Welcome back to my series of posts related to 1980's cartoons. We're moving along the years taking a look each week at the entire decade of weekday afternoon and Saturday morning cartoons. Today, we're heading into 1982.
Finally living in the USA, from years of my parents being overseas, my young eyes were gifted with the era of broadcast television. What I saw were a ton of cartoons that not only shaped my young mind, but fueled hours of imaginative playtime.
Air Date: September - December 1982
Seasons: One
Episodes: Thirteen
DVD Release: No
In retrospect, it's kind of creepy that Hanna-Barbera would create a cartoon based on a dead Gary Coleman. At the time of the show, he would have been fourteen years old, and while he portrayed a much younger looking version, it remained that he was still a kid. Even now, the premise of this series doesn't sit well with me.
While I wouldn't personally check this one out if it were available on DVD, cartoon aficionados may be saddened to hear that it is not. Considering Hanna-Barbera's push for manufacturing DVD's on demand, it's a little surprising to see that this title is not among them.
Air Date: September - December 1982
Seasons: One
Episodes: Thirteen
DVD Release: Yes
What do you get when you take one of the most popular shows of all time, and transition it from an island to a planet? Why, Gilligan's Planet of course. What made this show such a great one was, with exception of Ginger Grant, the entire original cast returned to voice their same characters. Since Tina Lewis refused to participate in anything Gilligan related since the original series ended, Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann, voiced both her and Ginger for the cartoon.
The series was designed as a continuation to the original live action television show, whereas the Professor builds a rocket ship to get the castaways off the island, only to launch them into space, marooning them on a planet. The spirit of the original show is there, and this is only helped all the more by the above noted reoccurring cast.
Gilligan's Plant is currently available on DVD as the complete series.
Title: The Incredible Hulk
Air Date: September 1982 - October 1983
Seasons: One
Episodes: Thirteen
DVD Release: Not in the USA
When the live action series of The Incredible Hulk ended in May of 1982, kids didn't have to wait long to get their fix of the muscle bound green beast. He would come back in the fall as power packed animated series, though one that only lasted a mere season.
Say what you will at Marvel's earlier attempts at movies, and even some characters as shown in their live action television shows, looking at you, Thor, they did cartoons right. Kids had no complaints about The Incredible Hulk, or the Spider-Man based shows from the prior year. This was good stuff!
For unknown reasons, this series has only seen a very limited release in the UK. Why USA fans haven't gotten the show is baffling. I mean, come on, it was an American property, and we've come and gone through the height of Marvel movies. What happened here?
Title: The Little Rascals
Air Date: September 1982 - December 1983
Seasons: One
Episodes: Twenty-Two
DVD Release: No
The Little Rascals has never been something that interested me. However, nobody at Hanna-Barbera was interested in consulting with me when they released the series. While the show was mildly successful, well, as successful as a kids cartoon could be back in the day, it was soon mired with trouble.
In 1984, several stars of the original Our Gang black and white shorts sued the studio for using their likenesses without permission. While Hanna-Barbera had followed the appropriate steps to license the concept of the series from King World, this agreement did not include the likenesses of any of the actors. The case was ultiamtely settled out of court.
While no details were given, in 2016, Warner announced that the series would not be released on DVD due to matters out of their control. It is most likely a result of the continued lack of rights to the likenesses. It could also be that part of the settlement required that the show never be released again, in syndication or home video release, but who know for sure.
Air Date: September 1982 - September 1983
Seasons: One
Episodes: Twenty-Five
DVD Release: No
When I saw this one, I had to honestly say, "Huh?" I had never heard of the series.
It appears to be a show about a husband and wife duo, who as a band with their friend Clyde (the bassist) and dog Woofer (the drummer), trek across the world to perform. An interesting aspect is that each episode contained a unique song, written and performed specifically for the show. Think Jem And The Holograms, only intended to be a comedy.
I admit, it sounds interesting. Which is why it's kind of disappointing that it's not on DVD. I would check this one out if it was available.
Air Date: September 1982 - September 1983
Seasons: One
Episodes: Twenty-Seven
DVD Release: No
It's really awesome how cartoons back in the day could get the original actors from the live action series to return to play animated iterations. I mean, come on. Robin Williams in a syndicated cartoon? That's just awesome.
Essentially, take everything you love about The Fonz cartoon, add Laverne & Shirley in the army, and sprinkle in some Mork & Mindy, all intertwined in short segments. I mean, what's not to love?
I don't recall ever catching this one as a kid, and I'm a little bummed out that it's not on DVD. Thankfully, one can get the Fonz and Laverne & Shirley shows on home video. Hopefully Mork & Mindy will make their way to DVD in the near future.
Air Date: September 1982 - November 1983
Seasons: Two
Episodes: Forty-Four
DVD Release: Yes
As someone who was playing Pac-Man on the ColecoVision, I was excited for the opportunity to watch a cartoon based on the yellow Pac-Family in the early 80's. It has long since been one of my favorite cartoons, and I jumped at the opportunity to grab both season one and two when they were released on DVD.
One of the best aspects about the show was that it created an all new villain, Mezmaron, who was the main protagonist in charge of the five ghosts, Blinky, Inky, Pinky, Clyde, and Sue. The series also added a layer of depth to the main characters, Pac-Man, Mrs. Pac-Man and Pac-Baby, something which hadn't been done for characters based on video games until then.
Air Date: September 1982 - September 1983
Seasons: Unknown
Episodes: Unknown
DVD Release: No
Take all the episodes for Pac-Man, Little Rascals, and Richie Rich, which are already in syndication, and wrap them all in a neat ninety minute Saturday morning package, and there you have it. For the 1983 to 1984 season, the block would drop Pac-Man, becoming just The Little Rascals / Richie Rich Show. To my knowledge, there were no new episodes of any of these series created specifically for this compilation. They were all comprised of re-runs.
Continuing with the issues as noted above for Little Rascals, this show has not been released on DVD. However, all of Pac-Man has, so too has some of Richie Rich.
Air Date: September - December 1982
Seasons: One
Episodes: Thirteen
DVD Release: No
Another cartoon that I somehow missed growing up. Despite its goofy title card, which would imply it was based on a group of goofy pandas, presumably living in a zoo, the nature of this show was for more serious. It was about a pyramid that shattered into numerous pieces, which an evil alien is attempting to claim. The pandas, along with two humans, are racing against the alien to stop it.
In addition to this, the pandas have been irradiated from the pyramid shards, giving them the ability to form into Poppapanda, a being with supernatural powers. Wow, what a mind f&#*. I equate this one to the depths of Voltron.
This show is not available on DVD, but if it were, I may have to check this one out. Sounds like a wild ride.
Air Date: September 1982 - November 1984
Seasons: Two
Episodes: Twenty-One
DVD Release: No
Originally starting as four shorts, which aired from 1978 - 1981, the annual re-runs became so popular that it led to the syndication of its own show. Though the show launched as The Puppy's New Adventures, by season two, the title was changed to, The Puppy's Further Adventures. After its initial airing, the title was once again changed for the 1984 re-runs to The Puppy's Great Adventures.
To date, the series has not been released on DVD, and it appears to be a lost 80's cartoon treasure, as not many people seem to remember it.
Air Date: September 1982 - December 1982
Seasons: One
Episodes: Thirteen
DVD Release: No
Hanna-Barbera and Ruby Spears came together to create the sixty minute show, which featured segments of The Sooby-Doo & Scrappy-Doo how (as noted above), Scrappy & Yabba-Doo, and The Puppy's New Adventures.
There's not much more to say on this one that I haven't said already above for the two main shows which were intertwined into this package series. Suffice to reiterate that it's not available on DVD.
Air Date: September 1982 - November 1984
Seasons: Two
Episodes: Twenty-Two
DVD Release: Yes
One of my favorites as a kid, Shirt Tales brought with it a colorful cast of characters, each with their own personalities and catch phrases. Think Rescue Rangers, before that was a thing.
Even as I type this, that catchy theme songs is clanging around in my head. Admittedly, I favor the first season of this show to the second, when they introduced Kimmy. That little kangaroo was just annoying, even to my younger self. Still, that didn't stop me from enjoying the show overall.
Thankfully this one has been released in its entirety on DVD, and it's incredibly cheap too!
But, that wraps up our look at cartoons of 1982. Tune in next time as we dive into 1983. Many nostalgic classics were born that year, and I'm sure many of you know what they are.
This series of posts encompasses the following:
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
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Even if I didn't watch all of these, I'd heard of them...except for Meatballs & Spaghetti! Looks like a bland Archie/Joise knockoff.
ReplyDeleteHulk and Pac-Man would be my top ones that I watched Saturdays followed closely by Pandamonium.
Pac-Man was something I watched whenever I was around to catch it.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I saw on this list was the Scooby/Scrappy show. The Gary Coleman show seems a bit odd.
ReplyDeleteThat's not a bad one to have seen though. I love me some Scooby-Doo cartoons.
DeleteThat Gary Coleman show is morbid to the very definition of the word.
What'chu talkin about Willis?
DeleteAin't talkin' 'bout love. That's for sure.
Delete