# Greatest Cartoon Theme Songs Of All Time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 29, 2007, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381 "2007-08-29T16:59:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/61 "2007-08-30T03:11:20Z")
[QUOTE=Ponder Stibbons] Good old [Duck Dodgers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzAeHQudDiY). I’m not sure what the Italian business is about, but it’s only a second at the beginning and end. And after re-listening to everything, I changed my mind. [Cowboy Bebop](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6zDfxZ4NcE) is #1. [/QUOTE] Now wait just a minute. Isn’t that Tom Jones singing the Duck Dodgers theme? ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/62 "2007-08-30T03:26:00Z")
[QUOTE=cosmosdan] Now wait just a minute. Isn’t that Tom Jones singing the Duck Dodgers theme? [/QUOTE] Certainly is. Which makes it the winner. Oh…oh…I see you over there…doing the potty-dance…wanting to shout out some 13-episode minor cool-points cartoon from the sixties…keep it inside, buster…keep it inside… ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/63 "2007-08-30T03:27:31Z")
Has anyone mentioned [Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--cUH1Yp_iQ) yet? Minimalist Jazz, and my first high-hat ride. Great cartoon too… it wasn’t until I was a few years older (around ten or eleven, not my thirties!) that I realized that all those characters were real people. But then again, Edward G. Robinson will always be The Frog to me 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gregor\_Samsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Gregor\_Samsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregor_Samsa)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/64 "2007-08-30T04:55:13Z")
I love the theme songs from [The New Adventures of Pinocchio](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRJltaSY2WE&mode=related&search=) and [Tales of the Wizard of Oz](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuJjxiW23aY). These were popular cartoons in Canada in the 1960s. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/65 "2007-08-30T05:00:48Z")
What, no love for [The Power Puff Girls](http://youtube.com/watch?v=IeB0NVTVz8o)? ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/66 "2007-08-30T05:33:31Z")
[QUOTE=pizzabrat] You either missed mr. jp’s post or you don’t have any taste. [/QUOTE] I do believe you’ve been outvoted on that one. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/67 "2007-08-30T06:26:30Z")
[QUOTE=Asimovian] I do believe you’ve been outvoted on that one. [/QUOTE] Actually, I have official backing. [Cracked.com theme list](http://www.cracked.com/index.php?name=News&sid=1970) Also, they describe the beauty of it better than I could: "Just like the idea for the series as a whole, there’s no logical rationale why the theme for this show should work. Clumsy lyrics (“When the evil Shredder attacks/The turtle boys don’t cut him no slack”), overblown electronic rock, and random, unbelievably square shout-outs from the Turtles themselves, (“We’re really hip!” one turtle reassures the audience) don’t exactly seem like the ingredients for an engrossing, addictively catchy theme. But damn it all if the whole thing doesn’t work somehow, and has permanently ingrained itself into the American pop culture subconscious possibly deeper than any other song on this list. Experiment: Go into any college bar across the country and drop the opening lyrics to this song. We guarantee the whole crowd will be singing along in Pavlovian unison by the end of the first verse. " ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/68 "2007-08-30T06:29:45Z")
[Gummi Bears](http://youtube.com/watch?v=loUNoy0Qub0) [Thundercats](http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y-sOaUAgbB4) [G.I. Joe](http://youtube.com/watch?v=W6ueHzMwxt0) [M.A.S.K.](http://youtube.com/watch?v=Hh11NDMHVl0) And another of the greatest, simply by being a little _too_ memorable, [The Smurfs](http://youtube.com/watch?v=SEwzYVbXfAk). ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/69 "2007-08-30T07:01:49Z")
Not mentioned yet: Invader Zim Futurama Aqua Teen Hunger Force ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/70 "2007-08-30T07:54:03Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] No love for Star Blazers? :eek: I felt sure that had to be here somewhere. [/QUOTE] That’s what I was going to nominate. Spend time in your average karaoke bar around here and it won’t be too long before someone starts singing it (well, _Utchu-senkan Yamato_, but who’s counting?). ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/71 "2007-08-30T08:20:26Z")
Well, I came into nominate George of the Jungle and Pinky and the Brain, but thye’ve already been mentioned. How about Yogi Bear? Yogi Bear is smarter than the average bear Yogi Bear is always in the ranger’s hair… Also, the themes from the Simpsons and South Park are classics. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/72 "2007-08-30T10:44:15Z")
My favorite remains the theme from Underdog - although I don’t know why. ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/73 "2007-08-30T15:48:25Z")
I still have these ones running through my head…they must be great if they are still rattling around my brain after 35 years (last time I saw them). [Tales of the Wizard of Oz](http://www.roadode.com/margaret/ozcartoon100.wmv) [New Adventures of Pinocchio](http://www2.wi.net/~rkurer/toontracker/pinocchi.html). God [this](http://www.toonarific.com/show.php?show_id=2576) was bad. I remember thinking that it was bad even at 5, but didn’t have the willpower to turn off the [del]Goddess of Entertainment[/del] TV [edit] Gahhh…Gregor Samsa listed these above. I wish I had access to youtube… ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/74 "2007-08-30T18:39:59Z")
I’ve always liked the theme to _The Critic_. It’s a shame that show doesn’t air anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/75 "2007-08-30T19:10:24Z")
[QUOTE=Yumblie] I’ve always liked the theme to _The Critic_. It’s a shame that show doesn’t air anymore. [/QUOTE] Oooh, good call. [hijack] And a year later, I’m still wondering about the Bowling Ball Muffins in your location. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Ferd\_Burfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@Ferd\_Burfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferd_Burfel)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/76 "2007-08-30T19:48:18Z")
[QUOTE=cochrane] How about Yogi Bear? Yogi Bear is smarter than the average bear Yogi Bear is always in the ranger’s hair… [/QUOTE] “_At a picnic table you will find him there. Scarfing down more goodies than the average bear_.” I’m ashamed to admit that I can recite that from memory. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/77 "2007-08-30T20:03:10Z")
I can’t hear “Pop Goes The Weasel” without the theme to [“I Am Weasel”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApQxeqBXBdw) running through my head. You don’t need pants for the victory dance Cuz baboon’s better than weasel I.R. Baboon, big star of cartoon… “I.M. Weasel!” ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/78 "2007-08-30T21:58:51Z")
The original “Rocky the Flying Squirrel” theme [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHk4VXMlE8Y](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHk4VXMlE8Y) Followed by the themes to Fractured Fairy Tales (truncated here) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN9uhBY36YA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN9uhBY36YA) and Peabody’s Improbable History [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x62A4OWCs68&mode=related&search=](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x62A4OWCs68&mode=related&search=) and George of the Jungle. ---
**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:** [August 31, 2007, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/79 "2007-08-31T02:46:13Z")
•_[Sonic the Hedgehog](http://youtube.com/watch?v=45wlgpxdg7k&mode=related&search=)_ (ABC Saturday morning version. You know, the one that didn’t suck.) •_[The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest](http://youtube.com/watch?v=IKFiYohY1lg)_ (1996)—(I keep meaning to ask which episode they took the footage of Jessie flipping her hair back over her head, at about 40 seconds in. To quote 13 year old me: Yow.) •_[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex](http://youtube.com/watch?v=GIL3PYiaVO8&mode=related&search=)_ (I am still of the opinion that this song needs to be included on the collection of music attached to the next deep-space probe.) •\*[Cybersix\*](http://youtube.com/watch?v=_3iOOFDUFIE). (Why was this series canceled? Because the universe hates us…oh, fine, _and_ low ratings. But mostly because the universe hates us.) ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381/80 "2007-08-31T03:17:51Z")
> [@](#): > > …and always there in the nick (nick) of time! “Here I come, to save the day!”. And he will prove that crime will never pay. So let the trumpet players play. (di-di-da-da-da!) For Mighty Mouse is here TODAY!!! Ahem. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-cartoon-theme-songs-of-all-time/417381.md?page=5)