Saturday mornings….but not as I remember them!
I recently had the pleasure (?) of waking up at around 7am on a Saturday morning. The only reason I could think of that vaguely warranted getting up this early was having to go to work, but this wasn’t the case (at least on this particular weekend). Then a vague childhood memory slowly crept into my subconscious that some may be familiar with….waking up early on a Saturday, creeping down to the living room and watching hours of Saturday morning cartoons whilst consuming your own body-weight in cereal. Sound familiar?!
With the giddy excitement of a 6 year old I did just this, but I couldn’t help but feel disappointed when I looked at what was on offer. Everything I flicked to was pretty dull and, well, a bit mundane. And I know, I’m 20 yrs older and these shows are not made with me in mind, but i’m still a sucker for some cartoon action. I’ll happily confess to watching Transformers on Den Tots whilst in college a few years back!
The thing that bugged me most was the opening titles, which are usually the thing that grabs your attention. Remember excitedly bouncing about the place in a cloud of Rice Krispies as your favourite show started?! For example, if i said “Gummi Bears ___ ___” I’m betting most people of a certain age could fill in the blanks. The tunes were just so damn catchy. A slo-mo “Cooool” was definitely uttered the first time I saw Batman standing on top of the building with the lightning strike behind him, and that orchestral score wouldn’t be out of place in the Batman movies. For me its got to be the most dramatic opening titles of them all.
So from what i remember, these were the ones that i loved, and it wasn’t just for the music. Sure enough Ghostbusters, Gummi Bears & Animaniacs had really fun tunes but visually it’s the explosions and lasers that saved MASK, James Bond and Wheel Warriors. And not forgetting our own Noddy opening titles – they could do with explosions or some real evil genius but the song is pretty damn catchy. Enjoy!!
James Bond Jnr
MASK
C.O.P.S
The Real Ghostbusters
Animaniacs
Jayce & the Wheel Warriors
Thundercats
Batman
X-Men
Gummi Bears
Never realised this before but the lightning sound effect at 55sec in the Gummi Bears movie is pretty much the same sound effect they use in He-Man!!
So what’s your Top 10?
18 comments so far
Gorgeous Site! Found you on CSS Illustrated.
16 July 2009
9:40 pm
GReat post – wish I was 10 years old again, Saturday morning, duvet around me on the couch – best times ever!!
17 July 2009
12:21 am
Haha great post! I cant believe someone else remembers C.O.P.S! I can remember bouncing off the walls when the intro music started.
Why have cartoons become so childish!? Theres no fantasy, or big muscley warriors, or war and fighting?
Closest thing in could get these days to it are Dexters Lab and Samurai Jack on Cartoon Network and even thats gone!
Ah nostalgic memories….
17 July 2009
8:55 am
I hope no one forgets Bots Master.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLKYOSiW7U4
17 July 2009
12:39 pm
Yeh C.O.P.S was the business – had great character names too which they used to list out as part of the end titles.
Mark, I didn’t forget Bots Master, it just didn’t make the grade. I didn’t mind the show but hated the theme tune – musical snobbery aged 10….who knew??!!
17 July 2009
1:19 pm
You are now on Creamycss.com! Congrats! Cheers!
BTW:
Thundercats Rocked!
18 July 2009
3:32 am
Thanks for featuring us on CreamyCSS! Glad you like the site
20 July 2009
8:28 am
Don’t forget Tiny Toon Adventures! That show had an epic opening song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-uad6zBG1o
22 July 2009
6:43 pm
Don’t remember watching Jayce and the wheel warriors but I’m loving the theme tune!
22 July 2009
10:08 pm
Dominic, you forgot the most important one of all…Jem and the Holograms!!!
Best.
Opening titles.
Ever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmYU4CeuZQ0
27 July 2009
3:51 pm
“Jem! Truly outrageous! Truly truly truly outrageous!”
My flatmates in New Zealand used to have Jem-themed fancy dress parties. Make of that what you will.
27 July 2009
4:03 pm
i think my favorite has to be Dexter’s Laboratory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CybozuChzNw
28 July 2009
1:17 pm
My favorite Cartoon openings:
1) Jem and the Holograms
The Legend of Zelda
2) X-Men
3) Tale Spin
4) Pirates of Dark Water
5) She-Ra
6) Thundercats
7) Batman The Animated Series
9) Captain N and the Game Masters
10) Tiny Toons
28 July 2009
6:16 pm
Shera! Yes, brilliant!
29 July 2009
11:09 am
Thundercats
X-Men
Gargoyles
Beetlejuice
Batman: The animated series
Visionaries (SICK!!)
He-Man / She-ra
Duck Tales
Tail Spin
Darkwing Duck
21 August 2009
3:39 pm
I like all of your top ten, and I think Batman the Animated series is one of the most underesitmated, and best animated series ever made, including the intro.
I do think you missed out on a couple of great intros though..
Mysterious Cities of Gold
Tiny Toons
Taz
(The lesser known) Dipplodos
and of course, how could you forget.. Ulyseeeeeeeeees soaring through all of those galaxies.
18 January 2010
10:50 pm
I can believe teenage mutant ninja turtles wasn’t in there!!
also pinky and the brain and you have to admit powerpuff had an amazing one. I stood in a room and said sugar,spice and everything nice and I got the response from about 10 people….these were the ingredient chosen to create the perfect little girls.
Great post though.
19 February 2010
4:18 pm
I have to say I was torn on TMNT – in reality this list could have been 20 long!
Thanks everyone for your comments
19 February 2010
6:22 pm