'80s Cartoon Glory

El Spurioso · 26 October, 2006, 02:45:44 PM

I know it's a major cliche, and I know that anyone even vaguely occupying the same generation as me has had this conversation at least a billion times already (usually whilst slumped over their 8th pint), but it's a matter close to my heart, and so I bring you:

The Inevitable '80s Cartoon Thread.

Specifically, with the growth of YouTube, I have been much occupied of late with that tricksiest of questions: which of the Classics had the BEST intro music?

I've pored over them all, I think - from Thundercats to Silverhawks via Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors, from Mysterious Cities of Gold to Pole Position and that wretched Dungeons and Dragons series. Bravestarr, Stoppit and Tidyup, Wizbit (not strictly speaking a cartoon, but even so), Galaxy High, and - due to the unfortunate presence of my missus at the time of searching - was even subjected to the Carebear Countdown and some other ghastly thing about Dream-keepers or something. I've erased it from my memory.

Alas, IMHO, they all pale into significance beside the beat-tastic synthesiser-wibbliness angry-voiced shitstorm of ULYSSES 31. Now, from what I remember of the show itself, it was a bit pants... But I defy ANY of you to find a better intro tune than this:

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yes9FHWsg4w" target="_blank">You are alive... my son...

JOE SOAP · 26 October, 2006, 02:48:21 PM

Ulysses 31, best intro & incidental music by far.

Rob Spalding · 26 October, 2006, 02:49:17 PM

The one episode of Ulysses I always remember is the one where there on that treadmill that goes on forever.

Oh, and Dangermouse is by far the greatest 80's cartoon!

I, Cosh · 26 October, 2006, 02:51:39 PM

Now, from what I remember of the show itself, it was a bit pants...

WHAT?! You, sir, are a cad and a bounder. Ulysses was truly zarjaz.

When it comes to tunes, you want the interminable crescendo of this.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ElNTMbumAY" target="_blank">G-FORCE!

I, Cosh · 26 October, 2006, 02:53:15 PM

Godzuki could fuck off mind.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SklJuTGmj-M" target="_blank">Up From the Depths!

The Amstor Computer · 26 October, 2006, 02:53:44 PM

Weird... that's a longer (and better) intro than on the cheapie Ulysses DVDs I picked up. There were some really good episodes in that series, and it's certainly one of the better animated series from that era.

I did try out D&D a while back - found a volume 1 DVD for a few quid - and it was just appalling. What was worse was that the DVD featured - IIRC - fan commentaries by a bunch of 30-somethings who thought that D&D was the pinnacle of animation and who clearly knew every second of every episode...

JOE SOAP · 26 October, 2006, 02:58:16 PM

>The one episode of Ulysses I always remember is the one where there on that treadmill that goes on forever.

Some of the best visuals of any 80's cartoon. It's supposed to represent the 3 fates of the Greek life cycle. I think the episode is called the seat of forgetfullness. All about moral choices etc. Great stuff.

The Monarch · 26 October, 2006, 02:58:25 PM

the sonic cartoon not that stupid road runner rip off or the godawful one where they are a band the good sonic opening

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4cvVFTvOp8" target="_blank">sonic he can really move!

JOE SOAP · 26 October, 2006, 03:02:00 PM

Have a look at the original Jap opening of Battle of the Planets (Gatchaman -meaniing birdman).

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv-FQuz1yAw&mode=related&search=" target="_blank">Gatcha

Pyroxian · 26 October, 2006, 03:07:53 PM

I vote for Thundercats :)

Steve

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qd_IsxgAf8" target="_blank">Thundercats

Byron Virgo · 26 October, 2006, 03:08:54 PM

Ulyses 31 = Good

D&D = Bedder

Mysterious Cities of Gold = Da Best, madone!

Dangermouse = Fuggeddaboudit!

Bico · 26 October, 2006, 03:21:30 PM

No love for Rambo: The Force Of Freedom? It's just like the Losers, only better.

Byron Virgo · 26 October, 2006, 03:32:27 PM

Or what about Chuck Norris' Karate Kommandos?

What's wrong with you people...?

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSU1Lvxy9Sk" target="_blank">HELL YEAH!

ming · 26 October, 2006, 03:51:44 PM

All well and good, but they're hardly Ivor the Engine, are they?

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDWk0BCeblQ" target="_blank">Go on Ivor!

TordelBack · 26 October, 2006, 03:53:55 PM

I gotta say, that's what kids' TV lack these days, attacks by "alien galaxies from beyond space".

Never seen the Gatchaman intro before, cool!

Ulyssess 31 has an unbeatable preamble/intro, but then an unspeakably awful themesong which has almost nothing to do with anything.

Anyhow, replacing all that ghastly singing with BIG MECHA PLANE THINGS BLOWING EACH OTHER UP....

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpE2n_l_p68" target="_blank">Macross Lite!