5 Great 1980s Animated Shows Not Enough People Remember

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The 1980s were a fantastic time for animated TV shows. A change in regulations for children’s programming, combined with the huge popularity of action figures, led to a surge of classic cartoons. Shows like Transformers and G.I. Joe were incredibly popular, essentially building entire stories around their toys. Other series, such as He-Man and ThunderCats, brought fantasy adventures to weekend mornings, and Disney started making a comeback with shows like DuckTales. The decade produced many memorable characters and series, from the spooky adventures of The Real Ghostbusters to the teamwork of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends.

A surge in imaginative animation led to a huge variety of shows, but with so much content, many excellent ones were overlooked. These shows often had fresh ideas or combined genres in interesting ways, but they didn’t become as widely known or remembered. They’re hidden gems, full of fond memories for those who watched them originally and waiting to be enjoyed by new viewers.

5) C.O.P.S.

The animated series C.O.P.S. took place in the year 2020 in the futuristic city of Empire City and followed a team of high-tech police officers battling the criminal mastermind, Big Boss. What made the show popular was its memorable characters – each officer had a unique code name and a special cybernetic ability or gadget. Led by the serious Baldwin P. “Bulletproof” Vess (voiced by Ken Ryan), the Central Organization of Police Specialists felt like a science fiction take on a classic police drama. With the slogan “Fighting crime in a future time,” the series combined detective work with futuristic action, presenting each story as a specific case file. Although originally created to sell Hasbro toys, C.O.P.S. built a surprisingly detailed world and engaging character relationships, making it more than just a commercial.

4) Centurions

Okay, let me tell you about Centurions. With a tagline like “Man and Machine, Power Xtreme!,” this show immediately grabbed your attention. It was a really cool sci-fi concept: a team of three specialists who could basically become powerful weapons systems sent down from a space station. The action centered around the Sky Vault, where Crystal Kane analyzed threats from the villain Doc Terror and dispatched the team anywhere on Earth. What really struck me was the incredible detail in the designs – seriously, comic book legends Jack Kirby and Gil Kane lent their talents! But it wasn’t just about the tech; the show really focused on how Max Ray, Jake Rockwell, and Ace McCloud worked together as a team. Centurions was a standout because it fully committed to its futuristic vision and cleverly explored the idea of humans and technology merging into one.

3) BraveStarr

Blending science fiction with the feel of classic Westerns, BraveStarr took place on the faraway desert planet of New Texas. The show centered on Marshal BraveStarr, a Native American lawman (voiced by Pat Fraley), who kept the peace on this diverse frontier world, often battling the villain Tex Hex. What made BraveStarr stand out was its use of mystical powers within a space-western setting. BraveStarr could tap into the spirits of animals—like gaining the “Strength of the Bear” or the “Speed of the Puma”—to become superpowered. He was aided by his partner, Thirty/Thirty (voiced by Ed Gilbert), a robotic horse who could transform into a walking, shotgun-toting deputy. As the last animated series from the famous Filmation studio, BraveStarr also featured thoughtful moral lessons at the end of each episode, honestly addressing complex issues.

2) M.A.S.K.

M.A.S.K. was a popular 1980s cartoon that successfully blended the best parts of two other hit franchises: G.I. Joe and Transformers. The show followed the conflict between M.A.S.K., a team of technologically advanced heroes led by Matt Trakker, and V.E.N.O.M., a villainous terrorist group headed by Miles Mayhem. What made M.A.S.K. so appealing was its clever combination of transforming vehicles and special helmets. Each character’s vehicle could change into something else, and their helmet gave them a unique superpower, leading to exciting missions filled with both vehicle action and individual abilities.

1) Dino-Riders

Among the many imaginative cartoons of the 1980s, Dino-Riders stood out with a particularly interesting idea. The show centered on the Valorians, a peaceful, super-powered people fleeing the evil Rulon Empire. Accidentally flung through time, they crash-landed on Earth in the age of dinosaurs, and the Rulons followed. This set the stage for their battle to continue on this new world. What made Dino-Riders special was how each side used the dinosaurs. The Valorians befriended the creatures with their mental powers, fighting alongside them as partners. The Rulons, however, used devices to control the dinosaurs against their will, turning them into heavily armed weapons. This unique concept, along with the detailed dinosaur figures in the toy line, made Dino-Riders a memorable cartoon.

What ’80s cartoon do you wish would make a comeback? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-27 00:16