For many of us, our favorite childhood animated showsare so much more than cartoons. The realm ofanimationis like a world of wonder, and older shows we grew up with are time capsules acting as beacons of nostalgia that remind us of a simpler, and hopefully, a happier time in our lives. The thing about many of those shows is that they may have usually been aimed at kids, but often feature layered humor that gives us even more to appreciate as adults.
Even just listening to the theme music for some of these shows is enough to transport us back in time and stir up all the emotional attachments we have to them. Classic animated shows come in many forms: from silly to serious; childish and immature, to ones specifically aimed at adults. Some began and ended after great runs, while others have proven so popular, they’re still going today.
Now that the entertainment industry has entered the era of streaming wars,reboots, revivals, and franchisesare the order of the day. Plenty of animated shows have become so popular, they even led to live action movies.The Flintstones,Dora the Explorer,Kim Possible,andInspector Gadgetare prime examples of how well classic cartoons can translate into film.
However, for every one of those that did get a film, there are so many others that deserve one but never got that chance. Here is a list of the 20 best classic animated shows that deserve their own live-action movies.
1Duck Tales (1987-1990)
As far as classic animated shows go, there aren’t many that made kids want to race home after school to watch more thanDuck Tales.Based on theDuck Universecomic booksby Carl Barks, the show featured the infamously grumpy Scrooge McDuck, who is the uncle of Donald Duck. When Donald enlists in the Navy, he entrusts Scrooge with taking care of his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and, Louie.
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Despite being insanely wealthy, Scrooge is always after more money, and uses tight business practices to get it. While his nephews initially drive him crazy, he soon warms up to them after realizing their resourcefulness and cunning, which they often use to save his fortune from unscrupulous villains.
Why It Needs a Live-Action Movie
A true classic, the show ran for four seasons between the late ’80s and early ’90s. It featured one of the most memorable theme songs of many childhoods, and was a mix of fun, sweet, and thematically mature content. An award-winning show, its characters and themes have never grown old, with animated movies, spin-off shows, and a rebooted show airing between 2017 and 2021.
With an evergreen concept and popularity that never wanes,AI artists have given us a great ideaof how cool a live-actionDuck Talesmovie could be, and it looks pretty awesome.StreamDuck Taleson Disney+.
2The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2005)
Lasting for six seasons in the early ’00s,The Powerpuff Girlswas easily one of the most popular animated shows of its generation.Revolving around three Kindergarten-age girlswho each have their own superpowers, its charm has never stopped being popular. Known by their favored colors, Blossom (pink), Bubbles (blue), and Buttercup (green) often have to use their powers to defend their city against various recurring super villains.
Between its antics, brilliant comedic angles, and sublimely timed pop culture references, the show was ahead of the curve compared to most cartoons of the day. It was one of those shows that could be enjoyed just as much as an adult, and one of its funniest angles centered around the dichotomy of the girls being crime-fighting superheroes, while simultaneously dealing with normal childhood issues like losing their baby teeth, sibling rivalry, and bed-wetting. It was actually all set for a live-action series recently, but sadly,it never came to fruition.Stream on Max and Netflix.
3Jonny Quest
Jonny Quest
A classic animated show from the ’60s,Jonny Questbecame highly popular in syndication, and one of the few shows to have been broadcast on all of the so-called Big Three television networks — NBC, CBS and ABC. It followed a young boy as he goes on many adventures with his scientist father and other key characters.Known for his advanced intelligence and skillswith things like scuba diving, martial arts, and even handling firearms, this made Jonny formidable despite him still being a child.
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Why it Needs a Live-Action Movie
The show was so popular, it led to two animated TV films and two revival series, the latter of which aired in the ’90s and had all the makings of an ideal show to turn into a movie. The series in all its iterations was filled with great characters, amazing adventures, action, intrigue, and some brilliant concepts that explore strange phenomena and devious villains from scientific angles.
With the kind of concepts and characters that translate well across any generation, Chris McKay(Robot Chicken, The Lego Batman Movie)is currently developinga live-action productionof Jonny Quest, so thankfully, this one might become a reality soon.StreamJonny Queston Tubi.
4Recess (1997-2001)
An amazing cartoon that was cleverly written and gave its younger viewers a feeling of sophistication just for watching it,Recesshas had a cult following for decades since it last aired. The show revolved around six fourth-grade friends as they navigate their lives atthe unusal Third Street Elementary School. Usually being drawn into the satirical plots of the show, the episodes often likened life at their school to microcosms of adult societies and even governmental politics.
The ensemble nature of the show meant there was a great core of diverse characters to follow, each with their distinct personalities, strengths, and quirks. It made for the kind of character template that would work perfectly as a live-action movie or series.
The popularity of the show also meant it had a loyal following, with many fans wanting a movie remake for years. In fact, all the hype around this and the show’s loyal following has actually led toa fan-made, crowdfunded live-action filmbeing made, though it still deserves a mainstream one too, preferably with big studio backing.StreamRecesson Disney+.
5BraveStarr (1987-1988)
A fantastic animated show,BraveStarrwas the last series developed by Filmation before they shut down. Spanning 65 episodes, the show combined elements of western themes with science-fiction elements. It centered around Marshall BraveStarr, a Native American lawman from the multicultural planet known as New Texas.
With the ability to summon the power of spirit animals, BraveStarr calls on “Strength of the Bear,” “Speed of the Puma,” “Eyes of the Hawk,” and “Ears of the Wolf” to perform superhuman feats and take down his enemies.
Vastly ahead of its time, the show was a triumph of creativity and progressive storytelling and featured a variety of great characters andsome very creepy villains. Crossing boundaries and genres, it departed from archaic notions of what a mainstream hero could look like. Despite its short time on screen, it left a lasting legacy on audiences of its generation, one that still holds up today and would make for a great movie if done just right.Currently not available to stream or rent.
6Biker Mice From Mars (1993-1996)
It’s hard to argue with the fact that no decade did cool animated shows better than the ’90s. In another classic from that generation,Biker Mice From Marsfollowed a trio of anthropomorphic mice who come to Earth to defend it from villains and threats that destroyed their world on Mars. They each have distinct personalities and skills, and ride around on awesome motorcycles, too.
The show was highly popular in the early ’90s, and ran for three seasons and 65 episodes. It was produced by Marvel, with Stan Lee himself as co-executive producer. This gave the show a distinct blend of quality and coolness, with awesome artwork and snappy scripts adding to its likability.
Related:The 20 Most Underrated Animated Movies Ever Made
The show went on to branch out into video games, comic books, a revival series in 2006, witha modern-day reboot show in the worksfrom Ryan Reynolds' production company, Maximum Effort. Just in case you’ve never seen it, it may seem like the concept of large mouse superheroes riding bikes and fighting bad guys is a little strange, and possibly too weird for a live-action film.
However, four mutant turtle brothers who were named after Italian Renaissance painters seemed just as unlikely a concept once. Yet they fare pretty well in modern cinema.Currently Not Available to Stream or Rent.
7Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1990-1992)
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Captain Planet and the Planeteerswas an amazing animated show from the ’90s that was acres ahead of its time given how the world now feels about climate change and ecological issues. An environmental show with a superhero theme, it lasted six seasons in the early ’90s before the sequel series,The New Adventures of Captain Planet,ran between 1993 and 1996.
The show followed a concept where Gaia, the primordial Goddess often also thought of as “Mother Earth,” grows tired of human beings' destruction of the natural world. She sends out five magical rings to special teenagers across the world. The rings give each user a specific power tied to the elements, but when all the powers are combined, they summon a superhero known as Captain Planet to fight for our world and save it from environmental catastrophe.
Given how superhero movies have taken of in the 21st century, anyone who remembers this amazing show knows how much potential it has to make a fantastic live-action film. The characters and their powers, unique personalities and ethnic backgrounds, plus Captain Planet himself and the poignancy of the entire concept, are all ripe for a modern film version.
Thankfully, we’re not the only ones who feel this way, and a Captain Planet movie is currently in develoment. Given its popularity and the urgency of its message, the idea has found favor with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, who is well known for his dedication to environmental activism, and also owns a successful production company.RentCaptain Planet and the Planeteerson Apple TV+.
8Gargoyles (1994-1997)
Gargoyles is a dark fantasy/action television series created for Disney in a major departure tonally. The series follows a group of gargoyles that lived during a time of war and were cursed by the humans they protected to live in the day in stone and take form at night. After one thousand years of imprisonment, they wake to discover they now live in New York City and eventually become the defenders of the night.
A brilliantly done animated show that both kids and adults could enjoy,Gargoyleswas a Disney production but features far darker themes than its usual fare. The concept revolved around a time of superstition when nocturnal creatures who turned to stone during the day, and awakened at night to protect the world from evil, existed. While an ancient spell has kept them frozen for 1000 years, they are reawakened in modern-day New York and have to defend the city from new threats.
The show’s amazing dark superhero image made it a fascinating watch. With a wickedly cool concept and great characters to drive it, it has awesome potential for a big-budget, blockbuster film. The good news is, with a huge cult following, there is currentlyplans for a live-action movie, and a reboot show in the works too.StreamGargoyleson Disney+.
9Freakazoid! (1995-1997)
Freakazoid!
Created by the iconic Bruce Timm (the mind behind the superbBatmananimated series and the DC Animated Universe),Freakazoid!was a hilarious show about a superhero with a slant. More of a parody character, the bizarre but hilarious show often featured slapstick moments,fourth wall breaks, and racy humor. As the alter ego of a nerdy teenager, Freakazoid gained superhuman strength, speed, agility, knowledge, and a variety of other abilities from a computer bug that activated a “secret key sequence.”
Freakazoid!featuresabilities and a comedic superhero format that makes him akin to characters likeThe Maskcrossed withDeadpool. Since we know how spectacularly both those characters did with their live-action films, if done correctly, there’s a good chance that aFreakazoid!movie will follow in their footsteps and become a commercial hit.BuyFreakazoid!on Apple TV+.
10Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985-1991)
Loosely inspired by the famous candy Gummy Bears, the animated showAdventures of the Gummi Bearswas an iconic cartoon. Spanning six seasons between the mid ’80s and early ’90s, the show featured a group of seven creatures known as Gummi Bears. It takes place in a medieval setting and a time whenfantasy and magical powerswere commonplace. Fighting against human villains, they constantly try to learn the secret of their famous Gummiberry Juice, which grants the drinker super agility.
A classic show with a legendary theme song, the success and popularity ofAdventures of the Gummi Bearsis widely credited for spearheading the success of all the classic Disney animated series likeDuck TalesandChip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.Its timeless characters and themes remain relevant today, and would likely translate well as a film.
Related:These Are Some of the Best TV Theme Songs, Ranked
In case you’ve forgotten it, here’s a hit of nostalgia with a look back at the legendary theme song from the show.StreamAdventures of the Gummi Bearson Disney+:
