In the 80s we have some great action figures…and sometimes they had great cartoons to go along with them. Transformers, He-Man, G.I. Joe, Voltron and Thundercats come to mind as some of the best, or most memorable at least, of the 80s action cartoons.
Then there were the rest…some featured celebrities, some were thinly veiled knock offs of other successful shows…others were just plain crap. After careful consideration, and knowing full well that there this list could spark a debate that could burn as eternally as the Springfield tire fire, I present to you…the 10 Worst 80s Action Cartoons.
10. Dinosaucers
Anthropomorphic Dinosaurs that can “Dinovolve” into regular looking Dinosaurs?!? What’s not to love! It’s like Transformers…but 100% Dino-tastic!!! Dinosaucers last only 1 season in the 80s, but those 65 episodes would be broadcast well into the mid-90s on networks desperate for cheap content. The show as so unsuccessful that the toyline based on it was cancelled before it even hit the shelves.
9. Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs
Attempting to capitalize on the success of shows like Galaxy Rangers and Bravestarr, WEP, the company behind Voltron, decided to grab a moderately successful anime series called Star Musketeer Bismarck, and rework it as Saber Rider.
They did manage a catchy theme song that I will occasionally still burst out into song over, and you have to love their giant robot RAMROD, but overall…it was lame as lame can be.
8. Voltron Vehicle Force
Speaking of WEP and their sucktastic line-up, the Vehicle Voltron Force will forever earn a spot on lists like this if for no other reason than because the entire voice cast was the same as the Voltron Lion Force, and no one even bothered to TRY and sound different. Kids would sit down to something that sounded EXACTLY like the Voltron they knew…even the music was the same…but everyone looked different. It was confusing as all hell.
The robot did look pretty bad ass, though…but that alone is not enough to keep it off our list.
7. Dino-Riders
The second, and last, “Dinosaurs meet Technology” cartoon on our list are the Dino-Riders. 14 episodes of this show were produced, solely for the purpose of launching the Tyco toyline of the same name.
While the toy line met with limited success, and high enough praise that the Smithsonian released the Dinosaur figures (minus futuristic weapons) themselves as a toy line, the cartoon show blew.
6. Bionic Six
“They are a family…and they make me wanna puke…” those aren’t EXACTLY the words from the cartoon theme song…but damn they should be. I always liked the toys in this line because of their transparent bionic parts, but this show, which admittedly looks like it had high production values was just god awful…
5. Rambo – The Force of Freedom
Why, dear lord why, would you take an exceptionally violent film series (Rambo III is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most violent film EVER) and turn it into a cartoon where I shirtless man can fly through a glass window without scratch on him? Oh yeah…to sell toys. I forgot.
4. Mr. T and the All American Team
Speaking of things that ought not be turned into television shows…just why the hell is Mr. T traveling around the country with a bunch of gymnastics kids fighting crime? I mean seriously…is the because of all the cocaine in the 80s? Is that where this came from?
3. Tigersharks
What would happen if the guys behind Thundercats decided to do a show JUST LIKE Thundercats…but with sea life? THIS!
2. Gobots
These little bastards wanted to be Transformers so bad it hurts. Just look at them…they’re just waiting for the day when Hasbro buys them up so they can join the “real” transforming robots on a successful show.
1. Turbo Teen
Turbo Teen wanted to be Knight Rider so bad it could almost taste it. The horrible, horrible excuse for a cartoon aired duing the height of Knight Rider’s popularity, and mimicked the show in every way legally possible.
This terrible excuse for an animated series only last one terrible, terrible season.
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So there you have it. I’m sure you can think of shows that you think would be better suited for this list, so feel free to mention them in the comments below…
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Hahaha. I loved Dinosaucers! I had forgotten all about it until just now. Nice.
SA-BER RIDERRRRRRRRR…AND THE STAR SHERIFFS!!!!!!! I loved that show! I thought I was the only person on the planet who remembered that show. When I sing it at home or at the hospital everyone looks at me like I’ve lost my mind and no one knows what I’m talking about when I ask about the show.
Gobots…arg..I remember getting the toys as a kid when I asked for Transformers =(
Hey don’t knock the Dino riders – it was wayyyy kewl… my parents bought me the pterodon rider but I wanted the allosaurus one. I’m still bitter… :))
I’m pretty sure the plots and animation it was no worse than He-man. I reckon it failed cause the toys didn’t sell well ;)
Bravestarr.
Speed of a Puma, Strength of a Bear!
It also featured a talking horse who had a shotgun he called Sarah Jane.
You have to admit that Dinosaucers had a sweet them song. I still sing it sometimes. It is going to be stuck in my head today.
For some reason I get a mixed response with Dinosaucers, some people remember it (and get a little misty-eyed), or others vehemently argue that it never existed.
Gobots sucked times 10. I hated that show. They were like the retarded Transformers. Seriously, if robots could have downs syndrome, they would be the Gobots. Look at their faces. That red scooter gobot had a ridiculous voice, too.
Wow, I remember a lot of these – they were really cool when I was 5.
Thank God someone mentioned on one of these worst ever Cartoon lists how horribly bad those Gobots were! I HATED them growing up and made fun of anyone who watched the show or played with the toys. They were clearly wannabes!
Thumbs up from me!
Hey, anyone remembers this other cartoon based on cavemen and dinosaur bones? I still remember the toys were huge sets of bones that you could inter-changed and re-attached to make your own freak dino-skeleton. By the way, dino-riders roxx!~
Robotix anyone!
I love the Go Bots!
don’t agree vehicle voltron and saber rider were good shows. get them on dvd and you will see. as for Dinosaucers it was the writing cool show great concept but over all the delivery was weak
I loved dinosaucers when I was a kid same with tigersharks. They were way better cartoons than the new stupid ones with no creativity. Atleast those were well drawn cartoons. Not sure why are they in this list.
Man have you seen the cartoons now days? Because we had it good growing up most of your list I loved as a kid. Not to mention that after school and Saturday morning cartoons are all but gone.
Saber Rider was a good show! I just wish they had made toys. Dinorider toys were awesome and I still have mine. Though I barely remember the show.