HomokHarcos
Member
I'm new to this forum and apologize if this thread has been done before, but I wanted to start a thread to talk about what your favorite series are going back to the 1920s (that's where I believe animation started picking up). I'll also give my runner-up for each decade. Let's start!
1920s
Felix the Cat: The silent Felix cartoons were great surrealist comedies, and I love the urban Roaring Twenties feel of the cartoons. It's unfortunate that the series didn't last long into the sound era aside from a Van Beuren revival that was much different in tone.
Out of the Inkwell: A highly influential series from Max Fleischer that featured an animated clown interacting with a live-action world. Although mostly remembered for his early wound work, this series was very popular during its time.
1930s
Popeye the Sailor: Yeah, I know Popeye cartoons have been criticized for being too formulaic, but during the early period Bluto was only in around half of the shorts. Just like the Felix cartoons, the Fleischer shorts had great surrealist comedy and an urban feel, enhanced this time by music!
Mickey Mouse: The Silly Symphonies might be more popular among animation enthusiasts, but I prefer the slapstick comedies from this time. As a huge fan of silent comedians like Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton I appreciate the influence on the Mickey Mouse cartoons. It arguably got even better in the late 1930s when they did the Mickey, Donald and Goofy trio shorts.
1940s: Looney Tunes. Yes, I will branch them all together under one umbrella title. With creators such as Friz Freleng, Tex Avery and Chuck Jones in their helm, there was great experimentation going on in Termite Terrace. First "official" appearance of Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Sylvester, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.
Tom and Jerry: Consistently great series when William Hanna and Joseph Barbera were running it.
1950s
Looney Tunes: There was less experimentation and more formula during this period, but the shorts were still of high quality and very entertaining.
Tom and Jerry: Same as above.
1960s
Spider-Man: OK, I know this series is definitely not critically acclaimed, but nostalgia gives this series the edge for me. I really like the first season before it switched studios.
The Pink Panther: The last major theatrical short series, and it kept the classic style seen in many of the Warner Bros. cartoons.
1970s
Schoolhouse Rock: Lots of catchy songs and a good example of the educational content that was forced onto the networks by parental groups.
Scooby-Doo: Another series that was created because of the complaints about excessive violence in cartoons, the original series is a classic and being a horror fan I like the spooky villains (even if they are fake).
I'm not too much of a fan of 1980s cartoon series, so I'll skip it.
1990s
The Simpsons: Complete revolutionary not just for animation, but television as a whole. Might have the best supporting cast of any cartoon with characters such as Moe, Chief Wiggum, Principal Skinner and Mr. Burns.
The Ren and Stimpy Show: A great throwback to the Golden Age of Animation. It's unfortunate that John is a terrible person, because that has really tarnished the reputation of the series.
2000s
SpongeBob SquarePants: The defining show of my childhood. The early seasons were the peak, although I admit I do find the later seasons funny also, but I understand many people find them too mean spirited.
South Park: Although the early seasons were the highest rated, I feel like the series picked up when Butters was introduced. The Butters-Cartman paring episodes are great.
I haven't watched too many 2010s cartoons, but the ones that at first glance look like highlights are Bojack Horseman, Gravity Falls and Steven Universe.
1920s
Felix the Cat: The silent Felix cartoons were great surrealist comedies, and I love the urban Roaring Twenties feel of the cartoons. It's unfortunate that the series didn't last long into the sound era aside from a Van Beuren revival that was much different in tone.
Out of the Inkwell: A highly influential series from Max Fleischer that featured an animated clown interacting with a live-action world. Although mostly remembered for his early wound work, this series was very popular during its time.
1930s
Popeye the Sailor: Yeah, I know Popeye cartoons have been criticized for being too formulaic, but during the early period Bluto was only in around half of the shorts. Just like the Felix cartoons, the Fleischer shorts had great surrealist comedy and an urban feel, enhanced this time by music!
Mickey Mouse: The Silly Symphonies might be more popular among animation enthusiasts, but I prefer the slapstick comedies from this time. As a huge fan of silent comedians like Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton I appreciate the influence on the Mickey Mouse cartoons. It arguably got even better in the late 1930s when they did the Mickey, Donald and Goofy trio shorts.
1940s: Looney Tunes. Yes, I will branch them all together under one umbrella title. With creators such as Friz Freleng, Tex Avery and Chuck Jones in their helm, there was great experimentation going on in Termite Terrace. First "official" appearance of Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Sylvester, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.
Tom and Jerry: Consistently great series when William Hanna and Joseph Barbera were running it.
1950s
Looney Tunes: There was less experimentation and more formula during this period, but the shorts were still of high quality and very entertaining.
Tom and Jerry: Same as above.
1960s
Spider-Man: OK, I know this series is definitely not critically acclaimed, but nostalgia gives this series the edge for me. I really like the first season before it switched studios.
The Pink Panther: The last major theatrical short series, and it kept the classic style seen in many of the Warner Bros. cartoons.
1970s
Schoolhouse Rock: Lots of catchy songs and a good example of the educational content that was forced onto the networks by parental groups.
Scooby-Doo: Another series that was created because of the complaints about excessive violence in cartoons, the original series is a classic and being a horror fan I like the spooky villains (even if they are fake).
I'm not too much of a fan of 1980s cartoon series, so I'll skip it.
1990s
The Simpsons: Complete revolutionary not just for animation, but television as a whole. Might have the best supporting cast of any cartoon with characters such as Moe, Chief Wiggum, Principal Skinner and Mr. Burns.
The Ren and Stimpy Show: A great throwback to the Golden Age of Animation. It's unfortunate that John is a terrible person, because that has really tarnished the reputation of the series.
2000s
SpongeBob SquarePants: The defining show of my childhood. The early seasons were the peak, although I admit I do find the later seasons funny also, but I understand many people find them too mean spirited.
South Park: Although the early seasons were the highest rated, I feel like the series picked up when Butters was introduced. The Butters-Cartman paring episodes are great.
I haven't watched too many 2010s cartoons, but the ones that at first glance look like highlights are Bojack Horseman, Gravity Falls and Steven Universe.
