What’s the best ever kids cartoon series?
Here are 6 of our favourite classics…
The Simpsons
One of the most loved, imitated and longest running series in TV history, America’s favourite family has been gracing our screens since 1989. The show features “The Simpsons” family, consisting of husband and wife Homer and Marge, their children Bart, Lisa, and Maggie and their pets Santas Little Helper and Snowball II. The show has had over 28 seasons, and is set in the fictional town of Springfield. After decades of keeping it close to his chest, the show’s creator Matt Groening finally revealed that the small town of Springfield, Oregon, was the original inspiration for the show’s setting.
Tom & Jerry
The 1940’s slapstick comedy by infamous duo William Hanna and Joseph Barbera has been a favourite for decades. Following Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse alongside a host of other characters, the show revolves around the titular characters desperate attempt to outsmart each other, without getting in too much trouble. The “cartoon within a cartoon” Itchy and Scratchy featured on The Simpsons is heavily influenced by Tom and Jerry, with a considerably more violent approach, usually to the dismay of many a parent.
Top Cat
Another Hanna and Barbera show to feature on our list. Top Cat is one of the world’s favourite cartoon cats, featuring in banking adverts, childrens toys and even his own Paddy Power Slots. The show ran briefly from September 27, 1961 to April 18, 1962 for 30 episodes on ABC. It follows local police officer, Charlie Dibble, and his ineffective attempts to evict the gang from the alley, due to their constant scheming to earn a quick buck (usually by an illegal scams).
Scooby Doo
Scooby Doo is a mystery adventure show written by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears. Debuting in 1969, it still continues to run regularly to this day. The show has had over 30 feature films, both animated and live action, including a host of fan favourite films featuring celebrities such as KISS and even WWE Superstar John Cena! The series follows Scooby, Shaggy Fred, Daphne and Velma as they travel the world to solve crimes in the Mystery Machine.
The Jetsons
Initially written as the Space Age counterpart to the more primitive Flintstones, The Jetsons follows George, Jane, Judy, Elroy and Astroy in their home of Orbit City in the future. The show takes place in a world filled with robots, spaceships and high tech gadgets. The man of the house, George Jetson works at Spacely’s Sprockets, a company that produces sprockets, and is generally considered to be a loving family man who always happens to make the wrong decisions. His boss and long-time friend, Cosmo Spacely runs the company, and always tends to let George take the blame for his own mishaps.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Despite a more recent run of live action and 3D animated Hollywood features, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were created way back in 1984 as a cartoon by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Often referred to as TMNT, the Ninja Turtles are four fictional teenage, humanoid turtles named after four of the most famous Renaissance Italian artists. They were trained by the Rat Splinter in martials arts, and from their home in the sewers of New York City, they battle criminals, evil overlords, mutated creatures, and even alien invaders whilst attempting to remain hidden from society. The franchise exploded into toys, merchandise, video games and even food branding. A running theme throughout all iterations of the characters is their undying love for Pizza, and their four very different personalities.