.K.
The Mobile Armored Strike Kommand, or M.A.S.K. for short, was a special task force that used transforming vehicles to wage a war against the criminal organization V.E.N.O.M. - which stands for Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem. Each member of M.A.S.K. and V.E.N.O.M. had a personalized high-tech helmet that allowed them to connect to their specialized vehicle.
Lasting for 75-episodes, M.A.S.K. was one of the most popular cartoons and toylines of the 1980s but has laid dormant for decades, but in 2018 it was announced that director F. Gary Gray had signed on to make a live-action movie based on the series.
6 Captain N: The Game Master
Since the 80s, video games have only gotten more popular, which makes the lack of a new Captain N: The Master all the most shocking. The series gave viewers a weekly chance to catch up with the adventures of Kevin Keene and his dog Duke who had been playing a Nintendo game when he was sucked into his TV through the Ultimate Warp Zone and ended up in Videoland.
Armed with his Power Pad and NES Zapper, Kevin becomes Captain N and joins the N Team, which included such Nintendo icons as Simon Belmont from Castlevania, Kid Icarus, Mega Man, Game Boy, and Princess Lana, daughter of Videoland's King Charles. Together, the team keeps Videoland safe from the evil forces of Metroid's villainous Mother Brain and her minions King Hippo, Eggplant Wizard, and Doctor Wily.
5 The Real Ghostbusters
Based on the beloved movie, The Real Ghostbusters continued the ghost fighting adventures of Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddemore. In the series, which ran for an impressive 140 episodes, added werewolves, vampires, and other paranormal monsters to the mix, including the fan-favorite Samhain. And joining the heroes for their adventures was their very own ghost sidekick, Slimer.
While the animated series ended in 1991, The Real Ghostbusters has continued to live on in comics and toys, but the time has come for the proton pack-wearing heroes to get back to their animated adventures, especially with a new Ghostbusters movie coming out soon.
4 Thundarr the Barbarian
Airing in 1980 and lasting just 21-episodes, Thundarr the Barbarian continues to live on in the imagination of 80s kids everywhere. The series, set on a post-apocalyptic Earth, follows the adventures of Thundarr the Barbarian and his teammates Ookla the Mok and Princess Ariel as they wander the Earth and battle their way through the various kingdoms that have sprouted up since the destruction of the world.
While the series never explains what happened to destroy mankind, there are clues, including a moon that had been broken in two and a return of true magic. The main characters were designed by comic artist Alex Toth and the iconic Jack Kirby was behind the looks of the villains.
3 Dungeons & Dragons
Based on the role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons saw six kids ranging from ages eight to fifteen get sucked into a magical world while on a roller coaster. Once in the magical world, the six kids meet the Dungeon Master who gives each of them a magical item that they can use to help save the world from the evil Venger while they try to find a way home.
Dungeons & Dragons wasn't a great show, but the basic idea is well worth revisiting for today's audiences. Plus, it could help introduce a whole new generation to the always fun role-playing game.
2 Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
With the success of the rebooted DuckTales, it's shocking that Disney hasn't already brought back any of the other shows from their famous Disney Afternoon lineup of the 1980s and 1990s. Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers was one of the most popular of the Disney Afternoon series, running for 65 episodes.
The series followed the famous chipmunk brothers Chip and Dale as they opened up a detective agency along with their pals Gadget Hackwrench, Monterey Jack, and Zipper. Each episode saw the team go on a crazy adventure filled with action and comedy.
1 Captain Planet and the Planeteers
With superheroes being so popular these days, it seems like it is only a matter of time before Captain Planet and the Planeteers returns. The show, created to try and help kids learn about the importance of recycling and fighting pollution, told the tale of five kids from different countries who are chosen by Gaia, the spirit of the Earth, to wield magical rings, each with its own special power. When the kids use their rings together, they summon Earth's greatest champion, Captain Planet.
Captain Planet and the Planeteers was a heavy-handed series that pushed its message very hard, which has led to it being the butt of many jokes, including a series of live-action sketches starring Don Cheadle, but with a lighter hand, the show could have a great second life.