Before streaming, before binge-watching, before even remote controls, there were Saturday morning cartoons. The 1970s delivered an explosion of animated brilliance that entertained, educated, and enchanted an entire generation. This article is your ultimate guide to 40 of the most classic cartoons from that unforgettable decade. Check them out!
40 Famous Cartoons From The 1970s
Looney Tunes
Few old cartoons from the 70s define childhood like Looney Tunes. With a cast of unforgettable characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Tweety, it dominated Saturday mornings with slapstick comedy, clever dialogue, and colorful animation. In the ’70s, reruns and new shorts made Looney Tunes a staple for generations, offering both nostalgic charm and timeless humor.
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
Launched in 1969, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! defined 1970s cartoon mystery. Every week, Scooby and his teenage pals unmasked “ghosts” and solved spooky crimes. With its catchy theme song, lovable Great Dane protagonist, and goofy-but-clever antics, it became an icon in pop culture history. Its blend of suspense, laughs, and groovy vibes was irresistible to kids everywhere.
The Pink Panther Show
Smooth, jazzy, and hilariously understated, The Pink Panther Show brought the stylish pink feline to life on TV. Often silent but always expressive, the Pink Panther’s slapstick antics were matched by the blundering Inspector Clouseau’s chaos. Originally spun off from movie intros, the show became a masterclass in visual comedy and minimalist storytelling during the 1970s.
Super Friends
What happens when Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman join forces? You get Super Friends, the ultimate superhero team-up cartoon of the ’70s. Packed with thrilling rescues, lessons on morality, and classic DC villains, the show inspired countless young fans. It offered action, teamwork, and larger-than-life stories, minus the grit, perfect for weekend television.
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
With a funky theme and heartfelt storytelling, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids was more than just a cartoon. It followed a group of kids in an urban neighborhood, tackling real-life issues like peer pressure, bullying, and honesty. Created by Bill Cosby, the show balanced laughs and life lessons, making it one of the era’s most socially conscious series.
The Jetsons
Though originally aired in the 1960s, The Jetsons was a futuristic favorite that soared through ’70s syndication. Set in Orbit City, it portrayed a family living with robot maids, flying cars, and video calls decades before they became real! The show’s clever satire of modern life and imaginative tech made it a beloved window into the “future.”
The Bugs Bunny Show
Bugs Bunny’s smart-aleck charm never aged, and The Bugs Bunny Show kept him in the spotlight throughout the ’70s. Mixing classic animation with clever commentary and musical segments, the show reminded viewers why Bugs, Elmer Fudd, and Yosemite Sam were comedy gold. It showcased animation’s golden age while staying fresh for a new audience.
Schoolhouse Rock!
Who could forget “I’m Just a Bill” sitting on Capitol Hill? Schoolhouse Rock! used catchy songs and lively animation to teach kids about grammar, math, science, and civics. These short segments aired between cartoons and became surprisingly educational hits. Fun and effective, they turned dry subjects into singable, memorable concepts for generations of young learners.
Josie and the Pussycats
Josie, Valerie, and Melody rocked their way through wild adventures in Josie and the Pussycats. Clad in leopard-print costumes, this traveling all-girl band solved mysteries while touring the world. Combining pop music, fashion, and detective work, the show was both stylish and empowering, especially for girls who hadn’t seen themselves leading animated adventures before.
The Flintstones Comedy Hour
Expanding the world of The Flintstones, this variety-style spin-off mixed musical numbers, comedy skits, and adventures with iconic characters like Fred, Barney, Wilma, and Betty. Adding teenage Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm to the spotlight, it refreshed the prehistoric fun for younger audiences, blending modern satire with Stone Age puns in a family-friendly format.
Jabberjaw
What do you get when you mix a talking shark, teenage bandmates, and underwater cities? Jabberjaw – a hilarious take on the ‘70s pop band trend. Inspired by Jaws and The Beatles, this show followed Jabberjaw, a lovable, clumsy shark drummer, and his pals as they battled goofy villains beneath the sea. His catchphrase? “I don’t get no respect!”
The Muppet Show
A delightful mix of puppetry, music, and zany humor, The Muppet Show wasn’t animated, but its colorful characters felt right at home among 70s cartoons. With Kermit the Frog hosting and Miss Piggy stealing the spotlight, this variety show welcomed celebrity guests and entertained families with sketches, songs, and timeless silliness that bridged generations.
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
Captain Caveman! With his wild hair, fur cape, and massive club, this prehistoric superhero teamed up with three teenage girls to solve mysteries. Think Scooby-Doo meets Tarzan with lots of grunting and slapstick. The show’s charm lay in Caveman’s over-the-top antics and the groovy crime-solving spirit of his sidekicks.
Hong Kong Phooey
By day, he’s a janitor. By night, he’s the clumsiest kung-fu crime fighter ever! Hong Kong Phooey delivered hilarious martial arts mayhem, voiced by the iconic Scatman Crothers. Despite his lack of actual skill, Phooey always saved the day, thanks more to luck than technique. A catchy theme and lovable sidekick made it unforgettable.
The New Adventures of Batman
Bringing the Dark Knight to Saturday mornings, The New Adventures of Batman featured the Caped Crusader and Robin fighting crime alongside Bat-Mite, a mischievous imp from another dimension. With bright animation and campy villains, it offered a lighter, kid-friendly version of Gotham that balanced action with humor.
Underdog
“There’s no need to fear; Underdog is here!” This humble, rhyming superhero dog swooped in to save the day against cartoonish villains like Simon Bar Sinister. With parody elements of Superman, it was both a fun adventure and a gentle satire, winning hearts through its quirky charm and moral storytelling.
The Addams Family
America’s favorite creepy, kooky family returned in animated form during the 1970s. The Addams Family cartoon adapted the live-action show’s weird and wonderful humor for younger audiences. Gomez, Morticia, and the gang were still delightfully odd, but now their misadventures came with a dash more silliness and spooky fun.
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show
This Flintstones spin-off gave us teen drama Bedrock-style. Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm navigated high school with charm, style, and Stone Age slang. With catchy songs and lessons about growing up, this show was relatable, even in a world of dinosaurs and prehistoric drive-ins. It added heart and humor to the original’s legacy.
Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle
Far from a bumbling jungle brute, this animated Tarzan was wise, articulate, and brave. Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle offered lush backdrops and compelling adventures as the titular hero protected the jungle from threats. Its storytelling was deeper than most Saturday cartoons, mixing action with moral strength and environmental awareness.
The All-New Popeye Hour
Popeye returned to animated TV with fresh episodes and new characters. Still chugging spinach to save Olive Oyl from Bluto, Popeye’s nautical nonsense remained strong. Added segments like Dinky Dog and Private Olive Oyl brought variety to the hour-long format. It was a fun reinvention of a classic character.
The Hardy Boys
Frank and Joe Hardy got an animated twist in this musical mystery show. They weren’t just solving crimes; they were solving crimes while touring as a rock band. Each episode blended suspense, songs, and sibling teamwork. The groovy vibes and adventurous plots made it a unique entry in the detective cartoon niche.
Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch
Meet Wheelie, a red hot rod with a mind of his own. Alongside a gang of rival biker motorcycles, Wheelie honked his way through cartoon capers without speaking a word. This fast-paced vehicle comedy used expressive sounds, inventive chases, and quirky designs to keep young audiences racing back for more.
Speed Buggy
This talking dune buggy and his human crew zipped through mysteries around the world. Speed Buggy combined the mechanics of Scooby-Doo with auto-racing flair, featuring fast-paced adventures, humorous villains, and lovable characters. Speedy’s endearing “vroom-vroom” speech made him a memorable Saturday morning hero for gearheads and mystery fans alike.
Plastic Man
With rubbery limbs and wild transformations, Plastic Man was a superhero like no other. This animated version of the DC Comics character delivered laugh-out-loud action. His sidekicks, Baby Plas and Hula Hula, added comedic chaos, and his battles with bizarre villains were always zany. Think superhero antics with a slapstick twist.
The Funky Phantom
A ghost from the Revolutionary War and his cat team up with three modern teens to solve mysteries. Yes, really! The Funky Phantom blended historical oddity with Scooby-Doo vibes. Ghostly laughs, talking pets, and spooky clues made it a charmingly offbeat mystery series with a time-traveling flavor.
Groovie Goolies
Imagine Frankenstein, Dracula, and a werewolf jamming in a monster rock band. Welcome to Groovie Goolies! Each episode was filled with madcap musical numbers, puns, and ghoulish gags. Like a spooky variety show for kids, it celebrated classic monsters in the most cheerful and entertaining way imaginable.
The New Shmoo
Based on Al Capp’s Li’l Abner character, The New Shmoo was about a lovable blob that could shapeshift into anything. Solving mysteries with a group of teens, Shmoo was endearing, helpful, and downright adorable. A bizarre but memorable character, he brought cartoon elasticity to new heights.
Valley of the Dinosaurs
A family gets transported to prehistoric times and must survive among dinosaurs, cavemen, and wild landscapes. Valley of the Dinosaurs offered an exciting, educational twist on the adventure genre, combining action with survival lessons and respect for nature. It was both thrilling and smart – a rare combo in animated series.
Clue Club
Teen detectives and their snarky dogs, Woofer and Wimper, took center stage in Clue Club. This Hanna-Barbera mystery series followed a now-familiar formula but added its own charm with high-tech gadgets, quirky humor, and doggie commentary. It was a fun, slightly nerdier cousin to Scooby-Doo.
Fred Flintstone and Friends
Fred was back, but not alone! This anthology-style show featured The Flintstones alongside other Hanna-Barbera hits. Fred served as the host, introducing episodes of cartoons like The Thing, Captain Caveman, and Dino and Cavemouse. It was a prehistoric package show for fans of Bedrock and beyond.
The New Adventures of Gilligan
Shipwrecked again! The New Adventures of Gilligan brought the cute cartoon characters from the classic sitcom to animation. While still stranded, the crew’s misadventures were exaggerated with colorful visuals and light-hearted humor. Gilligan’s goof-ups and the Professor’s gadgets kept things fun in this tropical cartoon revival.
The Roman Holidays
Imagine The Flintstones, but Roman. The Roman Holidays followed a family living in a modernized ancient Rome. Chariots, temples, and toga-clad neighbors offered a clever historical twist to the basic cartoon formula. It didn’t last long, but its witty take on daily life in the past was refreshingly creative.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Before her sitcom fame, Sabrina was enchanting kids in animated form. This early ’70s version followed Sabrina and her magical misadventures with aunts Hilda and Zelda and her mischievous cat, Salem. Her spells often caused more trouble than they solved, making each episode a whimsical mix of fantasy and fun.
The New Fantastic Four
Marvel’s first family got the animated treatment with one major change: the Human Torch was replaced by a robot named H.E.R.B.I.E. Still, The New Fantastic Four brought comic book action to life with episodes full of space travel, supervillains, and teamwork from Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, and the Thing.
The Banana Splits Adventure Hour
Zany costumed animals hosted this part-live-action, part-animated variety show. Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper, and Snorky introduced delightful cartoon segments, played music, and performed sketches. With psychedelic visuals and slapstick chaos, it was an unfiltered dose of 70s weirdness, equal parts surreal and silly.
Laff-a-Lympics
All your favorite Hanna-Barbera characters competed in wild sporting events in Laff-a-Lympics. Divided into three teams, the Scooby Doobies, Yogi Yahooeys, and Really Rottens, these contests were full of goofy gags and good-natured rivalry. It was a cartoon crossover dream come true, with nonstop action and laughs.
Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines
Villains rarely had more fun than Dick Dastardly and his wheezy dog sidekick, Muttley. Their mission? Catch Yankee Doodle Pigeon. Their methods? Completely bonkers. Full of slapstick mishaps and that unforgettable snickering laugh, this aviation-themed spin-off from Wacky Races was all about failure and humor.
Godzilla
This animated reimagining of the King of Monsters turned Godzilla into a good guy! Helping humans fend off alien threats and giant creatures, Godzilla teamed up with a science team and the adorable Godzooky. Though toned down for kids, the action and roars still had giant-sized appeal.
The Jackson 5ive
Michael, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon rocked the cartoon world in The Jackson 5ive. Mixing animated adventures with musical performances, the show gave fans a peek into the band’s “tour life” with a little creative license. With infectious tunes and playful plots, it was a groovy ride.
Batfink
With “wings of steel” and sonar-powered crimefighting, Batfink was a tongue-in-cheek superhero parody. This caped crusader, half bat, half comic genius, fought goofy villains with deadpan humor and gadgetry. Though lesser known, it offered witty satire and classic superhero tropes that poked fun while paying homage.
