10 Best '80s Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
TVLine • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The 1980s marked a pivotal shift in animation, moving away from low-budget, merchandise-driven shows to more imaginative and mature storytelling, laying the groundwork for the rich cartoon landscape of the 1990s and beyond.
- "The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers" stood out as a sophisticated space Western with fluid anime-style animation and mature narratives, challenging the decade's typical action-figure-driven cartoons.
- Disney played a dominant role in elevating TV animation quality with shows like "Adventures of the Gummi Bears," "Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers," and "DuckTales," combining strong storytelling, character development, and high-quality animation.
- "Dungeons & Dragons" captured the essence of 1980s fantasy role-playing culture by blending teen drama with the imaginative play of the game, creating a unique mix of earnestness and genre cheese.
- Innovative and experimental shows like "Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures" and "The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley" pushed boundaries with zany, absurd humor and animation styles that influenced the creative direction of 1990s cartoons.
