History MediaNotes / TheDarkAgeOfAnimation

[-[[caption-width-right:343:[[LimitedAnimation Ink-and-paint disasters]] and [[AnimationAgeGhetto forgettable]] [[BoxOfficeBomb money losers]], all in twenty years.[[note]] In order: WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones, WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle, WesternAnimation/{{Underdog}}, [[WesternAnimation/FatAlbertAndTheCosbyKids Fat Albert]], [[Disney/TheJungleBook1967 Baloo and Mowgli]], [[WesternAnimation/SuperFriends The Super Friends]], [[WesternAnimation/ACharlieBrownChristmas Charlie Brown and Company]], and [[WesternAnimation/FritzTheCat Fritz the Cat]].[[/note]]]]-]

* The Adventures of Lariat Sam (1962)

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePinkPanther'': [[/index]]Created by Creator/FrizFreleng, after he left the WarnerBros animation studios. It originated as the AnimatedCreditsOpening to the live-action movie ''Film/ThePinkPanther''; the credits then inspired the cartoon series. The series ran in theaters from 1964 to 1977.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePinkPanther'': Created by Creator/FrizFreleng, after he left the WarnerBros animation studios. Has [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin strangely little]] to do with the live action films.
** The animated Pink Panther shorts were loosely based on the ''title sequence'' of the film. There's actually a better connection between the film and the animated "The Inspector" shorts which were sometimes included as part of the Pink Panther TV show, where the title character was … let's call it "inspired" … by the Clouseau character.

* ''Frank Film''

* ''Comicbook/FantasticFour''

Creator/{{Filmation}} also got its start during this time, although it wouldn't hit its stride until much later during the 80's. In the meantime, it ''did'' give us shows like ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekTheAnimatedSeries'' (which was a continuation of the [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries original show]] after it was cancelled), ''WesternAnimation/FlashGordon,'' and ''[[Franchise/{{Tarzan}} Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle]]'' which were wonderfully respectful of their source material, while Creator/BillCosby's ''WesternAnimation/FatAlbertAndTheCosbyKids'' was a surprisingly enduring {{Edutainment}} change of pace. However, like Hanna-Barbera, they also relied on notoriously low budget animation (even more so than H-B) and corner cutting to get their cartoons out as quickly and cheaply as possible. Hanna-Barbera writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears also formed Creator/RubySpears around this time and churned out a number of properties based on [[WesternAnimation/MisterT celebrities]], [[RubikTheAmazingCube toys]], and other {{Animated Adaptation}}s of sitcoms, mimicking their former employer's animated style to a T. Creator/FrizFreleng kept his own hand in the field with Creator/DePatieFrelengEnterprises, which supervised the final batch of theatrical WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes shorts and then created ''WesternAnimation/ThePinkPanther'' and various series before being purchased by Creator/MarvelComics to become Marvel Productions.

* ''Franchise/{{Tarzan}}, [[Creator/{{Filmation}} Lord of the Jungle]]''

* ''[[Franchise/Tarzan,]] [[Creator/{{Filmation}} Lord of the Jungle]]''

Creator/{{Filmation}} also got its start during this time, although it wouldn't hit its stride until much later during the 80's. In the meantime, it ''did'' give us shows like ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekTheAnimatedSeries'' (which was a continuation of the [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries original show]] after it was cancelled) while Creator/BillCosby's ''WesternAnimation/FatAlbertAndTheCosbyKids'' was a surprisingly enduring {{Edutainment}} change of pace. However, like Hanna-Barbera, they also relied on notoriously low budget animation (even more so than H-B) and corner cutting to get their cartoons out as quickly and cheaply as possible. Hanna-Barbera writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears also formed Creator/RubySpears around this time and churned out a number of properties based on [[WesternAnimation/MisterT celebrities]], [[RubikTheAmazingCube toys]], and other {{Animated Adaptation}}s of sitcoms, mimicking their former employer's animated style to a T. Creator/FrizFreleng kept his own hand in the field with Creator/DePatieFrelengEnterprises, which supervised the final batch of theatrical WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes shorts and then created ''WesternAnimation/ThePinkPanther'' and various series before being purchased by Creator/MarvelComics to become Marvel Productions.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFunkyPhantom''

* ''WesternAnimation/TheGodzillaPowerHour''
* ''WesternAnimation/GooberAndTheGhostChasers''

* ''WesternAnimation/LippyTheLionAndHardyHarHar''

* ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsons''

* ''WesternAnimation/MagillaGorilla''

AnimationAgeGhetto is a trope that has its roots firmly planted in this era, due to a growing emphasis on conservative values in the 50's that led to MoralGuardians attacking anything that they didn't consider child-friendly. Check it out to see the full impact of this era on the typical viewer's idea of a cartoon nowadays.

* ''Hedgehog In The Fog'' (one of the great USSR toons of all time)

* Zagreb Film (1961's Surogat),Pannonia Film Studio (1980's The Fly) and many European animation studios got their start.

Bakshi would also go on to make a variety of animated features that challenged the AnimationAgeGhetto such as an animated adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/TheLordOfTheRings'', which despite ''[[LoveItOrHateIt extremely]]'' mixed critical reaction was ultimately a box office success. Lesser films included the downbeat urban drama, ''WesternAnimation/HeavyTraffic'', the musical history drama ''WesternAnimation/AmericanPop'' and the Frazetta inspired fantasy, ''WesternAnimation/FireAndIce''. The Canadian ''WesternAnimation/HeavyMetal'' would create its own cult interest late in the game (1981) with its erotic dark fantasy stories set to throbbing music. Even Hanna-Barbera brought a respectable adaptation of ''Literature/CharlottesWeb'' to the big screen in 1973. Some cartoons from this era may have had mediocre to poor animation but were ultimately saved by good writing; shows like ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'' would be a particularly good example of that. Likewise, Creator/{{Terry Gilliam}}'s surreal animated skits in ''[[MontyPython Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'' – utilizing his own artwork, antique photographs, and classical music and military marches played at double speed – would prove to be enormously influential.

The unfortunate successor to UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation, slowly setting in at the late 1950s and lasting throughout the 1960's and 1970's. LimitedAnimation was the rule, not the exception during this time. Its start coincided with the UsefulNotes/FallOfTheStudioSystem in Hollywood. The theatrical short slowly died off, and cartoons moved to television. Naturally, this era would leave a lasting impression on American culture, for better or for worse, as the [[AnimationAgeGhetto primary target audience for cartoons]] became children.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFonzAndTheHappyDaysGang'': Infamously, sure, but still noted for being absolutely insane AND badly animated, even when compared to the show's [[SpinOff most fantastical]] [[MorkAndMindy moment]]. It'd definitely still be bad if it were [[SerialNumbersFiledOff a]] Series/DoctorWho [[SerialNumbersFiledOff cartoon]], but it'd make a little more sense conceptually.

* ''WesternAnimation/WaitTillYourFatherGetsHome'': The UrExample of the animated dysfunctional family (think ''Series/Series/Series/Series/Series/Series/Series/Series/Series/Series/Series/Series/AllInTheFamily'' if it were a cartoon series), which would later inspire all the FOX animated sitcoms about dysfunctional or quasi-dysfunctional families (''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'', ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow''). ''WesternAnimation/TheBarkleys'' is another one based both on ''Series/AllInTheFamily'' and ''TheHoneymooners''. Produced by [=DePatie=]-Freleng, it ran in 1972-73 and had only thirteen episodes.

* ''WesternAnimation/WaitTillYourFatherGetsHome'': The UrExample of the animated dysfunctional family (think ''AllInTheFamily'' if it were a cartoon series), which would later inspire all the FOX animated sitcoms about dysfunctional or quasi-dysfunctional families (''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'', ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow''). ''WesternAnimation/TheBarkleys'' is another one based both on ''AllInTheFamily'' and ''TheHoneymooners''. Produced by [=DePatie=]-Freleng, it ran in 1972-73 and had only thirteen episodes.

The unfortunate successor to UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation, slowly setting in at the late 1950s and slowly fading out at some point during the '80s.[[note]]The Dark Age ended for animated movies some time before the change would spread to television as well, not fully disappearing until Creator/{{Disney}} and Creator/WarnerBros improved television animation standards in the late '80s and early '90s.[[/note]] LimitedAnimation was the rule, not the exception during this time. Its start coincided with the UsefulNotes/FallOfTheStudioSystem in Hollywood. The theatrical short slowly died off, and cartoons moved to television. Naturally, this era would leave a lasting impression on American culture, for better or for worse, as the [[AnimationAgeGhetto primary target audience for cartoons]] became children.

** "Cri-Cri el Grillito Cantor (Chi-Chi, the Singing Cricket)" (1963); South American feature with an animated segment guest starring Disney's ThreeLittlePigs.
* ''TheDoonesburySpecial''; a 1977 AnimatedAdaptation of [[ComicStrip/{{Doonesbury}} the comic strip]] that was John Hubley's last work.

The unfortunate successor to TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation, slowly setting in at the late 1950s and slowly fading out at some point during the '80s.[[note]]The Dark Age ended for animated movies some time before the change would spread to television as well, not fully disappearing until Creator/{{Disney}} and Creator/WarnerBros improved television animation standards in the late '80s and early '90s.[[/note]] LimitedAnimation was the rule, not the exception during this time. Its start coincided with the UsefulNotes/FallOfTheStudioSystem in Hollywood. The theatrical short slowly died off, and cartoons moved to television. Naturally, this era would leave a lasting impression on American culture, for better or for worse, as the [[AnimationAgeGhetto primary target audience for cartoons]] became children.

WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes was still producing some decent and entertaining shorts late in TheFifties, as some of its most memorable shorts were from this decade. Animation quality was down, but the writing, along with the direction of Creator/ChuckJones, managed to produce some timeless classics in spite of that. However, due to budget problems, Creator/WarnerBros forcibly shut down its animation studio for good in this era. (Although a brief revival was unsuccessfully attempted late during the '60s). The characters would get a revival in the form of the smash hit anthology repackaging series ''[[WesternAnimation/TheBugsBunnyRoadRunnerShow The Bugs Bunny Show]]'', which [[VindicatedByCable reaired]] many of their old theatrical cartoons and, being exposed to younger audiences, ultimately helped to immortalize the characters as pop culture icons. In syndication, ''The Porky Pig Show'' did the same for many other shorts that weren't shown on its parent series. (And not just Warner Bros., either; if any motion picture company had a theatrical short to their name, animated or [[Film/TheThreeStooges not]], they would be on the bandwagon). The surviving players of the [[GoldenAgeOfAnimation Golden Age]] were about to get back in the game in a big way.

* Creator/IsaoTakahata: Though he came from Nippon Dōga-sha during TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation of the 1940s (post-WorldWar2), he did many things when Nippon Dōga-sha became ToeiAnimation in this era.

* SaturdayMorningCartoon: Saturday Morning cartoons experienced their heyday during this period. Not only were Hanna-Barbera cartoons regular airings, but cartoons from TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation would be exposed to a new generation, and in some cases, [[VindicatedByCable become even more widely popular]] [[VindicatedByReruns than they were originally]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler'' was produced during this period. By which we mean the [[DevelopmentHell entire thirty-year duration]] of the period, before its creator Creator/RichardWilliams lost control of the project after briefly obtaining funding to distribute it following the success of ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', one of the films that [[RogerRabbitEffect definitively ended]] TheDarkAgeOfAnimation.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Birdman}}'' (more notable for ''HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'', its [[TheMillenniumAgeOfAnimation Millennium Age]] spoof than the actual show)
* Literature/{{Bunnicula}} (1982): An animated adaptation of the series of books by Ruby-Spears.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2020}}'', (more notable for its [[TheMillenniumAgeOfAnimation Millennium Age]] spoof ''{{Sealab 2021}}'')