Underrated Cartoons

Earlier in this thread, I stated that the early 30s Looney Tunes were underrated, soundtrack-wise. People talk about Cab Calloway and Louis Armstrong's music for Betty Boop, but nobody ever mentions these toons and the hot jazz soundtrack by the dance bands of Abe Lyman and Gus Arnheim. Really great, really fun stuff.

I also wanted to point out how underrated The Replacements was. The plot sounded contrive and you basically feel like the theme song tells of a rough draft for a movie pilot that should have came first, but it was awesome wholesome fun that was kind of a Cloud Cuckoo Lander universe where anything goes. Also, who didn't love Agent K?

Eh, I'd say The Replacements was a show that had potential that it never quite reached. It did eventually go beyond the horribly stagnant formula it had in the beginning eventually, but even then, most of the directions it took were pretty cliche. It was entertaining enough, but not exactly great.

One studio that's extremely underrated is Saban Entertainment.

Most Americans only know them as producers of Power Rangers and Digimon, with the result that they've acquired a reputation as an awful studio.

But they were not. They produced many cartoons ranging from average to good - the best being their anime dubs, but they did get an increase in quality when they merged with Fox Kids in the mid 90s.

Most of the shows they produced or dubbed are now obscure, but deserve another look.

A friend recently got me hooked on the Earthworm Jim cartoon, and it's freakin' hilarious. I've never played the games, but that doesn't at all detract from the enjoyment. So much Large Ham, Lampshade Hanging, and Running Gag content.

Uh... I like Digimon, dude. Hell of a lot more that I ever did Pokemon+ (what a childhood that shit is, unless it's the games...).

BTW - could you list some of those shows for me? I might bravely check them out.

Check out the stuff at the trope page - right here, and maybe you'll find something you like. They produced so much it's not entirely unreasonable. Although some of the better shows they did aren't there.

I have a videotape of the Earthworm Jim cartoon that I've never seen. I should get around to it one of these days.

edited 1st Feb '14 5:34:51 PM by Aldo930

The whole Earthworm Jim cartoon is on DVD, too.

Apparently the creators hated making the cartoon, not staying true enough to their ideals for the games and being the product of Executive Meddling wanting something to endorse them. How ironic it's one of the more well accepted animations based on a video game by it's fanbase.

edited 1st Feb '14 8:35:32 PM by Psi001

Thinking about Phineas and Ferb again, I honestly think it's got the online flack that it has recently due to Hype Backlash (And unfortunately, those crossovers don't help). Before Adventure Time and Regular Show (Which were picked up as the result of Cartoon Network trying to cash in on Phineas and Ferb's success so it's Hilariousin Hindsight that the shows picked up to compete with the very show that started the new animation renaissance actually have been more successful than the show that started it), this was considered the best modern cartoon for it's optimism and creativity (in the vein of Rugrats which I feel that this show is the Spiritual Successor to) alongside clever pop culture references/jokes for the adults, however when the aforementioned became successful, fans of those shows have likely discovered Phineas and Ferb later on and because it isn't surreal or gets Crap Pastthe Radar as often as shows like Adventure Time, Regular Show, and Gravity Falls (which explains why the same people who like those shows for the most part, usually don't like shows like Phineas and Ferb), people are usually left extremely disappointed and don't like the show because of that and view alot of aspects of the show as major flaws (EG: The formula which is supposed to be a part of the show's humor). Phineas and Ferb itself is a 90s concept that got picked up very late and at a time where cartoons didn't even try anymore for the most part or played it safe, this show was seen as groundbreaking as it has elements of what made a 90s show work but in today's day and age, a show like Pn F unfortunately doesn't go over with alot of modern audiences simply because it's nothing like what's currently popular (Even FIM is starting to lose some popularity at least I think? I haven't heard as much people talk about it since last year. It's not to the extent of Phineas and Ferb but it's not as talked about as it was 3 years ago). So it's really sad that it's popularity was as shortlived as it was.

edited 8th Mar '14 1:44:39 AM by anonymous1224

For me it's:

1. The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack - Yes, for all its disturbing and gross out glory, this series was actually pretty decent and I actually did laugh a few times in this show, especially with Bubbie's arguments with K'nuckles.
2. Pelswick - Agree about this show not being well-known as it should have been. It was a pretty good series about a handicapped character that was actually done well and the stories were pretty interesting.

It wasn't like cartoons weren't trying. They just weren't producing things that were acceptable to the people who really matter.

While Flapjack I'll agree is underrated, I don't understand why being disturbing is bad. Courage The Cowardly Dog, for example, was really disturbing, yet it has a lot of fans on this wiki.

Neither is being a Gross-Out Show - a trope which I'm not even sure exists.

It's a damn shame you can't make a pure surrealistic comedy show anymore.

edited 8th Mar '14 5:28:35 PM by Aldo930

Exactly. In hindsight, Phineas and Ferb may have been deemed a classic had it either ended after the TV movie or if AT, RS, GF.etc never existed so in a way, it's success both damaged and helped the show at the same time.

Im sorry, but bump. This thread is a great idea!

Early HB- a lot of people dimiss their work as being nothing more than cheap and crappy. But their earlier work is pretty great and fun to watch. I don't know one person who has never heard of Fred or Yogi

The Mr. Men Show- like most Brit shows, it was very calm and relaxing. I can still watch some of the shorts to this day. Sadly, no one remembers it.

Spumco Ren and Stimpy- call me crazy, but I found this and the creator to be very underrated. Lately, many people on the web have this extereme grudge for this cartoon. Some people even goes as far to call it the Devil!

But even if you dislike it, you can't deny the impact it had/has. it was clever, memorable, had great voice acting, and of course, great to look at. It's easily one of the most influential tv cartoons next to The Simpsons and Flintstones.

Whatever Happened to Robot Jones?- An enjoyable yet short-lived CN cartoon. It also had the most ironic title ever.

edited 31st Aug '14 11:03:56 AM by teddy

I don't really see this as being underrated at all. A lot of people have beefs with John K. for various reasons, but overall, R&S (Adult Party Cartoon notwithstanding) gets tons of praise.

edited 31st Aug '14 11:06:41 AM by redhed311

Yeah, though I do have a soft spot for the Games episodes too.

I don't know, I don't see it getting that much praise anymore. Games and APC aside. Usual just criticism for popularizing Grossout Shows, John k, and the close-ups :/

edited 31st Aug '14 11:10:48 AM by teddy

Phantom 2040 is an obscure animated TV series.

I think the Games episodes apply at least. Any fan will say the Spumco seasons were superior, but there were still plenty of quality moments in the Games era ('Insominiac Ren' and 'Scotsman In Space' for example). I also think they are too quick to demonise it due to how things went down with the creator.

Negating one of my previous posts, apparently Bob Camp did suffer Executive Meddling as much as John K according to an interview, just his cases were worsened by being completely inconsistent about it (most likely because Nick were starting to think the crudeness was what was making it sell and so wavered around censoring it or not).

Would it be truly heinous to say I thought The Cleveland Show had some great moments? It might be, as one critic put 'blackface Family Guy', but it's at least closer to the latter's glory days than what the real thing is right now. It was also about the one Seth show that knew how to play tongue in cheek right, not trying to stick in An Aesop with ridiculous earnesty within all the mean spirited and ridiculous humour.

edited 31st Aug '14 4:44:28 PM by Psi001

With the release of Sick Little Monkeys I think the tide is starting to turn in that we are realizing that the Games episodes are genuinely good, if not great like the Spumco episodes were.

Still, nobody can deny its impact. Certain shows probably would not exist in their current form without Ren And Stimpy.

In the wrong places saying so would be heinous. I never cared for the show, but it wasn't outright awful and had its moments.

edited 1st Sep '14 8:05:07 AM by Aldo930

You know, one of the last episodes "Reverend Jack" is pretty much a weird allegory of the circumstances that led to John K.'s firing.

Another set of cartoons I would like to mention that are underrated are from this company called Rabbit Ears Productions. A lot of people are not familiar with Rabbit Ears Productions, so many of these cartoons go under the radar. Some good stories that came out of this series were The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship narrated by Robin Williams, Pecos Bill narrated by Robin Williams, Anansi narrated by Denzel Washington and Stormalong narrated by John Candy.

W.I.T.C.H.

I love this show. I didn't watch it when it came on because I was too young, but I'm older now and I'm hooked. How this show was cancelled is beyond me. It isn't flawless, but overall it was one of the better shows on at the time. I wish it was on DVD here in the states so I could buy it. Memorable characters and a storyline that isn't too cheesy even if the action scenes could use some work.

I love the HBO Family special "The Sissy Duckling" since it's a different take on "The Ugly Duckling" from 1999. The song "Time Takes Time" from the same special is such a beautiful song.

I also loved the series "Storybook Musicals" since it adapts children's stories and turn them into a 25 minute or 30 minute special that has catchy and fun songs. My favorite is the musical version of "The Tale Of Peter Rabbit" (1991) and "Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel" (1990)