# Any 1980's/1990's cartoon shows that were NOT just 30 minute commercials? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 27, 2007, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730 "2007-01-27T16:05:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/61 "2007-01-29T01:38:57Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] If decent storylines, character development and uncheesy dialogue are the criteria, then within the 80s era, _The Real Ghostbusters_ and _Dungeons and Dragons_ definitely qualify. I’d say that _G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero_ does too, albeit to a lesser degree. [/QUOTE] They were all toy commercials, though (going by the thread title, if not the first post by the OP). ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/62 "2007-01-29T02:30:25Z")
[QUOTE=Big Bad Voodoo Lou] They were all toy commercials, though (going by the thread title, if not the first post by the OP). [/QUOTE] The thread title, specifically, says “shows that were not _just_ 30 minute commercials.” You can rule out most every cartoon if you want something that had NO product attached to it ever, before or after – after all, the target audience is usually kids, and if you can get them to want a toy based on their favorite cartoon, so much the better, right (from the perspective of the makers)? Regardless of whether the cartoon was based on the toy, or the toy was based on the cartoon) However, the title seems to only rule out cartoons where the show had **no redeeming quality** other than as a commercial for something. The first post by the OP reinforces this, asking which shows had decent storylines and character development, etc. That doesn’t mean that such a show has to exist outside of the realm of any commercial product associated with it to qualify in the category being asked for. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/63 "2007-01-29T04:41:38Z")
I don’t think that _Dungeons and Dragons_ can really be considered a commercial for the game… The mechanics of the two were entirely different. If anything, I think it more likely that the show was an effort to cash in on the game’s popularity. Another few to mention: _Alf Tales_, which re-told fairy tales and folklore starring Gordon Schumway, AKA Alf. And just for the sake of completeness, the _Punky Brewster_ cartoon wasn’t very good, but it also wasn’t tied to any particular products. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/64 "2007-01-29T05:09:39Z")
If you want toons that weren’t tied to any products, there are the lesser known shows such as _Turbo Teen_ – an incredibly stupid concept about a teenager who transforms into a car when he gets wet. Ugh. Most of the notable shows did have merchandising tie-ins, and for good reasons – it would have been foolish not to exploit their popularity. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/65 "2007-01-29T05:26:59Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] I don’t think that _Dungeons and Dragons_ can really be considered a commercial for the game… The mechanics of the two were entirely different. If anything, I think it more likely that the show was an effort to cash in on the game’s popularity. [/QUOTE] No no, it was a commercial for the action figures, which were based directly on the cartoon characters. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/66 "2007-01-29T07:37:25Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Spencer, Tracy, Kong, even if no one else remembers, I salute you! [/QUOTE] I salute with you, sir! I was a big fan, although apparently the show is not well-remembered. The entire Kraft corporation has never produced so much cheese, but I was a fan (maybe because I liked reruns of F-Troop). Or maybe it was the subject matter. I was a big fan of [Monster Squad](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128000/), with Fred Grandy, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/67 "2007-01-29T08:39:09Z")
[QUOTE=scotandrsn] W’re almost on page two and no mention of **The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse?** [/QUOTE] “Here I come to save the day!” Thank you for reminding me of that show. I’d forgotten all about it. Must have been all the acid I did in college. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/68 "2007-01-29T09:05:43Z")
[QUOTE=DocCathode] Doo doo de doot dah doo! Ahahah Doo doo de doot dah doo! Cities of gold! [/QUOTE] Lol, forgot that one, ranks alongside Ulysses and Once Upon a Time. In fact, all the big French series of the 80s/90s that I remember seem to qualify - anyone for [Belle and Sebastien?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiken_Jolie) ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/69 "2007-01-29T13:30:20Z")
[QUOTE=DocCathode] The bad guy was a cyborg ghost. Even back then, I found that a bit much. [/QUOTE] No, no, Prime Evil was from the cartoon which I never watched. I’m talking about the _original_ [live-action show](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072505/) from 1975. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/70 "2007-01-29T14:49:05Z")
[QUOTE=Alan Smithee] How can it be that no one has mentioned _The Real Ghostbusters_? That was a high-water mark for 80’s animated storytelling. It had lots of sophisticated jokes and puns, pretty good characters, and references to real folklore, mythology, pop culture, and the Cthulu mythos. [/QUOTE] Uh, because there was a huge abundance of merchandise accompanying the series the makes it quite obvious that that was the justification for its existence. Same reason why no one has mentioned the Paddy-Wagon driving, Technodrome fighting, dozens of mutant friends and enemies-having Ninja Turtles. ---
**Author:** ![BluePitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/71 "2007-01-29T14:53:47Z")
[QUOTE=Monstre] The thread title, specifically, says “shows that were not _just_ 30 minute commercials.” However, the title seems to only rule out cartoons where the show had **no redeeming quality** other than as a commercial for something. The first post by the OP reinforces this, asking which shows had decent storylines and character development, etc. That doesn’t mean that such a show has to exist outside of the realm of any commercial product associated with it to qualify in the category being asked for. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I realize that alot of cartoons were meant to be commercials but I am talking about the cartoons, commercial or not, that put effort in stories and dialogue. Like Gargoyles. I am sure there were merchandising for that but at least that show had a good story to it. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/72 "2007-01-29T15:17:45Z")
[QUOTE=pizzabrat] Uh, because there was a huge abundance of merchandise accompanying the series the makes it quite obvious that that was the justification for its existence. Same reason why no one has mentioned the Paddy-Wagon driving, Technodrome fighting, dozens of mutant friends and enemies-having Ninja Turtles. [/QUOTE] This is going off of memories from childhood, but I’m pretty sure the mechandising didn’t appear until _after_ the cartoon was a hit. In any event, I certainly don’t think merchanidising was the raison d’etre for the show. (And even if the toys were developed concurrently with the show, that’s not the same as something like He-Man or Transformers, where the show was developed _after_ the toys as a way of increasing the toys’ visability and appeal.) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/73 "2007-01-29T18:48:43Z")
[QUOTE=Alan Smithee] This is going off of memories from childhood, but I’m pretty sure the mechandising didn’t appear until _after_ the cartoon was a hit. In any event, I certainly don’t think merchanidising was the raison d’etre for the show. (And even if the toys were developed concurrently with the show, that’s not the same as something like He-Man or Transformers, where the show was developed _after_ the toys as a way of increasing the toys’ visability and appeal.) [/QUOTE] That’s my memory of the situation, as well. I don’t recall the RGB toys ever being particularly popular, either, but that might have just been peculiar to my circle of friends. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/74 "2007-01-29T19:46:57Z")
[QUOTE=anu-la1979] Jem and the Holograms: except, didn’t you guys think Rio was a total tool because even though Jerrica IS Jem, he’s still cheating on Jerrica with Jem. No one gets as upset about this as me, it seems. [/QUOTE] Despite the fact that there is a part of my brain that still knows Jem and the Holograms (& Misfits) songs (2nd law of thermodynamics - gone…maybe if they’d put it to the tune of “Twilight in Paris”), that was a commercial. And any of the Disneys (Duck Tales, Chip ‘n’ Dale, etc.) were commercials for Disney - Disney videos, Disney music, Disney theme parks, future Disney movies. Not as blatant as GI Joe. But they were clearly designed to get you to beg your parents to take you to Disney world to go on the rides and see the characters “in person.” ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/75 "2007-01-30T02:03:17Z")
Does anyone remember C.O.P.S? That show was the shit. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/76 "2007-01-30T04:09:20Z")
[QUOTE=monstro] Does anyone remember C.O.P.S? That show was the shit. [/QUOTE] Central Organization of Police Specialists! Fighting crime… in a future time! (Character designs by superstar comic book artist Bart Sears!) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/77 "2007-01-30T06:45:22Z")
Mainframe was _hot._ Though I was occasionally a bit—I think “skeeved out” is the word these days—watching that show, when forced to consider what chunks of body parts the main characters were missing. (“So…is that guy basically arms, legs, and a head hooked into a robot torso? Does he even have any guts left?” :eek: ) ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/78 "2007-01-30T14:50:28Z")
COPS had a mad scientist, with a transparent dome on his skull, who was negatively effected by sunspots. I think his name was Dr Badvibes. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/79 "2007-01-30T18:57:39Z")
Am I the only one to remember [Blackstar](http://www.80scartoons.net/toons/blackstar.html)? He was an astronaut that got pulled through a black hole and ends up on a world with a bunch of elfish looking characters. He must fight to get the other half of the Starsword, of which he has half, to save the world and find his way home. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730/80 "2007-01-30T19:42:23Z")
I remember Blackstar, but the OP was looking for cartoons which were more than toy ads. Blackstar doesn’t IIRC qualify. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-1980s-1990s-cartoon-shows-that-were-not-just-30-minute-commercials/389730.md?page=5)