Ahh....nostalgia!
Most of these shows I didn't even watch regularly, but I am still nostalgic for them because I remember all the commercials and marketing. But I still get taken back when I see them again. Strange thing nostalgia.
But others of these shows (Peter Pan and the Pirates, Batman, Animaniacs, The Tick etc... ) I did regularly watch and enjoy.
Nostalgia for children's programming is a curiously fickle thing. Bruce Timm's aesthetic for Batman aside, I have zero love for the shows in this clip. I was in my late-20s when most of them aired, only watching when the younger nephs did and silently lamenting their manic-ness, noisiness, and obviousness (ditto this video host).
ReplyDeleteSome years back the Warner Brothers Looney Toons collection went on sale for a song, and I bit. I've watched a total of one DVD -- one, out of 24. The amount of time devoted to the LT opening and closing credits theme for every cartoon short was more than I could bear to endure, to say nothing of the many mediocre shorts that have been justifiably forgotten by most viewers.
I can remember my younger brother and sister really getting into Inspector Gadget. I tried watching with them, but couldn't manage it -- I was probably 18 or so. Then they'd talk about it over lunch, and I'd think, "Actually, that does sound pretty funny!" I'd try watching again, only to lose patience and move on to other stuff (likely another viewing of "Spock's Brain").
There's some stuff that endures, though. If I chance across The Flintstones I usually stay until the end. And Jay Ward's Rocky & Bullwinkle crowd is always good for grins.
I used to enjoy watching Arthur with the girls. That was a very well-written series.
Anyhoo -- some random thoughts/reactions.
I'll give you most of them.
ReplyDeleteSome of these shows I remember hating back in the 90s. I would watch them while I was waiting for something better to come on (this was back in the days before we had infinite choices of media), but I hated them.
...Still, seeing them now in this clip does bring on a wave of nostalgia. The carefree days of Saturday Morning. Breakfast cereal, milk, pajamas, and a whole morning free to watch cartoons. Even the cartoons I didn't like... seeing them now brings me back.
And there were some shows I really liked. As I mentioned above, Peter Pan and the Pirates, Batman, the Tick, and Animaniacs. It sounds like we're on the same page with Batman at least. I don't suppose I could convince you to reconsider Peter Pan and the Pirates or The Tick
Was Space: 1999 ever on your radar? I was 11 when I watched the first broadcast. I remember thinking, "It's not as good as Star Trek, but man -- it's still pretty good!" Fifteen years later I watched it again and had to admit it was terrible.
ReplyDeleteBut, yeah: that fits in with the Saturday morning PJs scenario, so far as I'm concerned. I might possibly be persuaded to give it another look, given the right circumstances.
The Tick is problematic. I initially knew it as an underground comic, akin to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (if you ever get the chance to get your velvet-gloved fingers on an original TMNT two-colored comic published in the '80s, do not hesitate). The Tick was animated shortly after TMNT became a Saturday morning staple. Comic nerds in the '80s regarded TV's TMNT as an abomination but were divided on The Tick. I've always thought he'd be great, but I've yet to see him elevated to that point. Better than TMNT, but only just.
I've seen most, if not all, of Batman: The Animated Series -- and there's lots I admire, but little that I love. Mark Hamill's "The Joker" would be the exception. I'm not entirely sure why the hesitation, but pacing tends to be an issue for me.
ReplyDeleteSorry, man. I know that's awfully snooty of me.
Actually, come to think of it, I don't remember when the last time I sat down and watched an episode of Batman was. Sometime in 1994 maybe? I might well find if I watched it nowadays that it has pacing problems.
ReplyDeleteI really do dig the style of it though.
The Tick, however, I did re-watch rather recently. (I guess by "recently" I mean about 10 years ago, but I guess the point being I re-watched it as an adult). And I thought it still help up.
I've never heard of Space 1999. I googled it just now to find out what it was.
It sounds pretty interesting based on the wikipedia page.