Remembering the 80s cartoons – Part 3

The success of Robot Chicken tells me one thing; a lot of people miss the 80’s. I proudly admit to spending Saturday mornings and after school weekdays in front of the television. Looking back, it is funny that my mom would say I shouldn’t spend so much time in front of the T.V. It was rarely more than an hour here and there. Compared to today’s child, it was insignificant. What made those cartoons so glorious? Will our children feel the same about the cartoons of today? I don’t think so. Enjoy a trip with me through the ’80s cartoon graveyard.

A list could be made of all the wonderful cartoons that fascinated the 80’s child, but it would take all day. Cartoons of the 80’s offered our first glimpse into real life situations. G.I. Joe offered important safety education through the public service announcements at the end of the shows. “Now I know, and Knowing is half the battle”. Saturday morning cartoons had a sprinkling of One to Grow On PSAs throughout their line up. They were teaching us that bad things could happen and we needed to be prepared. That was a first in the world of children’s television. The world was shifting and cartoons were helping us with these changes.

For the first time women were holding their own in roles held traditionally by men. Scarlett from G.I. Joe rescued Snake Eyes and Duke a time of two. Even Cobra had the wickedly intelligent and highly deadly Baroness. She-Ra was the female counterpart to He-Man. Noble Cheetara fought alongside Lion-O and Panthra against Mumm-Ra. And who could ever forget Jem, who was truly outrageous.

Today there is quite a yin and yang in the world of cartoons. They either seem to educate or eradicate brain cells. I appreciate PBS shows and Dora and Diego are teaching children about caring while helping children learn another language. But sometimes I have to take out the cartoons from my childhood. There is something magical about them because my daughters squeals with glee and jumps into my lap to enjoy them just as much as I do.

I want my daughter to know Bumble Bee and watch the “Autobots roll out.” She is learning about people, or in this case machines, fighting for justice. I want her to know Firestar and Spiderman’s other Amazing Friends. She is learning about how life doesn’t always work out and that you won’t always be the popular kid but life is still good. I want her to feel like the sky is the limit, and that there are bad things that can happen and she needs to be aware. Most of all, I want her to have the fun I had when cartoon characters actually looked like people instead of shapes in a Picasso work. Bless you Optimus Prime and He-man because of you and “By the power of Greyskull, I have the power”.

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