Cartoons We Wish Should Come Back

Friday, Aug 28, 2020, 5:31 pm

By:Mike Litzler

1.The Ren and Stimpy Show

If you like insane off the wall grotesque surreal comedy then Ren and Stimpy is your show. Off the bat the show has an awesome guitar based theme song. Ren and Stimpy revolve around the daily adventures of ill tempered Ren a dog and Stimpy a Slow witted cat. The show offered a host of insane characters from a talking horse to a superhero who head Toast for a head. The plots of the episodes were not as important as the crazy interactions between the characters, and that what made the show great and a classic.

2.Rocko's Modern Life

When you think back to the classic age of Nicktoons Rocko's modern life should be near the top off the list. If its not then there is something wrong with you. There I said it. This show centered on Rocko a mild mannered marsupial living in a crazy mixed up world. Rocko had a wide variety or crazy characters to bounce off of. His irritable neighbor Mr. Bighead, his neurotic turtle friend Filbert and Rocko's best friend Steer Hefer Wolfe who was raised by wolves but does not know he was adopted. Rocko main premise was relatable to everyone a good person who tried to make it in a crazy nonsensical world. This was a great show and the kind folks at Nickelodeon would do the world a major favor if they brought it back.

3.Anamaniacs

Animaniacs followed the misadventures of Warner Brothers Wacko, Yacko, and Warner sister Dot. The trios were made out to be the actual namesakes of the famed production company. The show was great in itself but probably the best part of the show were the different characters that the show introduced, from the Good Pigeons to Pinky and the Brain (Who eventually got their own spin off show) The show was also remembered for teaching kids the parts of the human bodies and the name of every country on earth. Animaniacs mixed comedy and education in a fun non abrasive way.

4.Daria

This show is done in the same vein as Beavis and Butt-Head. In fact Daria is actually a spinoff of the acclaimed MTV show. Daria was an apathetic studious smartass who lived in Highlawn with Beavis and Butt-head. Daria was usually the brunt of the duos jokes. She was often referred to as Diarrhea. One day Daria and her family would pick up and leave Highlawn to go to a town called Lawndale. Original I know. At Lawndale Daria would find her Muse Jane. Jane was just as apathetic as Daria but in a more pleasant manner. Daria would have to navigate the perils of life along side her Business obsessed mother, her zany father and her Popular stuck up sister.

5.Beavis and Butt-head

Beavis and Butt-Head was the quintessential Generation X cartoon. Beavis and Butt-Head were two moronic Teenagers who inexplicably lived alone in the fictional town of Highlawn. The exhibited some simple comedy methods. Most of the jokes centered on the stupidity of the title characters and their interactions with the civilized world. The wrinkle in the show was when the duo would watch and make commentary on music videos. This was in the days when music videos were actually central to MTV's business platform.

6.X-MEN

With the popularity of the Wolverine movies and the rest of the X-men franchise it would seem like good business to bring back the animated superhero show back. The show showed the lives of the X-MEN as they fought crimes and struggled to live in a world that considered them second class citizens. The show was a superhero show on the surface, but it really crossed into social political plotlines that were reminiscent of the 1950's/1960's civil rights movement.

7.Tiny Toon Adventures

There were tiny they were tooney and they invaded our TV. in the early 90's. A tiny Toon adventure was centered on the proteges of the original Warner Brothers characters such as Bug Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig. The Students of Acme University would be taught the fine arts of gag and comedy. Babs and Buster Bunny were the tour guides of the half hour of fun and crazy adventures. Though aimed at children the show was easy for adults to enjoy with all of the political and show business parodies and references. The show answered the question what would it be like if the Warner Brothers characters had children.

8.The Adams Family

The Adams family cartoon capitalized on the success of the Adams family feature films staring Raul Julian and Angelica Houston. The cartoon is self explanatory. It follows the daily antics of the Adams clan headed by Gomez and Mortician. The real comedy centered on the ghoulish likes and interest of the family; as well as the state of shock in which the Adams neighbors experienced on a daily basis. The fact that the show was a cartoon gave the Adams a greater more surreal dimension that could just not be captured in a live action movie or show.

9.Dr. Katz Professional Therapist

One word comes to mind when you think of Dr. Katz Professional Therapist. "Squigglevision" The show had a unique animated style where the outlines of the characters would jump around. Some said that that made watching Dr. Katz a chore but I thought it brought a different vibe to the show. Dr, Katz was a licensed psychotherapist who would treat stars and comedian. The comedians would rant and rave while Dr. Katz would offer his thoughtful insight. Dr. Katz was the ultimate straight man to his patient's bizarre antics and tendencies.

10.Goof Troop

Goof Troop is a great show that bridged the generation gap to show that no matter when you grew up funny is funny. Goofy one of Disney's most beloved characters from the 50's made a return to T.V. in the 1990's. The show depicts single father Goofy moving back to his hometown with his teenage son Max. The main source of comedy stems from Goofy not alone moving back to his hometown but moving next to his school hood friend Pete. Pete is less then amused at Goofys antics, mainly because most of them are unintentionally are perpetrated against Pete.

11.Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers

Chip and Dales Rescue Rangers not only had great plots and characters. It had one of the best theme songs of any cartoon. The show revolved around Two Chipmunk brother Chip and Dale. They run a detective agency and as their theme song would suggest there's no case to big no case to small. The show was unique in the fact that it was not always a comedy. Recue rangers had some real dramatic elements that made the show a very interesting watch.

12.TaleSpin

TaleSpin is another classic Disney show of the 1990's. The show followed Baloo von Bruinwald XIII. Baloo is the captain of the Sea Duck. Baloo is a fun loving pilot for hire. He is great at his job and he constantly has to fly out of dangerous situations, such as highjack pilots who plot to steal Baloo's precious cargo. If the show does not sound fun enough Baloo has a 12 year old navigator named Kit Cloudkicker who ironically is often times more mature than the adult Baloo.

13.Darkwing Duck

If you were born in the 80's and raised in the 90's you should be familiar with the ABC Classic Darkwing Duck which ran from 1991-1995. The show followed Darkwing Duck. He was a mild manner business tycoon Duck who became a superhero by night. The show was basically Batman as a duck. The show took a comedic take on crime fighting which was lighthearted and perfect for small children. People in their mid twenties should be able to recall Darkwings "Let's get Dangerous" catchphrase.

14.Mission Hill

Mission Hill was a 1999 cartoon about brothers Andy and Kevin French living together in a downtown neighborhood known as Mission Hill. The brothers who never got along shared a loft with their two friends and their alcoholic dog. Yes I said alcoholic dog. The real comedic dynamic was the interaction between the French brothers. They were like night and day. Andy was a 24 year old slacker and wannabe cartoon artist and Kevin a pretentious 18 year old science nerd. The French boys would fight about anything. Throw in the array of hilarious supporting characters like their gay burly neighbor and his scrawny boyfriend and you have a show!

15.The Critic

The critic was one of the smartest shows on T.V. and not just for a cartoon. The series which started on ABC would move to Fox to complete its mere 3 season run. The show was about a New York film critic Jay Sherman who hated just about every movie he reviewed. A bad review would be followed by Sherman's "It stinks" catchphrase. If you like parodies of classic T.V. shows and movies with Puns galore this is the show for you.

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