In the 1980s, toy manufacturers looked to target a whole new audience by going after kids who had no money, but had great influence over the buying power of their parents. They knew that if they could get kids hooked on certain brands, the grown-ups would fork over big dollars to keep them happy. It was capitalism at its finest during a decade when consumerism ran rampant, as everyone looked to keep up with the Joneses.
This translated to many toy brands being turned into Saturday morning cartoons, and after-school cartoons that appealed to kids in ways never seen before. Animation allowed the imagination to run wild, making kids think that if they possessed the toys these shows were derived from, they could create their own adventures at home. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular cartoons of the 1980s that were based on toys still beloved to this day.
Pound Puppies (1986)
Released in 1986 and lasting for 26 episodes,Pound Puppieswas produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, the same company behind the likes ofThe Flintstones,Scooby-Doo, andTom and Jerry. It centered ona lovable group of caninesthat did their best to find a home for puppies in need. Along with their human companion, Holly, they also worked to thwart the dastardly plans of Captain Slaughter, a menacing antagonist with a metallic hand, and Katrina Stoneheart, Holly’s evil godmother.
Why It Was Popular
Created by Mike Bowling in 1984, Pound Puppies were a series of plush dogs with big ears and droopy eyes that were first sold in Canada before being picked up by Tonka, and distributed worldwide. Sales in the first five years were in the $300 million dollar range, leading to the popular toy line being turned into an animated TV special in 1985, before becoming a full-fledged series the following year. While it’s difficult to add lore to a toy line of stuffed dogs, the series succeeded in many ways by creating a compelling backstory for the puppies that saw them descend from a long line of helpful dogs. Though the animation may seem rather rudimentary today, it captivated a generation of kids who were caught up in the toy craze of the 1980s that began earlier in the decade with Cabbage Patch Kids.
Rubik, the Amazing Cube (1983)
Released in 1983,Rubik, the Amazing Cubewas a half-hour Saturday morning cartoon that could often be seen paired withThe Pac-Man, another animated series on ABC. The show focused on a group of kids who find a Rubik’s Cube and discover that not only is it alive, but it also has magical powers. Together, they solve various mysteries,Scooby-Doostyle, all while trying to keep the cube out of the hands of an evil magician.
When it comes to items that defined a decade, you can definitely add Rubik’s Cube to the list of 1980s toys that took the world by storm. The 3-D puzzle was created by a Hungarian professor of architecture, and between 1980 and 1983, it sold roughly 200 million units. It even spawned the World Rubik’s Games Championship to see who could solve the cube the fastest, and it wasn’t too long before Hollywood took note, and decided to make an animated series based on the popular puzzle. While the plot was a bit of a stretch, for kidssitting in front of their televisions on Saturday morning, it was enough to pique their interest over a bowl of cereal. The storylines were fun, the characters were relatable, and the cube had a unique voice that made everyone laugh.
Dino-Riders (1988)
Released in 1988 as part of the Marvel Action Universe block of programming that also featured an animated version ofRoboCop,Dino-Riderssaw the Valorians, a superhuman race of beings, battling the evil Rulon Alliance, a race of humanoid creatures that included sharks, snakes, and crocodiles. Taking place during prehistoric times, the Valorians managed to befriend the dinosaurs, while the Rulon Alliance did everything in their power to brainwash them.
Why It was Popular
Dinosaurs have always been a favorite among kids, but when paired with rockets, metallic saddles, and heroic companions, you have the makings of a toy that allows the imagination to run wild. Coupled with the release of the animated series in the hopes of selling more merchandise, theDino-Riderstoys were so detailed that Tyco was approached by the Smithsonian Institute to reproduce them for their ‘Dinosaur and other Prehistoric Reptile Collection’ display. While the series could be seen as a take on the likes ofTransformers,or evenHe-Man, it separated itself enough from the pack to stand on its own for a while, and though it only lasted for a brief time, its influence can still be felt in such shows asDinoSquad, andDinotrux.
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The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (1986)
Plush toys were all the rage in the 1980s, so it’s no surprise thatThe Adventures of Teddy Ruxpinwas given the green light in 1986. Airing in syndication, the show followed everyone’s favorite talking bear, Teddy Ruxpin, as he and his best friend went in search of enchanted crystals in the land of Grundo.
While stuffed animals were a staple for kids in the 1980s, Teddy Ruxpin took them to a whole new level by incorporating animatronics that allowed the bear to talk. An audio cassette was inserted in Ruxpin’s back, and when played, his mouth would move as if he were telling the story. This led to it becoming the best-selling toy of ‘85 and ‘86, and when the animated series debuted, kids were in awe seeing their beloved toy come to life on the small screen. What madeThe Adventures of Teddy Ruxpindiffer from other cartoons at the time is that rather than featuring self-contained episodes, it was presented in a serialized format, meaning kids had to tune in if they wanted to see what happened next. It lasted for 65 episodes, and it’s hard not to see its influencein such franchises asFive Nights at Freddy’s.
Stream on Amazon Prime
My Little Pony ‘n Friends (1986)
Debuting as an animated special, and then a theatrical movie,My Little Pony ‘n Friendseventually found its way to TV in 1986. The story was simple, but cute, with various ponies living in the mystical land of Ponyland. While they preferred to live in peace, they often found themselves warding off witches, goblins, and other creatures that looked to disturb their otherwise serene existence.
Still a favorite today, My Little Pony has had a lasting effect on pop culture. The toy line was first introduced in 1981 under the name My Pretty Pony, but a lack of success caused Hasbro to reintroduce the line in 1982, this time adding more colors, and changing the name to My Little Pony. The shift in focus worked, and caused the toys to blow up among young girls, who spent hours combing the hair of their favorite ponies. Though the animated feature film was a flop for Hasbro, the seriesMy Little Pony ‘n Friendsperformed much better, allowing kids to see a more expanded version of the mythos behind their favorite toy. This led to it lasting for 65 episodes, and while it ended in 1987, it resonated throughout the years with fans who grew up on the show. This paved the way for a revival in 2010, and as of right now, the seriesMy Little Pony: Make Your Markis still going strong on Netflix.
Stream on Tubi
M.A.S.K. (1985)
PartTransformers, partG.I. Joe,M.A.S.K.hit the airwaves in 1985 and followed the Mobile Armored Strike Kommand as they used transforming vehicles to battle the Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem (V.E.N.O.M.), all while wearing helmets infused with superpowers. To say the 1980s loved their acronyms would be an understatement, but this animated series took the best of both worlds and combined them into a new take on the battle of good versus evil.
Hasbro had the toy market cornered in the mid-8'0s, and seemed unstoppable, so it was no surprise that Kenner wanted to take a piece of the market share by introducing a line of toys completely different from theStar Warsaction figures they were known for. Releasing shortly before the animated series premiered, theM.A.S.K.figures were bold, bright, and featured a whole host of gimmicks aimed at youngsters with big imaginations. The success of the toys led to the cartoon becoming a hit, and it ran for 75 episodes over the course of the next year. It would go on to be adapted into comics, and video games, and with Kenner eventually being purchased by Hasbro, there’s even been talk of M.A.S.K. making its way to the big screen.
ThunderCats (1985)
Few things were as enjoyable for kids in the ’80s as running home from school to catch up on your treasured cartoons. We all had our favorites, and among them wasThunderCats, which aired in syndication from 1985 to 1989. The story followed a race of humanoid cats that escape their dying planet, only to land on Third Earth, and do battle with the Mutants of Plun-Darr. Featuring magic, action, and a host of colorful characters,ThunderCatshad something for everyone, and is greatly revered by Generation X.
The Masters of the Universe toy line from Mattel that featured characters fromHe-Manwere so popular in the early ’80s that other companies were looking to capitalize on its success. Few were able to hit the target, but LJN managed to gain a foothold when they released theThunderCatstoy line in conjunction with the animated series. BasicallyHe-Manbut with felines,ThunderCatstook the beloved pet and turned it into a juggernaut of a franchise, creating a whole universe for kids to enjoy. The cartoon was so successful that it ran for 130 episodes, which was an amazing achievement for the time. It can regularly be found on lists focused on the best cartoons ever made, and a live-action film is currently in development from Warner Bros., with Adam Wingard (Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire) set to direct.
Stream on Hulu
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983)
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
There have been just a handful of classic cartoons that have managed to penetrate into pop culture over the years, andHe-Man and the Masters of the Universeis definitely on the list of shows that have had a lasting impact on kids of the 1980s. Released in 1983, the series told the tale of Prince Adam of Eternia, who, when wielding the Sword of Power, transforms into He-Man to do battle against the evil forces of Skeletor that threaten his home of Castle Grayskull.
Developed by Mattel in the late 1970s and hitting store shelves in 1982, the originalHe-Mantoy line featured character descriptions on the package, and would later include mini comic books to expand on the lore of Eternia. Taking inspiration fromConan the Barbarian, the figures featured big muscles, and lots of weaponry that kids could employ in their imaginary battles. In the first four years alone, the toys sold roughly $400 million dollars worth in the United States, and the subsequent animated series helped bolster those sales to dizzying heights. The show garnered nine million viewers in its first year, which was a huge success at the time. It would later spawn an entire franchise of spin-offs, movies, and comics, and it has seen a resurgence as of late thanks to two hit Netflix shows, which include an updated version of the original, andShe-Ra and the Princesses of Power.
Buy on Apple TV
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G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1983)
The Cold War between the Soviet Union and America was at its peak in the early 1980s, with everyone concerned about the threat of nuclear war. Of course, if you were a kid at the time, all you cared about were cereal, and cartoons, and what better way to patriotize kids than withG.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, which saw the heroic, militarized good guys battling the forces of Cobra in a race to see who could gain control over a weapon of mass destruction.
What Made It Popular
Army men have always been a staple of toys for kids, ever since they were created in 1938. Hasbro took the concept to a whole new level when they released theG.I. Joetoy line in 1982 to coincide with the release of a comic book series of the same name from Marvel. This one-two punch into the market allowed kids to not only create their own battles, but visualize them as well, thanks to pen and ink. When the animated series debuted in 1983, kids sat mystified in front of their televisions, watching these battles come to life in glorious technicolor. During its original run, the series produced 95 episodes that were imprinted on the brains of children for years to come. It saw a revival in 1989, and again in 1995. There’s been live-action movies, video games, and comics galore, and it did its job well by inspiring a generation of kids to grow upand join the military.
Transformers (1984)
The Transformers
Airing from 1984 until 1987, the animated seriesTransformerscaptured the imagination of kids by combining their two favorite things: cars, and robots. The series saw two factions of Transformers, known as Autobots, and Decepticons, wage war on Earth after leaving their home planet of Cybertron to search for a new source of energy to aid them in their never-ending battles.
Inspired by the Japanese toy line, Microman, theTransformersline from Hasbro was released before the debut of the animated series, and saw 28 characters in all, which included the likes of Optimus Prime, Jazz, Megatron, Soundwave, and Starscream. These innovative creations featured a backstory helmed by Marvel editor Jim Shooter, and were once again released in conjunction with a series of comic books, a marketing technique that did wonders forG.I. Joethe previous year. This all led to the animated series becoming a smash hit that lasted for 98 episodes during its original, syndicated run. An animated theatrical movie in 1986 would only serve to bolster its popularity, and the toys and TV show have gone on to be known for not only helping to define the decade, but our youth as well.
