A Golden Age for TV Animation?

[pap64]

You know, I was watching MTV's Daria and remembered something. The show came out in the mid to late 90s, a time in which original TV animation was its strongest, around the same time animated films were seeing very good business in theaters.

Could we consider this the Golden Age for TV Animation? It seems that whenever we reminisce about our favorite cartoons most of them came from the late 80s or the 90s, the same time many animated films became box office successes, heralding a new Golden Age in animation.

Here's a rundown of some of the shows that debuted during this era:
The Simpsons
Tiny Toon Adventures
Ducktales
Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers
Talespin
Goof Troop
Animaniacs
Reboot
Freakazoid
Daria
Cartoon Sushi
King of the Hill
Beavis and Butthead
Celebrity Deathmatch
Powerpuff Girls
Dexter's Laboratory
Johnny Bravo
Gargoyles
Bonkers
Darkwing Duck
Ed, Edd and Eddy
Aeon Flux
The Maxx
South Park
Rugrats
Rocko's Modern Life
Doug
Hey Arnold!
Ren and Stimpy
The Critic
Futurama
And many, many, many more...

These shows were released during the late 80s and 90s and are considered some of the best programming of the era (NOTE: No discussion about the quality of these shows as a whole, so no "dude X show sucked!" comments) and was an era known for experimentation, new franchises and interesting ideals in the medium. Hell, during the 90s anime shows like Sailor Moon, Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z became mainstream successes, allowing for other anime series to be seen in the US.

In comparison to that era of animation nowadays the level of creativity and fun has been very toned down. Most shows are imported from Japan, adult animation is now a medium for very cheap animation and lowbrow jokes and there's far more emphasis on the tween market thanks to shows like Hannah Montana.

So what do you guys think? Was the 90s a golden age for TV animation or am I being a fuddy duddy?

[dvdjunkie]

You asked for it.........................YOU ARE A FUDDY DUDDY!!!!!!!

[blackcauldron85]

It seems that whenever we reminisce about our favorite cartoons most of them came from the late 80s or the 90s, the same time many animated films became box office successes, heralding a new Golden Age in animation.

I think that that's true due largely in part to the majority of UDers being in their late teens to mid-'30s, so we grew up with TV animation of the '80s and '90s.

I think that "The Simpsons" is in a class of its own, for the fact that it was never aimed at children- it was always meant for adults to be able to enjoy.

"Daria", "King of the Hill", "Beavis and Butthead", "Celebrity Deathmatch", "Aeon Flux", "South Park", "The Critic", and "Futurama" were all also aimed at a teen and older audience. So, I guess one can say that the late '80s and the '90s was a time period where it was okay for teens and adults to watch "more mature" cartoons (not like "Beavis and Butthead" was mature, lol).

As far as the Disney Afternoon shows, so many of us here are fond of them because we love Disney! Of course, they are great shows, but part of our fondness could be due to our love of Disney.

If you're comparing the cartoons of the '80s and '90s to the cartoons of today, then I would say that the newer cartoons aren't nearly as good as the older ones, and that's true largely in part to bathroom humor. I mean, shows like "Ren and Stimpy" and "Rocko's Modern Life" had bathroom humor, but they were funny. Maybe funny in the way kids think modern bathroom humor is; I don't know. Maybe I should watch full-length episodes of those shows now and see how I feel.

[milojthatch]

Yes, I don't think there is much question, the 80's and 90's were in fact a Golden Age of TV Animation. This is evident in the production values, the story treatments and character developments found in most of the shows. Certainly shows like "Ducktales" or "Animaniacs" were at the front of this pack. And while I personally am not a fan of the show, I do have to give "The Simpson's" it's due in this Golden Age. I mean not many shows last 20 years!

[Siren]

I think the real Golden Age of TV Animation was way back with Hanna Barbara, they really are the ones who started it all.

With that said, I'd say the mid-80s to 1990s were the best years for me personally, with tv animation. I watch tv animation with my daughter today and I'm sorry, but Spongebob and the rest of them don't hold a candle to what we once watched before and after school.

[PrincePhillipFan]

I personally think myself the golden age was the early 60s to early 70s. Hanna Barbera had hugely popular properties like the Flinstones, Jetsons, Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, and Scooby-Doo. Jay Ward also had big hits too with The Rocky And Bullwinkle Show, The Dudley Do-Right Show, Super Chicken, and George Of The Jungle. Not to mention new animation for the Bugs Bunny Show, and new animation for the Wonderful World Of Color.

[pap64]

Ah, Hanna Barbera definitely played a huge part in contributing to the Golden Age. They released a lot of stuff in the 80s, including the revival of the Jetsons. My favorite contribution from them is the Superstars 10 TV movies. They were fun and unforgettable (The Flintstones meet The Jetsons and The Good The Bad and The Huckleberry Hound remain my favorites).

Siren, what I really miss is the variety and creativity in programming. I remember when I was a kid I had a hard time choosing which Saturday Morning Block to watch because all major networks had amazing programming.

It was almost overwhelming, really.

[David S.]

I agree with Prince Phillip Fan and will vote for the 60's and 70's as well. Not only because of the classic Hanna-Barberra stuff and Wonderful World of Color, but also because I'm a HUGE fan of the Rankin/Bass holiday specials, which were in their heyday at this time, as well as the Peanuts specials.

While I like some of the more contemporary (80's -current) animation considered to be appropriate for kids (Disney Afternoon, etc.) I personally have never cared for the Simpsons or any of the other so-called "adult-friendly" programming like South Park, Family Guy, etc. They tend to be too cynical, hip, postmodern, self-aware, ironic, irreverent, and crude for my taste. In other words, too adult! Give me warm puppies, rainbows, and sunshine!

[Disney Duster]

What's wrong with two golden ages?

Doesn't Disney have it's first golden age, Snow White and the Seven Drwafs to 101 Dalmatians or Jungle Book, then the second one The Little Mermaid to The Lion King (sorry everyone but I remember people really not caring much about Pocahontas or Hercules nearly as much as the films before them).

So I guess there was the 60's and 70's Hanna Barbara golden age, then the second one in the 80's and 90's (c'mon...it was mostly the 90's right?)

Siren, the latest SpongeBob episodes suck big time. But the earliest ones were genius, or at least very, very creative, original, wacky, surreal, and entertaining, and just plain funny. I feel they lost it, you can tell what are the newer, less funny, less creative episodes with the change in SpongeBob's voice. The SpongeBob movie is kind of in between this change from good to less so.

Pap, when you say lowbrow, well, that is still talking about many things kids aren't supposed to know/talk about...it is a show that talks about what kid's shows can't, or shouldn't. It certainly does feel adult even in the lowbrow stuff. Including sex, and not just talking about the actual acts, but the issues around them, and certain marriage of sexual orientations and stuff...