Ever since the 1980s ended, there’s been a strong wave of nostalgia for the decade’s cartoons, movies, and TV shows. A particularly successful brand from that time was , which transformed a classic action figure into a massive hit during the 1980s. Now, Paramount is planning a revival, and many other beloved franchises could see similar comebacks.
Lots of popular 1980s TV shows and cartoons are planned to be made into movies, but those projects haven’t been moving forward. Surprisingly, the recent lack of success with some reboots could actually help these older properties get made. Plus, because some of these shows have a single, established storyline, they might be easier to adapt for the big screen.
The Thundercats Need to Roar Once More
The 1980s cartoon Thundercats became incredibly popular as Masters of the Universe was losing steam. It’s best remembered for its stunning, anime-style opening sequence, which clearly influenced the 2011 reboot. Although the reboot received praise, it was short-lived, and a subsequent comedic version wasn’t well-received. A movie remake has been on hold since 2021, but now could be the perfect time to revisit the idea.
As a long-time fan, it feels like Thundercats is still really tied to that classic cartoon we all remember. Unlike something like Transformers, it hasn’t had a ton of different versions and storylines over the years, which actually makes a new adaptation easier. I don’t think a live-action movie is the way to go, though. I’d love to see an animated film, and I think it could really stand out if the animation style took inspiration from modern anime. Something like the look of K-Pop Demon Hunters could be amazing and really bring the Thundercats to a whole new audience.
M.A.S.K. Can Finally Roll Out Unencumbered
The 1980s cartoon and toy line M.A.S.K. was similar to G.I. Joe and Transformers, featuring a team fighting terrorism with vehicles that could transform—though they weren’t robots. Despite a cool concept, M.A.S.K. struggled because of competition from those other popular franchises, and the second season of the cartoon changed drastically. Ironically, after being bought by Hasbro (who also owned G.I. Joe and Transformers), it became linked to those properties. However, M.A.S.K. could potentially succeed as its own movie series.
The potential reboot of M.A.S.K. could be a blend of G.I. Joe and The Fast & the Furious, taking the core idea of the brand and adding in the racing elements from its second season. This gives Paramount a backup plan if their G.I. Joe reboot doesn’t succeed, and offers another opportunity for someone to bring M.A.S.K. back to life. Plus, with the Transformers movies currently paused, now is a good time to relaunch M.A.S.K. without it being overshadowed by comparisons to that franchise.
The Silverhawks Can Be More Than the “Partly” Real Deal
Silverhawks was created as a follow-up to the popular Thundercats, but instead of cat-like characters, it featured heroes who were part human, part bird-like cyborgs. Along with Tigersharks – a show that’s largely been forgotten – it formed a series of similar shows. However, Silverhawks didn’t achieve the same level of success as Thundercats. Still, it maintains a dedicated fanbase, and with fewer similar brands competing for attention now, it might be a good time for a revival.
A movie adaptation of Silverhawks is long overdue, and animation would be the best approach. Creating realistic-looking Silverhawks costumes for a live-action film would be incredibly expensive. Plus, if Silverhawks gets a reboot before Thundercats, it could finally step out of that show’s shadow and gain its own dedicated fanbase, potentially becoming even more popular with modern audiences.
Visionaries Needs to Stay Far Away from Transformers
Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light wasn’t very successful and is largely forgotten today. The toys relied on expensive, light-activated stickers, which made them difficult to sell. Recently, the brand is mostly known for a poorly received crossover with the IDW Transformers comic series, as part of a larger, unsuccessful attempt by Hasbro to create a shared universe. Plans for a movie have been discussed for over ten years, but haven’t progressed.
As a huge animation fan, I’ve always thought Visionaries had so much potential. Its whole thing with light powers would translate beautifully into a modern animated series. And honestly, a new toy line feels like a no-brainer – the light-based effects wouldn’t be nearly as expensive to manufacture now. To really get kids hooked, leaning into a style like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem would be brilliant. But the biggest key? Ditch the awkward connection to Transformers that the comics tried. If they do that, I genuinely think a new Visionaries could be a huge success – much bigger than the original ever was.
Biker Mice from Mars Can Give New Meaning to “Rat Fink”
Disney remains the dominant force in family animation, even globally, though they’ve faced some challenges recently. Now is the ideal moment for another studio to directly compete with Disney by creating a bold, unconventional animated film – something completely different from their classic style. A reboot of Biker Mice from Mars could be the perfect way to establish themselves as a genuine alternative to Disney.
The Biker Mice franchise has seen a small resurgence lately with a new comic book series and a guest spot on the RoboForce animated show. A potential movie could succeed if it followed a similar path to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but ideally with a different studio taking the lead. Paramount hasn’t really explored darker themes with the Biker Mice, which creates an opportunity for a reboot that could offer a grittier, more mature take and show the Turtles how to do it right with a rougher animation style.
Street Sharks Could Become a Jawsome Parody
Street Sharks was clearly inspired by the popularity of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, taking similar ideas and amplifying them. The show featured incredibly muscular, shark-human hybrids—created through a secret experiment—who fought other monstrous creatures. Throughout the series, a predictable environmental message was heavily emphasized. Interestingly, the original pitch video for the Street Sharks toys was presented by an actor who could be a strong choice for a potential reboot of the franchise.
A live-action or animated Street Sharks movie is a possibility, with animation potentially being the stronger choice. Like Biker Mice from Mars, it could offer a more intense, action-oriented alternative to the lighter tone of Disney. Importantly, it has the potential to become the next Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, especially since Mutant Mayhem didn’t perform as well as expected, and even surpass the original franchise that inspired it.
Dino-Riders Is and Isn’t a Marvel Cartoon
While most people remember Dino-Riders as a toy line, the 1980s cartoon was actually produced by Marvel Productions and aired as part of the “Marvel Action Hour.” Despite this connection, the rights to Dino-Riders aren’t held by Marvel Comics. The series was created by comic book writer Gerry Conway, and featured voice actors Peter Cullen and Dan Gilvezan, both famous for their work on Transformers as Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.
The brand is mostly known for inspiring Rex, the dinosaur character in Toy Story, who even makes a subtle reference to his origins in the Dino-Riders toy line. While there haven’t been any updates on a potential Dino-Riders movie since 2018, a live-action adaptation would be a great fit. There’s currently no major franchise that truly competes with the scale of something like Game of Thrones, and Dino-Riders—with its unique blend of fantasy, sci-fi, and dinosaurs—could be a strong contender. A reboot offers a lot of creative freedom since the original source material isn’t heavily defined, and this imaginative mix of genres could really stand out.
Centurions Was an American Take on Mecha Anime
The cartoon Centurions was created by Ruby-Spears. The show followed a team dedicated to defeating the villainous Doc Terror, and they accomplished this using special exosuits that merged humans with technology, granting them incredible power. The character designs were created by comic book icons Jack Kirby and Gil Kane. The animation was handled by Nippon Sunrise, a Japanese anime studio famous for mecha shows like Mobile Suit Gundam.
Turning the Centurions movie into an anime film would be a fantastic move, especially considering the recent resurgence of Gundam‘s popularity. Anime itself is more popular than ever, so blending the movie’s global appeal with exciting mecha action—a hallmark of anime—could be the perfect way to bring this 1980s classic back to life.
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2026-03-12 02:10