Cartoons have a major influence on our lives, teaching us important life and morality lessons whilst we giggle at silly sight gags, our humour and outlooks are shaped by the shows we watched (and in some cases continue to watch to this day), so we at GiS headquarters have compiled a comprehensive list of shows that had an impact on us in order of when they were aired to the world (in some of these cases the shows came out many many years before we were born!) so sit back and enjoy the coming series on Our Retro Cartoon Journey.....
1) Tom and Jerry
First Aired
February 10, 1940
Channel
ITV
Cast
N/A
Synopsis
The adventures of an inept cat named Tom who spends his life trying to catch a super smart mouse named Jerry.
Why we love it
How can we not, the original cartoon violence at its best with two lovable characters locked in an immortal feud, I crack up every time I hear Tom scream. So sad that they decided to ruin the franchise in the way they did.
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2) Droopy
First Aired
March 20, 1943
Channel
MGM
Cast
Droopy has been played on and off over the years by many-many different voice actors such as:
Bill Thompson (1943–1958)
Tex Avery (1945–1955)
Don Messick (1949-1994)
Frank Welker (1980–1982)
Richard Williams (1988–1989)
Corey Burton (1990–1993)
Jeff Bergman (2001-present)
Michael Donovan (2006–2007)
Synopsis
Droopy, the slow moving depressed sounding but ultimately intelligent dog, who is quick to temper and surprisingly strong, easily outwits his enemies.
Why we love it
Why we love it
The voice, oh how we love the voice, it can make us smile just by a few lines, and though the episodes seem quite similar, it's great how the character grabbed our attention.
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Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy
First Aired
19 September 1959
Channel
First-Run Syndication
Cast
Daws Butler - Augie Doggie
Doug Young - Doggie Daddy
Synopsis
Originally appearing as a segment in the Quick Draw McGraw Show, Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy would go on to have their segments played as their own cartoons. The stories would centre around a dad who would give out parental advice to his unappreciative slightly rebellious son.
Why we love it
Though I saw very few episodes of this and very late on thanks to rerun episodes on Cartoon Network, it helped cement my love of Hannah Barbara animation.
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Quick Draw McGraw
First Aired
19 September 1959
Channel
First-Run Syndication
Cast
Daws Butler - Quick Draw McGraw and Baba Looey
Don Messick - Narrator and Various
Synopsis
Quick Draw McGraw is a anthropomorphic horse who is the sheriff of a small town during the American Old West who each week would stop crime with the help of his deputy Baba Looey
Why we love it
Another example of a fantastic animation and cute stylings that caught my attention as a kid through re runs on Cartoon Network on the mid 90's
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Snagglepuss
First Aired
19 September 1959
Channel
First-Run Syndication
Cast
Daws Butler - Snagglepuss
Don Messick - Various
Synopsis
Originally appearing as a segment in the Quick Draw McGraw Show, Snagglepuss is a bright pink Mountain Lion who dreams of becoming a stage and screen actor, but his attempts to realise his dreams often leads to misadventure.
Why we love it
I had been exposed to Snagglepuss from a much younger age, the over the top mannerisms, catchphrases and typical Hannah Barbara animation in shorter form cartoons elevated this one for me.
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Mr Rossi
First Aired
1960
Channel
ITV
Cast
Giuseppe Rinaldi as Mr Rossi
Synopsis
A man, down and depressed escapes to search for happiness with the help of his dog Harold and a wish granting witch.
Why we love it
Having stumbled on this show when we were younger through re runs on CITV we loved the sidekick and the theme tune. Though yes there was some questionable content by today's standards, Mr Rossi's quest for happiness is more relevant now than ever in this high stress modern world.
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The Flintstones
First Aired
30 September 1960
Channel
BBC
Cast
Jean Vander Pyl - Wilma Flintstone
Alan Reed - Fred Flintstone
Mel Blanc - Barney Rubble
Bea Benaderet - Betty Rubble
Synopsis
A cartoon based sitcom focusing on two neighbouring stone age families the Flintstones and the Rubbles.
Why We Love it
Another staple of most childhoods, The Flintstones felt more like a sitcom then a cartoon, with fun situations and even funnier dinosaur based devices, and who doesn't love Dino!
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Top Cat
First Aired
27 September 1961
Channel
BBC
Cast
Arnold Stang - Top Cat
Leo DeLyon - Spook
Allen Jenkins - Officer Dibble
Maurice Gosfield - Benny the Ball
Marvin Kaplan - Choo Choo
John Stephenson - Fancy-Fancy
Synopsis
Top Cat and his gang of Alley Cats try to stay one step ahead pf the local neighbourhood Police Officer, Officer Dibble, who tries to stop their get rich quick schemes
Why We Love it
I loved the frenetic pace of this show and the sight gags can still get me laughing today. Also Allen Jenkins' Officer Dibble voice is awesome.
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The Jetsons
First Aired
September 23, 1962
Channel
BBC
Cast
George O'Hanlon - George Jetson
Penny Singleton - Jane Jetson
Daws Butler - Elroy Jetson
Janet Waldo - Judy Jetson
Mel Blanc - Cosmo S. Spacely
Don Messick - Astro
Jean Vander Pyl - Rosie the Robot
Synopsis
A cartoon based sitcom focusing on a family in the far future where everyone has spaceships and robot maids.
Why We Love it
Another example of Hannah Barbara straying into sitcom territory with a future set cartoon, whose influences can be seen in other shows like Futurama, again great characterisation and funny sight gags which made Hannah Barbara cartoons so funny.
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Stingray
First Aired
4 October 1964
Channel
BBC
Cast
Ray Barrett - Commander Sam Shore
Robert Easton - Lieutenant George Lee 'Phones' Sheridan
Don Mason - Captain Troy Tempest
Lois Maxwell - Lieutenant Atlanta Shore
Gary Miller - Captain Troy Tempest
Synopsis
A team of aquatic protectors called The World Aquanaut Security Patrol or WASPs protect the oceans from various different threats using there secret weapon, the Stingray, a super technological submarine
Why We Love it
Our favourite of the Gerry Anderson Puppetry shows, combines the fantastic set designs of the sea bed with one of the most memorable theme tunes of all time!
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Squiddly Diddly
First Aired
9 September 1965
Channel
NBC
Cast
Paul Frees - Squiddly Diddly
Synopsis
Squiddly Diddley first appeared in his own cartoon segment on The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show. Kept against his will at an Aquarium/Aquatic Fun Park, Squiddly Diddly regularly escapes so that he can pursue his dreams of being a musician.
Why We Love it
Another cartoon I used to watch through reruns on Cartoon Network, I loved to see what shifty means Squiddly would use to escape his captors every episode.
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Secret Squirrel
First Aired
2 October 1965
Channel
NBC
Cast
Mel Blanc - Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole
Paul Frees - Double Q
Synopsis
Secret Squirrel and his sidekick Morocco Mole fight Crime and defeat evil Secret Agents on the orders of his boss Double Q
Why We Love it
Another voice I used to love hearing growing up and coupled with the slapstick take on the spy genre and Hannah Barbara's fantastic art style, Secret Squirrel was so much fun to watch
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Magic Roundabout
First Aired
18 October 1965
Channel
BBC
Cast
Jacques Bodoin - Dougal (voice)
Serge Danot - Brian (voice)
Micheline Dax - Ermintrude (voice)
Bernard Haller - Dougal (voice)
Christian Riehl - Dougal (voice)
Eric Thompson - Narrator (voice)
Synopsis
A group of friends and animals gather around a roundabout to tell stories
Why we love it
Dougal, Brian and Zebedee are such adorable characters and the theme tune for us made it a staple of our childhoods
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Batfink
First Aired
21 April 1966
Channel
BBC
Cast
Frank Buxton as Batfink and Hugo A-Go-Go
Len Maxwell as Karate and The Chief
Synopsis
A crime fighting Bat with wings made of steel travels around with his friend Karate in a car named the Batallac, fighting his arch nemesis, super villain Hugo A-GoGo.
Why we love it
Again some questionable content but growing up this show was a staple of CBBC for us and so so quotable.
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Wacky Races
First Aired
14 September 1968
Channel
BBC
Cast
Daws Butler - Big Gruesome, Peter Perfect, Red Max, Rock Slag, Rufus Roughcut and Sgt. Blast
Don Messick - Gravel Slag, Little Gruesome, Muttley, Professor Pat Pending, Ring-A-Ding and Sawtooth
John Stephenson - Luke, Blubber Bear
Janet Waldo - Penelope Pitstop
Dave Willock - Narrator
Paul Winchell - Clyde Dick Dastardly, Pvt. Meekley
Synopsis
A group of increasingly weird and strange characters compete against each other all over the world to win the Wacky races.
Why we love it
Memorable characters that have stood the test of time, I still own a shirt with Muttley on it, plus the fun side characters made this show so funny
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The Herbs
First Aired
12 February 1968
Channel
BBC
Cast
Gordon Rollings - Story Teller
Synopsis
Stories centred around humans and animals that live inside a walled garden that can only be opened by calling the word Herbidacious
Why We Love it
Just look at the animation, one of the prime examples of why animation on modern shows is terrible, computer generation is not needed or wanted, this show has way more charm and characterisation, plus Parsley The Lion is ridiculously cute!
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Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines
aka
Catch the Pigeon
First Aired
September 13, 1969
Channel
BBC
Cast
Paul Winchell - Dick Dastardly, The General
Don Messick - Muttley / Zilly / Klunk
Synopsis
Dastardly, Muttley and a team of inept pilots try in vain to stop a carrier pigeon from delivering his messages
Why We Love it
Dick Dastardly and Muttley getting their own show? How can we not love it? Also introducing the likes of Klunk, genius!
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Scooby Doo where are you
First Aired
13 September 1969
Channel
BBC
Cast
Casey Kasem - Shaggy
Nicole Jaffe - Velma
Don Messick - Scooby Doo
Frank Welker - Fred
Stefanianna Christopherson - Daphne
Synopsis
A group of teenagers and their dog solve mysteries from the back of their van, The Mystery Machine, as they travel around the country
Why We Love it
The staple of most children's childhoods, Scooby Doo has still endured today with a combo of cute animation, silly stories and memorable characters.
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And that's part 1 of our odyssey into our animated pasts, what cartoons did you used to watch growing up? Be sure to stay tuned for the next part of our journey, the 1970's
Thanks for reading
Stay Floaty
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