Have you re-watched any your favorite cartoon series as an adult and been disappointed? Nostalgia often puts a fuzzy aura around things you loved growing up and blinds you to the real truth. Technological innovations play a big part in a cartoon’s appeal. Clunky movement, facial expressions, and badly synced dialog can turn fans off when they have grown and are used to the slicker animation of the modern shows. Changing times mean that children’s media have become more sophisticated over the last few decades. Here are 6 cartoons which have not stood the test of time:
1. HE-MAN
From accidental campiness to cheesy PSAs to kids, He-Man is quintessentially ’80s. There are many chuckles to be had from rewatching it today, but the show is not the best. The poor animation of He-Man is infamous. It was made three decades ago, but some other shows made at the same time look better.
2. TRANSFORMERS: BEAST WARS
The Transformers franchise has churned some great series’ over, and Beast Wars is considered among them. It also featured CG animation and launched an innovative toy-line.
But Beast Wars has aged horribly. CG evolves faster than other medium and what looked “state of the art” in 1996 looks outdated now.
3. X-MEN: EVOLUTION
Coming from the back of X-Men: The Animated Series, Evolution had a lot to live up to. Maybe that is why it is nowhere near its predecessor. Unlike TAS, Evolution deviated hugely. The biggest change was that teenage mutants had to attend a normal high-school and Xavier Institute.
Although changes help an adaptation appeal to a new fan base, this altered the premise fundamentally worked against X-Men‘s core appeal.
4. THE SMURFS
The Smurfs have been entertaining kids and adults for 50 years. The ’80s cartoon series is not the best though. The show suffers from technical problems and but looks like the animators struggled with this one. While some manage to do this in a way that is little condescending, writing in The Smurfs comes as insultingly patronizing.
5. G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO
The title makes Joe sound like an ego-maniac considering he is part of a team. It would be like The Avengers being named “Iron Man: Genius, Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist.”
With exception of Sargent Slaughter and Snake Eyes, most of the characterization and stories are cookie-cutters and uninspired. But, when you consider the good job The Transformers did, genericness of the show is more inexcusable.
6. CAPTAIN PLANET
Captain Planet is stuck in the era from where it came. Does the eco-friendly superhero show have any charm? Yes, but Captain suffers from the same problem as He-Man.
Once Harry Potter came along, kids calling adults for help does not have any appeal. The show is all over the place and filled with preaching and civilly responsible values. This makes it too risqué for the young but too childish for older audiences.
