It’s been a week since I finished my A-Z of Cartoon Characters as part of my participation in the annual A-Z blogging challenge. As part of the challenge, I’m supposed to write a post reflecting on the whole experience, and never one to overlook my responsibilities, I am doing just that today.
So, what did I learn?
Well, I learned that some of the cartoons I watched when I was a kid were genuinely as good as I remember them being, while others were, perhaps not quite so good.
I enjoyed revisiting them all, but it was definitely a mixed bag in terms of quality. The most disappointing show in terms of really not being as good as I remembered was definitely The Getalong Gang. I can see why I enjoyed it as a kid, but it’s really best lost to the annals of history. If I had to pick a favourite (and I’m not sure that’s possible) then Danger Mouse might well be the one that tops the list, but ask me tomorrow and it’ll no doubt be a different one.
There were, of course, a lot classic cartoons that didn’t make the it into my A-Z and perhaps some of those deserve a brief acknowledgement now, as well as my reasons for overlooking them:
Battle of the Planets/ G-Force Guardians of Space
I really wanted to include this one, but the problem was, although Battle of the Planets was essentially the same show as G-Force Guardians of Space, it also wasn’t. They were both English-language adaptations of a Japanese cartoon called Science Ninja Team Gatchaman. So the animation was the same but the names of the characters, their voices and quite a lot of the plot was different. And I was a small child when I watched this show. I’m pretty sure the version I watched as a kid was G-Force Guardians of Space, but truthfully it was all just noise and moving pictures at the time so I might have watched both versions. I couldn’t tell you much about either without re-watching them, and with there being two identical-looking but essentially different cartoons doing the rounds on YouTube, I decided to leave well-enough alone.
Brave Starr
Brave Starr was on at the same time as something I wanted to watch on a different channel, so I never really watched it much. I liked it when I did watch it, but I’d be hard-pushed to tell you much about it. Other than the fact that Brave Starr’s horse could walk and talk, which was pretty cool.
Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors
Literally never heard of this one until it started coming up in a lot of the searches I was doing for other cartoons of the era. Seems it was really popular and looks like one I would really have enjoyed. Not quite sure how I missed it.
The Mysterious Cities of Gold
I remember this was really popular, but like with Brave Starr, I’m sure I was watching something on a different channel when this was on. I think I would have liked it but fate would not allow our paths to cross, so it remains unwatched by me.
Droids/ Ewoks
That there were two Star Wars spin-off cartoons in the 80s and I didn’t see fit to include either of them, does seem an oversight. Because Star Wars is my favourite thing of all. But, while I didn’t hate these shows, neither captured my imagination as much as the 26 shows I did write about. Honestly, at the time, I preferred the Getalong Gang to either of these. I was wrong to feel that way obviously, but I was just a child. That neither the droids nor the Ewoks were ever my favourite thing about the movies possibly had something to do with my indifference. Had there been a Darth Vader cartoon, I’d have been an avid viewer, I’m sure.
Voltron
I had a Voltron toy. I really liked it. But I never saw the cartoon. Was it even on in the UK? My toy came via my cousins from the US, so there’s every possibility that I genuinely never had the opportunity to watch this when I was a kid. There’s a reboot on Netflix at the moment though and I am tempted to give it a go. Because I did like that toy.
I’m certain that there are many more cartoons of my childhood I’ve forgotten – maybe some people can berate me in the comments below.
Who knows, with a bit of research I might find enough for another 26 cartoon-themed posts for next year’s A-Z challenge…
I used to love Dangermouse! The Mysterious Cities of Gold is a show I’ve only discovered recently but I think it’s pretty good.
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Danger Mouse was awesome! I definitely think I need to check out Mysterious Cities of Gold at some point too 🙂
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I’m so happy Jayce and Cities of Gold got a nod, even if it was to say you didn’t watch them (*does a tiny clappy-dance*). Very enjoyable reminiscing along with you – thanks for the throwbacks 🙂
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Thanks for playing along 🙂
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When I was in the UK in the late 70s for a visit, all I remember doing was watching endless episodes of Top Cat! I do not think that even broadcast In North America. I had no idea that so many cartoons even existed – of course, my parents did not subscribe to cable which is where they all lived. I watched a lot of Mighty Mouse (and other Terrytoons), Tom and Jerry, old Popeye (Fleischer Bros), Huckeberry Hound, Snaggle Puss (recently made into a play, as he was definitely a washed-up gay actor stereotype), Pixie and Dixie (I hate meeces to pieces!), Yogi Bear and Boo boo. And overshadowing it all: The Bugs Bunny Road Runner Hour. These HIGHLY informed my cartooning and sense of humour! Fascinating topic, James, and really enjoyed your essays.
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Glad you enjoyed them – and those are some great cartoons that you’ve listed. Yogi Bear’s First Christmas was once of my favourite Christmas cartoons as a kid- it had Huckleberry Hound and Snaggle Puss in it too!
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The BBC, in early TV days, would not have broadcast cartoons, and there was only one channel!
That is, if we had a TV in the first place, which we didn’t!
Eee, it were a hard life.
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It were indeed. But you had Muffin the Mule right?
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Yes, but we don’t talk about that!
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I found your blog late in the challenge, but I still loved reading through all of your posts, though I wasn’t familiar with quite a few of the cartoons! Arthur and Mona the Vampire are the ones that spring to mind straight away for me. We didn’t have Sky or anything back then though, so I was stuck with 5 channels growing up!
Lauren Mayhew Author – A-Z Reflections
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You’re definitely younger than me, but my little sister watched Arthur and was a big fan, so much so that even on her 21st birthday she had an Arthur cake!
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That’s amazing! I might steal that idea for my 26th later this year 😂
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You must – it was a brilliant cake!
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Thank you for posting this Reflection and for participating in the Challenge of 2018. You used a unique idea that I don’t recall seeing anyone ever do before. My childhood cartoon memories go way back. They don’t make cartoons like they used to.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
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