I don’t think any other era has been so saturated with iconic television shows as the ’80s. The entertainment industry was booming; there were dozens of channels on TV, such a wide variety of programming entertained children everywhere, and brands noticed that they were sitting on an advertising gold mine. This advertising boom created some of the most memorable cartoon characters ever conceived. Of course, everyone has their list of favourites and reasons for why these figures are memorable, but here’s what we think are 10 of the best ’80s cartoon characters.
10. Duckula (Count Duckula)
Even though America was certainly leading the charge in terms of pop culture in the ’80s, the British also produced many amazing cartoons. Among these shows is the hilarious Count Duckula, which ran from 1988 until 1993. While it was clearly based on a famous vampire franchise, Duckula was nothing like its source material. This vegetarian vampire without fangs differs a lot from his predecessor in the Danger Mouse show, but fans have grown to love the version of him from Count Duckula.
9. Snake Eyes (G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero)
It’s hard to pick a single character from the impressive cast of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero to represent the entire series, but I think Snake Eyes fits the bill pretty well. This ninja warrior was an excellent fighter who stood out from the rest of the team due to his outstanding combat abilities and awesome design. Unlike some other Joes, Snake Eyes wasn’t a pilot or a tank driver, but he made up for it by being the coolest thing in the 80s: a ninja. Considering that they’re still making movies about the character today is proof that Snake Eyes is one of the best 80s cartoon characters of all time.
8. Lion-O (Thundercats)
Regarding cartoons from the eighties, only a handful are as culturally significant as the ThunderCats. The show aired in 1985, during the “sword and planet” genre revival led by Masters of the Universe. In contrast to Mattel’s toy line, the series managed to stand apart from the rest of the pack, blending adventure, humour, and plenty of epic battles between good and evil.
Of all the characters, Lion-O takes centre stage as the leader of the ThunderCats. His heroic deeds against the forces of darkness make him a beloved figure among his people, and the audience loves seeing him triumph over various villains as well. To this day, Lion-O remains a powerful symbol of hope for many viewers—yes, even after ThunderCats Roar.
Ask any 80s kid what the best classic cartoon is or was, and the ThunderCats (and one of its characters) would definitely come up in the conversation.
7. Scrooge McDuck (DuckTales)
DuckTales is easily one of the best Disney animated series ever made. Its focus on episodic adventures was perfect for the ’80s, with each episode following Scrooge as he used his fortune to travel the world looking for even more treasures with his three nephews.
What makes Scrooge McDuck one of my favourite and one of the best cartoon characters from the ’80s? I think it’s nothing short of amazing how the show’s writers took a bunch of negative traits, put them into a single character, and still had Scrooge be one of the most entertaining characters on television. It’s easy to see why this series remains so popular today too, given its mix of comedy and adventure.
6. Hello Kitty (Hello Kitty’s Furry Tale Theater)
While Hello Kitty has been a mainstay of Japanese culture since 1974, the adorable character received her first animated show in 1987 with Hello Kitty’s Furry Tale Theater. Every episode of the show deals with Kitty and her friends as they reenact classic fairy tales or movies. The cartoon moderately succeeded in the USA and UK, elevating Hello Kitty to a global phenomenon. Even today, it’s almost impossible to escape Kitty’s adorable looks wherever you go.
5. Inspector Gadget (Inspector Gadget)
The scatterbrained Inspector Gadget might be one of my favourite cartoon characters of the decade. It was hard not to pick Penny over Gadget for this one, but anyone who has ever seen the show will tell you that the clumsy inspector steals the spotlight whenever he appears. Inspector Gadget has received numerous adaptations, including live-action films and CGI shows in the 2000s. Although these didn’t do much to increase the character’s popularity, the original 1980s show remains a fan favourite to this day.
4. Jem (Jem)
Glam metal was essentially a religion in the 80s. From Poison to Ratt and everything in between, the ludicrous hairdos were an unmistakable part of the decade – and shows like Jem capitalized on that glamorous fashion. From the same team that brought us G.I. Joe and Transformers comes this dazzling show about a girl’s journey to becoming the ultimate musical sensation using state-of-the-art holograms. Jem and the Holograms, as it is sometimes called, is the perfect 80s time capsule, and Jem herself is one of the coolest female animated characters I’ve ever seen.
3. Michelangelo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
Who doesn’t love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? The show was a landmark of 80s animation, and its popularity continued well into the ’90s – with dozens of different toy lines and live-action films to boost Turtlemania. Picking just one of the TMNTs to represent the whole series is no easy task, but I’ll have to go with Michelangelo. He might not be the leader of the bunch, but his personality captures precisely what the decade was about. His whole “surfer dude” persona perfectly encapsulates the laid-back style of the ’80s, and I’m sure plenty of kids around the globe dreamed of moving to California to become a surfer just because of Mikey.
Michaelangelo is definitely one of the best 80s cartoon characters ever!
2. Optimus Prime (Transformers)
The ’80s had no shortage of awesome robots on TV. Characters like Voltron, Mazinger Z, and the RX-78 2 from Mobile Suit Gundam – these mechanical behemoths all come from around the same decade. However, they all pale compared to the cultural titan that was the Transformers.
Among the Autobots, none were as popular with the kids as the charismatic Optimus Prime. Voiced by Peter Cullen, the leader of the Autobot forces, who has been a fixture of entertainment for decades, he will no doubt continue to inspire generations of mecha fans to come.
1. He-Man (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe)
When I think of ’80s cartoons, I instinctively picture He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and its characters. I believe no other show better captured the way of making advertising business of the time like this one: it was an unapologetically commercial show, mainly made to sell toys – and it was terrific.
He-Man is undoubtedly a product of his time: a hypermuscular blonde man who would give Conan the Barbarian a run for his money. On the other side of the coin was Prince Adam of Eternia, a resourceful hero who led his kingdom into battle against the evil Skeletor. He, along with the other Masters of the Universe, became cultural icons for the ’80s generation — selling millions of toys and figurines. Is there a more popular 80s cartoon character than He-Man?
Tell us, who do you think are the best 80s cartoon characters?
Also read: How Could We Forget These Classic Cartoons? and Remember These Video Game Cartoons?
How can you have Duckula, Jem or Hello Kitty and not have Voltron and Woody woodpecker in top 10? That’s crazy!..