# Favorite Cartoon Theme Song/Music **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 3, 2001, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013 "2001-02-03T15:44:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/1 "2001-02-03T15:44:15Z")
I’m expanding on this thread [Favorite Anime Theme Song](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=57825). How do I start the thread. I dunno. There doesn’t seem to be all that many good cartoons on air Saturday mornings anymore. I watch a few like “Batman Beyond” and “X-Men Evolution” but that’s it. Occasionally I catch “Men in Black” when I’m home, but the days seem to be innudated with the Pokemons and Digimons that must be wearing on the psyche of pop-culture. But none of those have any memorable music. Not during the opening theme, or in the show itself. If you were to play the background music to many of these shows, it would be as evocative as the music you hear in elevators. Hell, even for all of their shortcomings, Hanna-Barbera has managed to have memoriable music in about 1/3 of their shows over this previous half-century. Aside: HB has produced about…what?..50 million cartoons over the years – many just ebing recyclings of past toons of theirs. Exactly what fundimental difference is there among “The Flintstones”, “The Jetsons”, “Roman Holidays”, and “Wait 'til Your Father Gets Home”? Actually sadly enough, I see a resemblance between “Father Gets Home” and “King of the Hill” Anyway… Anyway I’m guessing the last good cartoon theme was the brooding theme to “Gargoyles.” If you were to just play the music, I could recognise that the show was in fact Gargoyles, and I could make a good guess as to what was happening and where. Or also the Simpsons, since nomatter where the theme is played it will be recognized by anyone, even if they don’t own a TV or came in off of Mars, much like the Gilligan’s Island theme. OK the floor is now open. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/2 "2001-02-03T17:03:58Z")
What about the _Animaniacs_ theme? Or ANY of the 90’s WB theme songs (_Tiny Toons, Pinky and the Brain_) Easy to recognize, and sing along-able (OK, OK that’s probably not a real word) to boot! ---
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/3 "2001-02-03T17:17:19Z")
_ **Sing-song-able** _? What’s wrong with simply _singable_\*? Why are we inventing words that don’t need to be invented. I had thought about **Animaniacs** (A!), and the likes. I like the **A!** theme song better than the others, since it was more…frantic, I guess. The others I’m kind of tepid to. But had I went down that train of thought, I’d have to begin comparing the WB toons of the '90s to the Disney competition ( **Goof Troop, Darkwing Duck** , etc.), and I didn’t want to get caught down that path of nostalgia. I also like the opening theme music to **Gunsmith Cats** and the background music to **Gundam Wing** and **Outlaw Star** (it being Toonami that introduced me to each, I haven’t seen the openings. Anime purists…I know! Blasphamy. But I’m cheap.). ---
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/4 "2001-02-03T17:18:30Z")
_ **Sing-song-able** _? What’s wrong with simply _singable_? Why are we inventing words that don’t need to be invented. I had thought about **Animaniacs** (A!), and the likes. I like the **A!** theme song better than the others, since it was more…frantic, I guess. The others I’m kind of tepid to. But had I went down that train of thought, I’d have to begin comparing the WB toons of the '90s to the Disney competition ( **Goof Troop, Darkwing Duck** , etc.), and I didn’t want to get caught down that path of nostalgia. I also like the opening theme music to **Gunsmith Cats** and the background music to **Gundam Wing** and **Outlaw Star** (it being Toonami that introduced me to each, I haven’t seen the openings. Anime purists…I know! Blasphamy. But I’m cheap.). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/5 "2001-02-03T17:36:42Z")
The Road Runner/Coyote song. Does anyone know the complete lyrics? ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/6 "2001-02-03T18:42:38Z")
If you’re on a highway and Road Runner goes beep-beep! Just step aside, or you might end up in heap! Road Runner, Road Runner runs on the road all day. Even the Coyote can’t make him change his ways. Road Runner, that Coyote’s after you! Road Runner, if he catches you, you’re through! Road Runner, that Coyote’s after you! Road Runner, if he catches you, you’re through! That Coyote is really a crazy clown! When will he learn that he never can slow him down? Poor little Road Runner never bothers anyone. Just running down the road is his idea of having fun! ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/7 "2001-02-03T19:19:18Z")
It may not have any words, but **Merry-Go-Round Broke Down** \* will probably get half the people at these boards running to a television set faster than just about anything else. When you consider all of the call-backs and take offs, **The Simpsons** does a d@mn fine job. **Speed Racer** was pretty forgettable, but one early Anime that had a solid (as in Gilligan’s Island solid) theme song was **Kimba The White Lion** , a Japanese import from the early seventies. Although technically not animation, one show whose theme song made it into top radio airplay was **Fireball XL-5** : “I wish I was a spaceman, the fastest guy alive. I’d zoom across the universe, in Fireball XL-5…” Anyone remember the singer? I think it may have been **Johnny Rivers**. - The Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies theme for the Warner Brothers cartoons. ---
**Author:** ![vertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3ec8ea/32.png) [@vertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vertigo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/8 "2001-02-03T19:51:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > **Speed Racer** was pretty forgettable,… What’rya nuts?!? That was _the_ cartoon theme song. I still sing it to this day, on occasion. of course, that might explain all the stares… Still, it was a piece of pop-culture perfection in my book (even if it was pretty goofy ;)) ---
**Author:** ![Rally\_Vincent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c37758/32.png) [@Rally\_Vincent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rally_Vincent)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/9 "2001-02-03T20:01:01Z")
There’s a fun CD out called Saturday Morning Music that has current bands covering those great cartoon songs and other Saturday morning shows… You can hear Liz Phair singing the theme to the Banana Spits show or the Ramones singing “Spiderman.” ---
**Author:** ![diamud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@diamud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diamud)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/10 "2001-02-03T20:17:24Z")
Although it was over twenty years ago, I can still remember most of the lines to “Super Chicken” from memory, so forgive any discrepancies from reality) “When you find youself in danger, When you’re threatened by a stranger, When it looks like you will take alickin’ There is someone waiting Who will hurry up and rescue you, just call…for Super Chicken! And if you’re afraid you’ll have to overlook it, Because you knew the job was dangerous when you took it He will drink his Super Sauce And throw the bad guys for a loss And he will bring them in alive and kickin’ There is one thing you should learn When there is no one else to turn to Call for Super Chicken!” Apologies if I am posting copyrighted material, although I feel pretty confident that if there was a copyright, it has long since expired. Also, as it is from memory, I am sure I don’t have the exact wording correct. Now if that is not memorable, I don’t know what is. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/11 "2001-02-03T21:16:23Z")
weirddave, you da man! Thanks for the lyrics. You gotta love the surf guitar in that song. ---
**Author:** ![Elkman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Elkman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elkman)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/12 "2001-02-03T21:37:58Z")
My 2 faves date back to the 70s: 1. Hong Kong Phooey 2. Batfink I also love the themes for Daria and Three Friends and Jerry. ---
**Author:** ![JosephFinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JosephFinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JosephFinn)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/13 "2001-02-03T23:05:31Z")
My personal favorites: the original Spider-Man theme Hong Kong Phoey Batman/Superman Adventures Batman Beyond Gummi Bears Darkwing Duck ---
**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/14 "2001-02-03T23:39:01Z")
Even though this GREAT show was only on for a short time, I would be able to sing along to the theme song if I heard it. FREAKAZOID! ---
**Author:** ![Tsugumo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4da419/32.png) [@Tsugumo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tsugumo)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/15 "2001-02-04T01:45:13Z")
Cartoons today suck (well, except the occasional brilliance like Gargoyles or Batman). The 80s were the best. [http://tsugumo.cjb.net/junk/FatAlbert.wav](http://tsugumo.cjb.net/junk/FatAlbert.wav) Heh…Everyone loves this one. Hey hey hey!! [http://tsugumo.cjb.net/junk/He-Man.wav](http://tsugumo.cjb.net/junk/He-Man.wav) Good old He-Man. Horribly crappy to watch these days, but it was so cool when I was a kid. [http://tsugumo.cjb.net/junk/Visionaries.wav](http://tsugumo.cjb.net/junk/Visionaries.wav) No one will probably remember the Visionaries (it was only like 13 episodes), but it was way ahead of it’s time…It had serious (as far as cartoons go) plots/characters, fighting, knights that could turn into animals, magical beasts and powers that could be summoned, and the voice of Cravex was the same guy that did Starscream (Chris Latta I think). I don’t have a Transformers intro handy, but if I did I’d link that too, heh. - Tsugumo ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/16 "2001-02-04T03:17:37Z")
[http://www.gigantor.org](http://www.gigantor.org) 'nuff said! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/17 "2001-02-04T04:14:43Z")
When channel surfing, I always pause long enough to listen to the **CatDog** theme song. It is rather catchy. ---
**Author:** ![Pyrrho12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b2d939/32.png) [@Pyrrho12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyrrho12)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/18 "2001-02-04T06:46:15Z")
Gotta agree with the **Freakazoid** theme song… very singalongable. And **Earthworm Jim** too. And let’s not forget the golden oldies, like **Hercules** or **Spider Man**. All songs that could get trapped in my head for weeks at a time. I love the instrumental music from **Futurama**. It’s so appropriate, somehow… ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/19 "2001-02-05T07:22:27Z")
Not only the American theme of _Speed Racer_ rocks, Speed Racer was the original Neo!! Notice the freeze-frame camera angle shift at the end of the opening credits, foreshadowing _The Matrix_. I also liked Casper, Road Runner, and The Merry-Go-Round. ---
**Author:** ![sputnik7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@sputnik7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sputnik7)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013/20 "2001-02-05T12:28:03Z")
## Television Themes The Flintstones The Simpsons Dragon Ball Z Gundam Wing Neon Genesis Evangelion Tenchi Muyo Trigun ## Anime Movie Blue Submarine No. 6 Ghost In The Machine [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cartoon-theme-song-music/53013.md?page=2)