Nobody Under 30 Will Be Able to Identify These Classic Cartoon Characters
- by Austin Baker
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Kids these days. Currently, children's programming is about as hit and miss as you can get. Because there are so many different TV networks and streaming services nowadays, everybody and their brother seems like they are getting in on the children's market in television. While parents may rejoice in the fact that there is an endless amount of entertainment options for their kids to watch, they are at the same time mortified by just how terrible some of these options are! For every Gravity Falls or Adventure Time, there's a The Wiggles or a Uncle Grandpa. What ever happened to the good 'ol days of animation, when we got to watch shows like Looney Tunes and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Rugrats?
A lot of the time, we grew up watching the same types of shows our parents and grandparents watched. Though this is still the case for the most part, the sheer number of options that exist today mean that some of our kids won't ever get to enjoy the shows that we loved so much as a child. Some argue that the golden age of animation was the '50s or '60s, but it could also be argued that it happened in the '80s. The '90s were full of great shows, but nothing can hold a candle to the classics. Do you know your retro animation? Nobody under 30 will be able to identify these classic cartoon characters!
What was the name of this legendary villain?
We're gonna start things off with an entry that even you Millenials and Gen Z-ers might get! This villain was one of the many icons of the '80s. Though he has been pretty quiet in recent years, everybody knows his purple and yellow color scheme and his even more iconic voice! This villain was the star of the Filmation cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe; he was always giving the titular hero trouble by trying to capture Castle Greyskull.
What was the name of this '80s superhero?
Next to He-Man, Transformers, G.I. Joe, and the Ninja Turtles, the Thundercats were the kings of Saturday morning as well as the toy market! The story of a boy king and his band of misfit followers (the last of their race) as they tried to survive on a distant planet and were tormented by the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra was a massive hit during the show's run in the mid to late 1980s. This character was the leader of the group- What was his name?
This rootin' tootin' Looney Tunes antagonist was called-
Oh, the days of Looney Tunes...when you could show a cartoon character getting shot in the face with a shotgun and parents laughed along with their children instead of covering their eyes in horror! This character was like a much more insane Elmer Fudd, and often acted as the foil to Bugs Bunny; he was always trying to get that "dern Rabbit" with his pistols, which he would fire into the air whenever he was excited. What was this bushy-faced character's name?
What was the name of this superhero who was also Spider-Man's roomate?
This character first appeared in the '80s series Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. She was just a young girl who was teased mercilessly growing up, until she developed special powers that allowed her to emit microwave radiation out of her hands and fly through the air. In this particular show, she was also said to be a former member of the X-Men and also participated in a love triangle involving Peter Parker and Bobby Drake (aka Iceman). What was her name?
This secondary G.I. Joe baddie was named-
GO JOE! Although the G.I. Joe line can be credited as the first real "action figure" for boys, the toy line REALLY blew up in the '80s, once people were once more desensitized to warefare after the horrors of Vietnam. The cartoon that helped revitalize the franchise was pure '80s bliss; it had cool weapons, colorful characters, and (of course) lots of villains! This guy was a super rich weapons dealer that worked alongside COBRA and was romantically involved with the Baroness.
Who was this cartoon bombshell that was popular in the '40s and '50s?
This classic cartoon character was created specifically as a caricature of the Flapper culture of the 1920s. She first debuted in the '30s before skyrocketing to popularity in the '40s and '50s, where she became ingrained into popular culture and still remains to this day. Any time a company wants to pull off the "retro" vibe, they bring out this character for reference. However, she may have been designed a little TOO well, as censors of the time forced the creator to tone down her sensuality.
Who was this trouble-making little bird?
Anybody who has every heard of this character is already hearing his annoying laugh in their head! What happens when you cross Daffy Duck with Bugs Bunny and throw in a little bit of Porky Pig? You get this guy! Though he was not a part of the Looney Tunes, he certainly gave them a run for their money when it came to the bizarre and wacky antics of the classic cartoons. This character hasn't gone away quite yet- He actually just got a live action film last year!
Who was this main villain in Popeye?
What started out as a few cartoon serials to promote the U.S. Navy during World War II quickly became a nation-wide phenomenon. Today, everybody knows who Popeye the Sailor is, and knows all about his spinach-eating ways. In just about every single version of the show since the '40s, this villain has been the main antagonist of the cartoon. He is much stronger than our hero, but that's nothing a little can of spinach can't fix! Who is this villain?
Who was Fred Flinstone's best friend?
Believe it or not, the Flintstones were actually intended to be a cartoon for adults! It's hard to believe, as modern-day "adult" cartoons consist of lots of vulgar jokes and grown-up situations. But back in the day all we had was this animated knock-off of The Honeymooners set in prehistoric times! Fred Flintstone never seemed to do anything without his neighbor and best friend (though he pretends to hate him at times). What is the name of Fred's best buddy?
Name this Scooby-Doo villain:
Unless you live under a rock, you are familiar with Scooby-Doo. The cartoon originally came out in the late '60s, but has had some amazing staying power over the decades; we've gotten almost a dozen different TV series, animated straight-to-DVD movies, and even a few live-action films! This particular monster of the week was one of the original show's most memorable- He was allegedly the ghost of a old ship captain who was lost at sea. Of course, in the end it was revealed to just be a guy in a mask!
Who was this superhero-turned-comedian?
In the 1990s, Cartoon Network started replaying old Hanna-Barbera TV shows for kids of the Millenial generation. However, some of the lesser known characters were repackaged into brand new shows (often as an Adult Swim show). This was one of those characters- In his original form he was just an intergalactic superhero that could turn invisible, fly, and shoot rays out of his arms. In the '90s he returned as a snarky talk show host who interviewed other Hanna-Barbera characters.
Who was this melancholy pooch?
When you're making a kids show, you generally want a lead character who is so off the wall and zany that they seem to have eaten an entire bowl of raw sugar before going on camera. This was absolutely not the case with this classic cartoon! Created by MGM in the '40s, this character spoke with a low, monotone voice and often had a dry sense of humor. He was also super lethargic, yet he was always able to remain one step ahead of his enemies...
The Princess of Power from the '80s was called...
During the late '80s, the height of Filmation's He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series, the company decided that it wanted to get in on the toy market for little girls. Their solution was to create this character, the long-lost cousin of Prince Adam who also had the ability to transform into a super-strong superhero. Instead of allies with robotic arms and guns, she rode a flying Unicorn into battle and was friends with a little ball of bright fur.
Who was this super-puppy?
This character existed in the '60s as one of the first non-human superheros in cartoons. A dog posing as a shoeshine boy by day, he became the mighty hero whenever his girlfriend (Polly Purebred) was in danger from one of his sinister villains. The the ability to fly and superstrength, the comedic adventures of this character always had him speaking in rhyme. The show only lasted for 5 years, but was around in syndication for over 10! Then, in 2007, a live-action movie of the show was created.
This superhero was concious about saving the Earth-
When Ted Turner decided that he wanted to make a TV show to teach children about saving the environment, this superhero was born. Created by Mother Earth herself, he could only appear when a group of five special teenagers, each with a special ring of power, got together and "let their powers combine." He would often face off against villains named for pollution, such as Verminous Skumm and Hoggish Greedly. His only weakness (of course) was exposure to pollution. Who was this hero?
This classic 'toon was inspiration for the Venture Brothers
This young hero was one of the few Hanna-Barbera characters that was supposed to be realistic. Every week he would follow his father, a scientist, on a crazy adventure ripped straight out of one of the old radio serials of the '30s. The show was not very popular, only lasting one season with a few spin-offs that also failed. Today this boy is best known as the inspiration for Adult Swim's Venture Brothers series as well as recurring memes about Vice President Pence.
This baddie was the main villain of the Voltron series:
Though it has made a resurgence in recent years, Voltron is one of those cartoons that often gets forgotten when talking about the '80s. It's not a surprise, as it was one of the first Japanese cartoons to get an American dub that was just as popular; the pilots of the lion-centric robot often faced off against this evil alien overlord. In the show and all of its spin-offs and reboots, this guy is show to be a ruthless warlord hellbend on conquering the galaxy.
This filthy-rich adventurer duck was named-
If you've ever watched an episode of Ducktales in your life, you probably have the theme song stuck in your head just seeing this character! This was the main character of the show who used his immense wealth to fund he and his nephew's travels around the world to find treasure. He was notoriously thrifty and perpetually grumpy, but always had a soft spot for his nephews. The hero spoke with a thick Scottish accent often used to spout stereotypical catchphrases such as "Bless me bagpipes!"
This nearly-blind retiree was always good for a hoot:
Back in the day, cartoon characters didn't have to have epic story arcs or be adventurers or even have a purpose to exist whatsoever. Instead, they simply were around to give the audience a laugh by having a different zany adventure every week. This old man had a terrible case of nearsightedness that always got him into trouble. However, by the end of the episode everything would work itself out on its own. To younger audiences, he is known to be played by Leslie Nielson in a live-action adaptation of the show.
This dumb but caring Moose was half of a comedy duo-
If you don't know who this character is, you definitely should! He was half of the main duo on his '60s cartoon, a show that put him and his partner into ridiculous, borderline unbelievable situations week to week. However, this is what made the show so charming! He also was the host of his own in-show variety show (if that makes any sense); him and his partner was always antagonized by Boris and Natasha, two mischievous Russians who wanted them eliminated at all costs.
This robot was based off of a hit Japanese anime:
This was one of the first popular Mangas/Animes to make it over here to America. Based on the hit franchise entitled "Mighty Atom," this character was a robot that was built to replace the son of the Ministry of Sciences' leader. The series takes place in a future where all humans can coexist with sentient robots. Of course, some robots start going bad, and the hero is sent out to save the world from his own brethren. Who was this superhero?
This character was the most popular of the Cosby Kids-
These characters have all but gone away since the allegations came out against Bill Cosby and his subsequent trial. However, during the height of the comedian's career, this guy was a household name! He was the leader of the "Cosby Kids," a group of cartoon characters based off of Cosby's own childhood. He was known for his gargantuan size as well as his catchphrase of "Hey, hey, hey!" His show ran for almost ten years, and he was featured in his own movie in the 2000s.
This super-powered rodent was on the air in the '40s and '50s
You thought characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been in a lot of films? The all pale in comparison to this superhero from the industry's Golden Age! This character has appeared in over 80 different short films, most of which were aired on the big screen. He was then revived in the late '70s by Ralph Bakshi (of Cool World fame) with a weekly TV show. The idea of this character is that he is basically Superman, but in rodent form.
This character was the lead singer of a pop band-
Based off of an Archie comics character of the same name, this character was a young girl who was the leader of a popular pop music band. In the band's Hanna Barbera series, they would often get caught up randomly in a plot to destroy the world or steal a diamond or anything of the like, and then have to use their skills to get out of the situation. Each episode would feature an original song by this girl's band that played during the climax.
This was a secondary (but very popular) character on the Jetsons
Next to the Flinstones and Scooby-Doo, The Jetsons was probably Hanna-Barbera's most popular franchise. However, unlike the other two, it has all but died out; this is probably because we are nowhere NEAR the future they promised us! However, the show left its mark on pop culture, as even children today can recognize the retro-futurism of the series. This character was the family's robotic maid who was ridiculously out of date, but fit in so well with the group that they kept her around.
This guy was the main rival of Speed Racer
Speed Racer is a series that needs to make a comeback. It was filled to the brim with insane concepts and colorful characters, yet it was about as fun as you can get for a retro anime! The show followed (of course) a family of racers, particularly the character known as "Speed." Speed was often rivaled on the track by this mysterious character who, though he wanted to win, was selfless and often acted as an uneasy ally to the hero.
This dog tried to kick your butt with his Kung Fu skills
A mild mannered police station janitor by day, Penrod Pooch would jump into a file cabinet and emerge as this super hero whenever crime was afoot. Of course, he wasn't very good at his job; he was still learning Kung Fu out of an instruction manual during his outings, and he never took out a single villain (unless it was an accident). He would drive around in a hot crime-fighting car that could turn into a plane or a boat at will. Who was this character?
This character was introduced in the Muppet Babies and never seen again
When the Jim Henson Company made the Muppet Babies TV show in the '80s, they needed another girl character to go along with Miss Piggy. This brought us this character, the twin sister of famous Muppet Scooter, who was portrayed as athletic and more of a "Tom Boy" than Piggy. However, once Muppet Babies ended, she completely disappeared. Though she has a cameo in the show's 2018 reboot, she has never appeared as a real-life Muppet on any of Henson's programming.
This was the first incarnation of Mickey Mouse
If you are a self-proclaimed Disney fanatic and you can't get this one right, you need to turn in your fan card! This character was the one that launched the entire Disney empire; debuting in 1928, it was the first cartoon to ever have synchronized sound as well as a full musical score. It was also the first appearance of Mickey Mouse in his modern form. However, Mickey wasn't known as Mickey in this animated short. What was his name?
This evil wizard tormented the Smurfs
This classic villain was the main antagonist of the Smurfs in their many cartoons, comics, and movies. Though his intentions were never quite clear (in some stories he wants to turn the Smurfs into gold), the wizard absolutely hated the little blue heroes and did everything in his power to destroy and capture them. He was always aided by his sinister cat, Azrael (a name that is sinister in itself!). Even though he was evil, this guy was generally portrayed as a bumbling idiot.
This character turned into a pop star with the help of a robot
Believe it or not, this hit TV show was created by the same people who brought us Transformers and G.I. Joe! This character was the star of her self-titled show who was a music producer by day and a pop star by night. Alongside her band, the Holograms, this singer took the world by storm; every like the other music-centered show on this quiz, each episode would feature an original song performed by the band. The heroine transformed into pop singer with the help of her robot, Synergy.
This kitty was another one of the earliest cartoon characters
If you've every played Cuphead, you should recognize this art style; it was these types of '30s cartoons that the game was based off of! This character was one of the earliest popular animated characters, appearing in silent films in the 20s before evolving into the world of sound and color as time went by. In fact, he was THE first animated hero to rise to the level of popularity where he could draw in movie audiences all on his own!
This character was Inspector Gadget's niece
When a police officer suffers a horrible accident, the only way to save him is for scientists to turn him into the ultimate crime fighting machine. No, we aren't talking about Robocop. We're talking about Inspector Gadget, the detective that can grow a helicopter out of his head at will! Despite his great powers, Gadget is pretty...not bright. This meant that most of his cases were left up to his niece (this character) and her dog, Brain. Through their intuition, the day would be saved.
This character was based off or a hit toy of the '80s
This character was a product of a company that just wanted to sell toys. They had a hit product on their hand, and they wanted to make sure that it was selling even more units than it already was. The result was an animated series that ran for two seasons starring this character and his friend Grubby, who leave their homeland in search of magic crystals that can give them great powers. The show didn't last long, but it was very wholesome.
This villain was the sworn enemy of Dudley Do-Right
This villain originally got his start in the Dudley Do-Right shorts featured in the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. However, Do-Right eventually got his own series, and the baddie followed him! This guy literally invented a lot of overused villain tropes; he was the one people refer to when they mention the "mustache-twirling villain," and he also made famous the plot device of tying the damsel in distress to the train tracks, forcing the hero to saver her in the nick of time. What was this sly (and trailblazing) villain's name?