From the mid- to late-20th century, there was this magical force that managed to get kids out of bed like clockwork; it was called the Saturday morning cartoon. It was an old ritual for the TV-viewing household that would see children get up before the sun did, grab sugary cereal bowls, and plow right down in front of the TV. Saturday morning cartoons were a staple of nerd media for decades, with many of its alums still reverberating today in remakes and big blockbuster films. However, even the best of them still had to start somewhere, having to earn the respects of their viewers (and more importantly, TV executives) with their pilot episode. Honoring the old traditions of animation and the legacies they've left behind, this list will look at the humble beginnings of childhood favorites.
10 The Flintstones, "The Flagstones"
Starting off this list is the very definition of a pilot. Lasting only about a minute-and-a-half, "The Flagstones" was the initial test for the first family of animation. It showcased early character and background designs as well as the baseline for all Flintstones jokes, i.e. prehistoric jokes. Though this would be expanded into the actual first episode of the series, "The Swimming Pool," "The Flagstones" makes its way to this list purely from the time whiplash of animation's history. It's customary for there to be early designs of cartoon favorites like Adventure Time or The Simpsons; but seeing this cartoon's early history is kind of weird and nostalgic. It's like seeing the high school yearbook photo for George Washington.
9 Rugrats, "Tommy Pickles and the Great White Thing"
Another unaired entry on this list, "Tommy Pickles and the Great White Thing" showed in great detail the childlike sensibilities of its creators. Going into the series' actual run, little is actually changed from the pilot besides an upped animation budget. Tommy and all his immediate family are there, as well as Phil, Lil, and the infamous play pen. However, while grainy and a little too animated for what Rugrats would turn into, the pilot episode within its own right is perhaps one of the series' greatest explorations of the child mind, as it uses a variety of expressive animations and perspectives to capture one of Tommy's first adventures, exploring his family's toilet.
8 The Smurfs, "The Astrosmurf"
Besides its exposition-heavy intro, the first episode of The Smurfs does little to really ease the audience into an already strange concept. To their credit, the first few episodes may have been released out of order, as this one included Smurfette, who wouldn't officially be added into the series until later. But this episode is an amazing first entry nonetheless. It features Papa Smurf and the gang staging a sci-fi experience for Dreamy, so that he can live out his "Astrosmurf" dream, involving magical nonsense, them fending off Gargamel, and a few jokes here and there. This episode encapsulates the tone and world of what The Smurfs is and the magical potential of what it could be.
7 Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, "The Terrifying Blue-Eyes White Dragon"
While people may like to joke about Saturday morning 4Kids version nowadays, some of their distributions actually did a good job of selling the series (and a bunch of trading cards). The first episode of Yu-Gi-Oh! in particular is still a fond memory for several fans, as it shows a time before motorcycles and futuristic cities, when the game was just competitive. However, it was really competitive, literally starting off with its origins as an ancient Egyptian ritual. From there, the show gets its infamous first Duel Monsters battle between Yugi and Kaiba, as well as Kaiba's infamous meme face, as they show a flurry of cool monster designs, explosions, and, as the series infamously does more than a cheating 12-year-old, rule changes.
6 Pokémon, "Pokémon-I Choose You!"
Transitioning new characters, Pokémon, and gimmicks from the video game, Pokémon is home to a variety of interesting and memorable episodes, whether they include incredible battles, hilarious miscommunications in the dubbing, or that one where Ash cuddled his Pokémon in a blizzard and everybody cried. However, if there was ever a standout, it would be the humble first meeting of Ash and Pikachu, as Ash first dawns his famous hat and ventures out into the world of adventures. It's a quirky buddy comedy of dream aspirations and growing relationships, memorable for Ash's efforts to befriend Pikachu and the mystery of its ending.
5 Animaniacs, "De-Zanitized/ The Monkey Song/ Nighty-Night Toon"
Steven Spielberg is a man famous for a variety of films, but making this list is an emotional impact of the zanier kind, as this animated production hit the ground running...and bouncing. The first episode of Animaniacs introduces the Warner children, Yakko, Wakko and Dot, with such suspenseful and hilarious mystery, as it treats the trio as this low brow force of nature ghat becomes unleashed on the Warner Bros. film lot, preparing its audiences not only for pop culture references to attract even the oldest child, but also zany antics that would revive the U.S.'s animation boom.
4 Batman: The Animated Series, "The Cat and the Claw Part I"
Even from day one, Batman: The Animated Series never really treats its child audience like, well, children, as it introduces a Batman that was equal parts action and human interaction. And while "Leather Wings" has the earlier production code, "The Cat and the Claw Part I" had the honor of gracing television screens first, introducing kids to the complex, nuanced relationship between Batman and Catwoman while also preparing a suspenseful and mysterious two-part story that doesn't just draw the viewer necessarily into the big world of Gotham as much as it brings everyone to the small, intimate rooms of its people.
3 The Tick, "The Tick vs. The Idea Men"
The Tick's "The Tick vs. The Idea Men" does a great job of introducing the The Tick and his world via interesting dialogue, character relationship, and distinct visuals, all little camps of animation that work together to make The Tick a series like nothing else. Perhaps the most visually striking is The Tick's streamlined, vibrant animation being contrasted against the more realistic character designs referencing the animation styles of yesteryear. That change in style and legacy is what this first episode is all about, as The Tick embraces the cartoon medium in a way that no other superhero previously had.
2 The Legend of Korra, "Welcome to Republic City"
It's a shame that The Legend of Korra makes this list as a Saturday morning cartoon during an age where Saturday mornings are series death slots. Fortunately, quality episodes like its first one, "Welcome to Republic City," are what helped it maintain cult status. Very early on, the series addresses that it won't be like Avatar: The Last Airbender, as it ditches the humble beginnings of a world in historic turmoil for a more technologically-advanced one and a spunky, more charismatic main character to match. This episode did what it had to, as it introduced interesting world changes, diametrically shifted the character balances, and, best of all, introduced new developments and dilemmas to challenge the series' previous status quo.
1 SpongeBob SquarePants, "Help Wanted/ Reef Blower/ Tea at the Treedome"
Perhaps most impactful to the viewers of today was the very beginning of the modern age's most defining cartoon mascot. "Help Wanted" shows where it all started, with SpongeBob's joining the Krusty Krab. Here, SpongeBob Squarepants shows early character relationships, such as Patrick the best friend and Squidward the sarcastic antagonist. However, best of all, it shows the quirky, can-do attitude of SpongeBob, as he does the impossible — saves the day and flips burgers. What follows is the dynamic, cartoon experience of "Reef Blower" and "Tea at the Treedome's" hilarious introduction of Sandy Cheeks. The series really started out with a bang, as fans soon didn't just want SpongeBob, they needed him.