5 Bizarre ’80s Cartoons That You Completely Forgot About

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The 1980s gave us a lot of memorable pop culture, especially in movies and television, fundamentally changing what was popular at the time. While some ’80s shows are now considered classics, many others have been forgotten. Among those forgotten series, there are likely some surprisingly good ones – shows that were actually quite well-made but never gained widespread attention. And then there are the shows that were just… odd.

The 1980s had a lot of fantastic animated TV shows, but also some truly strange ones. Many of these are now just hazy memories, and people today would hardly believe they ever existed. Here are 5 of the most unusual and forgotten cartoons from that decade.

5) Rubik, the Amazing Cube (1983)

In the 1980s, many TV shows were based on toys, but Rubik, the Amazing Cube was particularly unusual. This short-lived series, lasting only 12 episodes, featured the Rubik’s Cube as a character battling an evil magician, with help from a group of kids. While the show itself was incredibly bizarre and didn’t make a lasting impression, the Rubik’s Cube puzzle remains popular today.

4) Shirt Tales (1982)

While many 1980s TV shows have a dedicated following, Shirt Tales isn’t one of them. The show was a strange attempt to create a cartoon based on Hallmark greeting cards. It featured animal characters who fought crime in Mid City, bizarrely mixing superheroes with the world of greeting cards – a combination that didn’t appeal to audiences then, and is largely forgotten now.

3) Fluppy Dogs (1984)

While many ’80s TV shows are remembered with nostalgia, Fluppy Dogs isn’t one of them. This largely forgotten show featured five talking dogs who came through a portal to join forces with two kids. Some see it as an early, quirky version of Sliders, combining adorable animals with science fiction. Most people consider it a bizarre product of the ’80s, and many have simply forgotten it ever existed.

2) Turbo Teen (1984)

Many consider Turbo Teen a strange and obvious copy of the popular 1980s show Knight Rider, and they’re probably right. This cartoon, which only lasted one season of 13 episodes in 1984, featured a teenager merged with a red sports car. He could transform between human and car form with changes in temperature. Along with his friends and dog, he fought crime and solved mysteries. It’s a truly odd cartoon that most people have forgotten.

1) Trollkins (1981)

The cartoon Trollkins was a strange mix of two very different shows: The Smurfs and The Dukes of Hazzard. It featured tiny trolls driving small cars around their village built in the trees. It was a truly unusual show, and even people who watched cartoons in the 1980s have largely forgotten about it.

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2026-05-29 19:11