Rethinking the Top 10 Overrated Cartoons?

Back in the early 2010s. I used to participate in a number of memes found on DeviantArt. I would use certain templates to offer my thoughts and opinions in my spare time. One of these included a list of 'overrated cartoons', in which I would talk about animated series' I felt didn't deserve the praise or attention they received. 

Since I made this list, I've learned to be more thoughtful and constructive with my criticisms. So I thought why not look back on this list and re-evaluate these choices, and see how my opinions hold up. I'm not doing this to sound like a Mr Enter wannabe, but rather take a look at each animated series with a perspective that offers a much fair assessment. Oh, and in case you're wondering, I'm not going to do the same with my list of 'underrated cartoons'; as I don't think there's much I can change there (and I've already talked about most of the choices enough times on this blog.

10. South Park

It figures that one of the choices for this list would be a controversial pick, as these 4 boys in the cutout Colorado town are no strangers to controversy. Chances are, many children were (and still are) prevented from watching 'South Park', and I was one of those children. That may be a contributing factor in my opinion at the time. When I was at the age to watch it, and any time I did; it just wasn't to my taste. I am aware of how popular and significant it is to many people, but the truth of the matter is that I could not stand how vulgar, crass, and shocking it can be. I'm no expert on comedy, but it's my understanding that being gory, shocking and disgusting doesn't make your humour funny. But if the joke is funny, and just so happens to use gore and disgust, so be it. But they're definitely times where it can go too far. The characters and the way they treat each other give off this overly pessimistic and bitter vibe in how it portrays our sociality. One notable example is Cartman, this fat devil child has done acts that are so despicable and conniving that would make even Dennis the Menace, Wayne Cramp and Shin Chan appalled. Now, I don't have a problem with jerk protagonists if they A. suffer the consequences of their actions, or B. learn the error of their ways and try to improve themselves. Not all characters have to set examples of virtue all the time. Even if that was the case, that still wouldn't make him any more likeable. Maybe seeing these kid characters committing these acts and getting into crazy situations was edgy in the 90s, but I seldom ever been attached to any of these characters or find them endearing. 

But you know, I learned something one day; from what I saw from South Park and from further research, I came to understand that significance. The show uses vulgar shock humour and hyperboyles to convey social commentary on current events and social issues. Even back then, I acknowledged that the writers manage to inject their message into their comedy and storytelling. This is a show that's not afraid to point out the naked truth and give a statement on both sides of any issue; no matter what it is. It has the nerve to address such difficult topics without fear of who gets offended in the process. The reason why it's animated in such a crude minimalist style so to keep these stories topical. It's something I can respect, more so than I like. Another nice thing I can say about it is that admittedly, Trey Parker really does put the right inflections when voicing these characters; which might add to why these lines of dialogue are quotable among fans. So, do I regret putting this show on the list? No. Despite its significance, if I'm not entertained by it or find enlightenment in it; then I could care less about it. For me, I feel these characters feel more like mouthpieces for the writers to voice their opinions than seemingly weaving such ideals into the plot. Maybe it's because I'm personally more drawn to characters that become fleshed out in multi-layered settings as opposed to satire. Are these messages really sincere when you have to sit through such profanity? But when I say I don't like the show, I'm not just referring to the episodes that are hated among fans. Even if society becomes much more chaotic as time goes on, it's unlikely that Trey and Matt are going to run out of ideas anytime soon. But for me personally, it is staying on the list. As long as our world doesn't become as crazy or extreme as South Park's, I hope people won't take this opinion out of proportion.

9. Johnny Test

I don't know how many people remember, but Johnny Test had a certain bad rep. Johnny Test takes the concept of 'Dexter's Lab', swapped the genders, split the genius into two and added a talking dog (definitely not the most original premise for sure). Although it tried to make itself different from that show, it simply wasn't enough. Many people criticized the cartoon for its drop in quality, not that it was ever great at the start, but its first season looked masterful compared to the mutation it became. The animation switched to Flash, the characters became less likeable, the stories would make less sense, the deliveries became much more breakneck and furthermore; it relayed heavily on the 'whip crack' sound effect. But what made this show so hated is that at the time, it stayed on the air for far too long, despite all this criticism. Probably because it was so cheap to produce. But was all the backlash towards Johnny Test warranted, or was it overblown?

I don't understand why I even considered putting this show on the list if it received so much backlash.

That's what I thought as well, but back then I thought there had to have been an audience for it if more episodes were being made. I think I just wanted an excuse to talk about my frustration for it, that I put it there anyway. I must say, I was inclined to agree with the criticism towards 'Johnny Test' as I was also sick of it back then (Even though I just easily ignored it). But even though it eventually stopped, I will say that it's still a far cry from being among the rites of good cartoons. On some level, the concept of Johnny using his sister's inventions to achieve his personal goals and go on many adventures could work. I mean it was a common premise for children's cartoons back when I was young. The show likes to experiment with certain scenarios and ideas, but like the sisters' works, the execution result in them not being as fun as it could potentially be. As it went on, it would take less time to take a breathe and let the action and comedy set in. Whatever plot-line it tries to do falls flat or has already been done better in other tv shows of its kind. Plot points just come off as contrived and not well thought out. As it's a dialogue-heavy show, the comedy is based on gag humour; particularly in its use of self-referential remarks. While a percentage of it is very sophomoric. I can accept extreme/gross-out humour, but it needs to be balanced out with strong storytelling. A majority of it is on par with the last 2 seasons of 'Fairly Odd Parents'. At its best, the show can have a point. These "good" episodes aren't the most original story-wise, but there are plot points that can serve a particular purpose or moral. Give it some credit, it had an episode that foretold how badly Youtube stars like Fred and Annoying Orange would translate to film/tv. 

Most of the characters fall into the category of archetypes, with maybe a few key differences. The main characters like Johnny and his sisters use these devices and each other for their own personal gain. Johnny is essentially a blank slate, meant to be radical and relatable to the target audience; his attitude comes off stubbornly persistent throughout each episode. Whereas I can empathise with Timmy Turner and his plights, Johnny is just arrogant and self-entitled. While Susan and Mary are one and the same, as the young prodigies who offer scientific exposition; and whose main motivation is to attract their crush. (Who barely knows they exist). Though they each have their different viewpoints, it gets too common for their experiments to go awry. Dukey acts as the supposed voice of reason (no pun intended), he offers Johnny his own worldly advice. He can actually be alright with his remarks, support and how he has to knock sense into Johnny. But he can also be easily roped into these antics. As it's more episodic, there're rarely any moments of these characters growing and developing from these episodes. Any time it looks like it's trying to be sincere, it's just playing itself for laughs. I'm not asking for these characters to be totally complex, but more development from them would have helped this show in the long run.

If there's any other positive aspect I can say about it, it would be the voice acting. I mean it's hard to tell with the obnoxious amount of whip sounds and times where the characters yell their lines, but I admit it has talented people on board. I feel like they tried to give the best performances with the material they were given. But just because an actor/actress has been in good projects doesn't mean they haven't been in bad ones as well. Voice acting aside, the rest of the production values are like junk food for the senses. It's obvious that the animation budget was cut in half, with how artificial the movements and oversaturated the backgrounds became. There are moments where the keyframing doesn't look so stiff, this shift was not very seamless. The main reason why I think it doesn't take a breath because practically every scene contains a simultaneous music cue or sound effect to compensate for the lacklustre movements. But the animation is only the least of this show's problems compared to how contrived the stories became. Maybe younger viewers who haven't seen these plots before might find enjoyment in these flashy images and sound effects, but there's only so much that they can resonate with. Older audiences might not be so appreciative of it. But I know children are smart enough to realise what they like and dislike, I knew I realised this cartoon became half-assed and cheesy the older I became. That's something I bet anyone didn't see coming at all.

So I do understand why Johnny Test got on people's nerves, and why people were sick and tired of seeing over-saturated at the time. It was definitely an experiment that got botched due to less restraint. While it certainly wasn't necessary for it to have lasted as long as it did, it definitely didn't need to be on this list in the first place. For that, it gets to be off the list. Looking back, I probably should have put Johnny Bravo or Powerpuff Girls there instead (I make no apologies). But I don't think there's a need to try it over again with a reboot, just shut down this operation for goodness sake. And while you're at it, focus on continuing shows that deserve a proper ending. Or you know, make new stuff.

8. Dynomutt Dog Wonder

Many regard Hanna Barbera as pioneers in television animation, but let's not kid ourselves; their library may have had a few stinkers to their name. In my opinion, the 1970s was where the company took a decline in quality. They relied too heavily on trying to milk the success of 'Scooby-Doo' by making copies of it, there were very few shows from that era that are as well remembered as they were in their heyday. Most of their output would have these hero hound protagonists, and Dynomutt Dog Wonder was one of them. For those who aren't as knowledgeable with HB, the premise revolves around rich socialite art dealer Radley Crown and his mechanical dog as they protect Big City as the crime-fighting duo, The Blue Falcon and Dynomutt. If you're a millennial like myself, you probably know about Dynomutt Dog Wonder from the crossover it made with Dexter's Lab. If you've seen every superhero duo, you've pretty much seen this show. With its kooky villains, one-liners and diabolical schemes that involve some kind of device. It doesn't do much to advance the crime-fighting genre at the time, except for adding much more comedy. Unfortunately, it barely triumphs at both action or humour. 

Dynomutt acts as the comic relief, he's able to be more expressive and spontaneous with how he moves his robotic limbs. Like a certain mystery-solving hound, his expressions are designed to appear much goofy compared to the more realistic human characters. Each gag involves the Dog Blunder (the show's words not mine) screwing up any endeavour he and the Falcon undertake. I mean, just because it's in his character to mess up, make problems worse or cause frustration; it doesn't make him a good character. Captain Flamingo was more diligent than this so-called "hero hound". Now having the main character cause comical mess-ups, much to the misfortune of others could be funny depending on the context. But the show expects us to root for him. I mean he's not the worse example of a superhero causing more problems than solves, he can make an effort to follow through with a plan sooner or later; but his errors/malfunctions are not loveable as he or the writers may think. Dynomutt having all these high-tech gadgets built into his body isn't all that special when you can get that from the likes of 'The Million Dollar Man'. Also, not to disrespect Frank Welker, but the voice he provides for Dynomutt sound oddly similar to Bullwinkle, it doesn't help that Dynomutt spouting lines that aren't the least bit clever. Blue Falcon is the serious strategist of the duo, with him being the moral centre who comes up with the plans. It's usually him who fixes Dynomutt's efforts and thwart the villains. As a hero I can't find him compelling, ironically I feel a show about an art dealer would make a much more interesting concept. Each episode shows him having to put up with Dynomutt's antics, though some of his dry remarks towards Dynomutt can be pretty funny. 

Speaking of which, I'm not particularly a fan of how it mixes humour with action, I don't know if it's the swift pacing, or the actors' delivery but it's much akin to what HB was doing with their mystery-solving cash-cow. As the show didn't have a high budget, the angles used in the more action-oriented scenes aren't as dynamic as they're supposed to be. I can understand that Hanna Barbera didn't have the budget to achieve that, but even as someone who's still trying to improve on developing compositions, how it used here is basic by today's standards. Since the 90s, it has taken much more to pull off a superhero comedy. Whatever, Dynomutt is just not to my taste, I can only see people enjoying this as a goofy guilty pleasure, but if you're a die-hard HB fan; you might find this up your alley. But if you're not into the campy, lighthearted heroic duos, and you have a low tolerance for clumsy sidekicks; I just don't think it's worth going out of your way to watch it. As someone who doesn't care for the main characters or these comical perils, it remains on the list. Like an old machine, I see more of Dynomutt's faults with retrospect.

7. Dora the Explorer

Full disclosure, I wasn't in the show's intended audience when I first discovered it. I mean I still caught wind of it, but I was becoming less interested in "kid's shows" at that time. But that doesn't excuse it from any form of criticism. The show follows a young Latina girl Dora and her monkey sidekick Boots as they travel to various locations searching for mystical objects; while coming across various colourful characters. Such as their talking map, their talking backpack, Dora's cousin Diego and a dastardly fox who always attempts to swipe any important object. But it's also an interactive show, where Dora and Boots would break the fourth wall in order to ask the viewers to find the locations and help solve the puzzles. Instead of using the fourth wall for comedic gag purposes, Dora asks the audience to partake in her quests; even making them do a series of random exercises to achieve them. Can you see what the problem with this cartoon is?

The show is so incredibly formulaic, no matter where Dora and Boots end up it always follows the same story beats, but it seldom ever tries to mix up or subvert the formula. The locations and adventures that Dora embarks on could lead to promising and fantastical concepts; the problem is the road the writers take. Dora would constantly put the plot on hold to look for the destination or remind the viewers, to much older viewers these pauses can get awkward. Everyone speaks the catchphrases in a manner that gets old and irritating fast. The way these characters talk in these bizarre inflections feels so condescending that I agree with my younger self that it's too much to bear. I understand that Dora is intended for little children, but even shows of this type still need to have effort and thought put into them. Each journey keeps the same simple structure in order for children to follow, it showcases these obstacles at their level to help form their puzzle-solving skills. 'Lost' this is definitely not! In a show like this, you have to keep the concept simple in order to build on from. The problem is that the story is put aside to focus on the puzzles, rather than fitting them into a cohesive story. But the songs keep beating you over the head trying to remind you where they have to go. The visuals are made to be more child friendly, with its use of bright colours as well as the pastel textures in the backgrounds. The polished designs and movements fit the criteria you expect for an animated series. It's just that it looks all overly saccharine and safe, that it's also a little too much. It certainly used its growing budget to use. When they reach its climax, it sometimes plays it off in a mundane way, to teach/showcase social skills rather than applying these actions to the theme of the setting. 

In terms of educational value, it's questionable if it even works on children. I doubt the methods Dora

shows would be applicable in real-life situations. Except for maybe picking up on some Spanish. As someone who's half Latino, it's good that it tries to have ethnic characters, I mean it's not like it's done in a way that reflects badly on the writers/creators. Unlike other main protagonists in which you can put yourself in their place as you follow them, this show encourages them to partake in the puzzles with them than learning from their actions. They use the interactions as a ploy to engage child viewers, instead of showing the characters figuring these obstacles out. Dora's role is to interact with the viewers to see if they can spot the object; and offer exposition, even though she and Boots can find it for themselves. Boots pretty much does the same thing, only his dialogue and enthusiasm can be even more puerile. I fail to find the charm in these catchphrases or recurring gags. All this time they interact and let the audience respond could've been used for plot/character development. Sooner or later, children will realise that they can't communicate with the characters. Swiper is pretty much the amount of conflict the show gets. Not only do these characters need to be aware of their location, but they don't show self-awareness of the plot or the tone. 

For many years, this along with Spongebob was Nickelodeon's cash cow. It was loco how popular it was. While this may have intrigued smaller children, this only seemed to irritate much older viewers. Despite all the publicity it had, I feel the series has gained the reputation it deserves, from critics at least. Whereas other children's programmes have their own strange but unique charm and morals that are still enduring. This might explain their staying power and why these remain to be remembered fondly, Dora is just seen as a has-been nowadays. The last time Dora was ever relevant was with its live-action film adaption, and no I'm not talking about the CollegeHumor video; there was a legitimate big-budget film to cap off the series. By the way, if you have seen the Dora movie, could you let me know how it was? I don't know if it could be any worse than the Fairly Odd Movies or 'The Last Airbender'. While I wouldn't say it's a good show, the criticism from educators and those outside its key age demographic is justified. Those who did outgrow Dora will look back and laugh at how stupid it could be, while others will go on to explore other adventure-based stories. Which is enough for this show to find its way off the list. Maybe its target audience could find something enjoyable in Dora's adventures, older viewers will only find them annoying. Tenía que decir eso.

6. Jonny Quest

We now move on to the other cartoon with the main character called Jonny (though my mistake is that I spelt the name incorrectly the first time). Anyway, Jonny Quest follows the adventures of a young boy and a group consisting of his father Dr Quest, Race Bannon, Hadji and their canine Bandit. Each episode would have this team exploring the globe to discover its unusual mysteries and phenomena, while also having to battle many oddities and foes such as the evil Dr Zin. But don't worry these adventures are relatively more robust than our last entry. Out of all the Hanna Barbera cartoons of the 60s, I've never cared for Jonny Quest. Whether it be the 90s version or the 60s version, it just never left an impact on me. But that's not to say I have anything against the action/adventure genre, it's just that I've never been a fan of ones of this show's variety. When I would watch old HB shows at a young age, I was mostly spoilt on their stylized sitcoms. But when I did see shows like 'Jonny Quest', I wasn't able to follow them. As time went by though, I was also so busy with reading classic literature, I never bothered to get into these adventures. But for variety's sake, I suppose I can give HB credit for branching out by doing something other than just comedy. But the mystery remains, how do these adventures fare?

In each episode, we see Jonny and the gang rumble with international terrorists, unethical professors or ferocious creatures. Like with Johnny Test and Dora the Explorer I have nothing against the set up of the locations Jonny embarks on, but mostly it's the direction the show takes that doesn't cut it for me. I'm all for adventure stories if the characters we follow are compelling and the locations are intriguing. Well, the show certainly embraces its influence of radio serials and espionage; but its incorporation of other genres like science fiction and spy fiction doesn't draw me into Jonny's missions. The approach JQ takes is that it's set during a Cold War setting, many of these settings and futuristic devices are the typical action show standard, but these machines I don't find to be designed or function that uniquely. The stories don't affect me like the literary classics of the adventure genre, it's what they entail and how they're presented that may not matter to you as it would to me. After all, 'Treasure Planet' is the same Robert Louis Stevenson story, just in an alternative setting. And I wouldn't say the action scenes are poorly done, it's just that if I'm not captivated with the story or characters; then they don't mean anything to me. Before Jonny, HB cartoons were focused on slapstick humour, but whenever people would come in contact with explosives or whatever fatality comes their way. It really infers they're hurt and/or killed, though it doesn't show them bleeding. You really have to be in a certain mindset to handle the amount of action, but I feel it's tamed enough that younger viewers nowadays could watch it just fine. You can read into its details and discuss how much of an impact it had on you or animated programming. But at the end of the day, I'm not a big fan of it.

When you get down to it, these characters could be seen as archetypes. Jonny is the intrepid, young
adventurer who usually behaves enthusiastically when aiding his father and Race or outwitting foes, he tends to give the more humourous lines as any plucky child character would. Dr Quest usually offers his own wisdom and technical jargon. I'll admit he can be a sensible strategist and offer witty lines. Race is the rugged agent that offers exposition for any mission and makes observations at any given situation, but he can also kick heinie. He can also act as a role model for Jonny. Hadji processes mystical abilities as well as judo, even if they're just parlour tricks. As cautious as he may be, he can also be persuaded into these adventures like Jonny. I give it credit that he was the earliest TV show character in a turban to not be portrayed as a villain. Though that doesn't excuse the other racial stereotypes. The villains can pose a real threat, but what made previous HB antagonists so memorable was that they had over the top personalities. I don't see that with the villains here. I couldn't recall their motivations here. Bandit's facial expressions and movements lighten up the intense, edgier tone. At least he doesn't speak in an irritating voice like a certain great dane. The character's actions can serve the plot as well as a jocular one-liner. I mean their dynamic is there, I just don't find them that interesting, and I wish to see more compelling characters in their roles.   

Art style-wise, I could see what they going for; they tried to evoke the illusion of a comic book brought to life. But that's something the limited animation budget at the time couldn't justify. Contrast and compare this to the only action cartoon many were aware of 'Clutch Cargo'; which (I kid you not) super-imposed live-action lips onto still images. Because it was made on such a shoestring budget, people nowadays see it as a relic of the past. (Though I could see how some find the effects awkwardly charming). That's probably the same reason why millennials don't take 'Space Ghost' or 'Birdman' seriously anymore, for how they've been parodied on Adult Swim. I'm not saying this looks just as uncanny, nor do I expect the company's output to look like a moving painting. But the dark shading on the characters or the colour palette isn't particularly my cup of tea. I acknowledge HB were daring enough to take on a much intense direction, while still employing their own trademarks for the effects. But the fact HB made shows like Johnny Quest opened up the possibilities for them to take on other genres and styles.

However just because something is influential or innovative, doesn't mean it can always lead to good things. They'll always be a ton of imitators who either don't understand what made that thing work in the first place, or they'll be in favour of over saturating the market with the same idea, while other genres will be overlooked. They're plenty of adventure shows that are done in different styles and genres for people to explore, it's just in terms of aesthetics, JQ doesn't appeal to me personally. The same can be said for many of HB's iconic animated shows. You may think I sound grossly biased, but JQ is just not for me. If Jonny's mission was to convince HB to make more serious programming, I can't say it didn't succeed in that regard. But to get off this list, well, I'm leaving it there. I also cannot lie, a show's legacy cannot equate to its overall quality. But still, the only mystery that's yet to solve is how Jonny's name should be spelt? But I'm going off-topic there.

5. Jabberjaw

Remember how I said Hanna Barbera relied on cashing in on the success of 'Scooby-Doo' with similar copycat shows; this was one of them. For those who haven't discovered Jabberjaw, it basically follows a similar setup as SD, with the team of teens and their anthropomorphic companion who encounter an assorted number of antagonists (Though they don't have their own intense closeup). Only this time, they're in a band and the setting is this underwater civilization. On their own, these concepts could be interesting on paper; it would take a lot to pull them off together. My problem with Jabberjaw is how this mash-up is executed. I remember watching this show quite a bit as a child, but it never left an impact on me like a certain undersea sponge. The plots follow the same rhythm with very few attempts to add different strokes. It always involves Jabberjaw and the gang clashing with intergalactic villains, thus messing up their schemes to take over the ocean floor. It squanders a setting that could lead to plenty of promise in favour of the cheese factor. It thinks just because it has a compound premise, that it can excuse the writers from putting a focus on the right elements. I've seen villain schemes that can be convoluted, but the setups here aren't even accurate. For example; there's a villain called 'Coldfinger', shouldn't the obvious Bond reference be 'Octo-pussy'? The humour is very much dialogue-driven as well, it also comes from Jabberjaw adapting himself to various forms and objects, using his abilities to get his friends out of hot water. It's like they combined the humour of 'Squiddly Diddly' and the setting of 'Sealab 2020' (Sealab 2020, so much for foresight). I didn't laugh out loud at this, I can see a set up for a joke. Aside from a snide expression, the humour isn't a barrel of laughs. A group of musical teens battling aquatic foes just isn't as cool as it may sound. I'm not asking for the show to be overly serious or tackle melodramatic turmoil, but it makes for silly, ludicrous, ultra corny vibes.

It's really the characters that keep the premise from working. Jabberjaw is the band's pet/drummer whose goofy antics always act as the catalyst to these stories, his main character conflict is that he has trouble being accepted among other humans and sea life; being a predator and all. He was made to appear and behave friendly, heroic and goofy that even people who're afraid of sharks can like him. The problem with how he's written to spout irritating noises, yeah I get that his voice is based on Curly from 'The Three Stooges'; but the sounds that come out of him can get really old and annoying fast. Whenever he tries to act tough, I can't help but be reminded of Scrappy-Doo. Biff is the pretty boy of the group, all that's known about him is that he's the leader who plans out these gigs. Shelly is the vain, stuck up member with a massive ego; who believes she's more important than the others. She can be a real sea cow. Basically, she hates Jabber's guts and is shown to not get along with him; except for the times where she shows her mutual respect for him. Frankly, I could not stand to be with each of them. Bubbles is the ditzy member with a high-pitched voice, so she's the 'Cat Valentine' of the show. Clamhead is Jabber's human companion who constantly says these jibberish phases. This Jughead wannabe has uttered as many incomprehensible remarks as much as Shaggy as said 'zoinks'. And that's the main problem with these main characters, it's their dialogue. The writers made these teens and Jabberjaw's dialogue comprised of ocean-related slang, to appeal to the youth at the time. The register that they exchange becomes grating really fast. It takes a linguist even, to pull off this dialogue in a manner similar to 'Klingon'. I feel Spongebob did a much better job at ocean-related wordplay. I've seen better variations of these characters in one way or another, they're one-note; for lack of a better term. Quirky character traits are fine sparingly, which Jabberjaw doesn't know the meaning of.

This was made in the 70s, So I'm not going to expect the animation quality to be fluid and elegant, but

barnacles is the movement stilted and limited! The poses aren't particularly dynamic or interesting enough to compensate for this. I've seen cut-out animation that looks more believable than how the characters move here. Basic angles may have their place, but it can get tiring to see this little variation for each episode. The character design looks like it's taken straight out of "Archie's Comics'. The backgrounds aren't especially detailed, the underwater cities that our gang tour around aren't very interesting to look at. The colour palette consists of shades of blue with dull beige colours. They would have looked more interesting if there was more ancient architecture mixed with futuristic design, there might be a few glass domes that reflect that (no pun intended). But as it is, the settings are just generic sci-fi scenery. The songs that play during fight or chase sequences have very little to do with the episode plots, nor do they advance them. The style and melodies are typical of pop-rock from that time. 

I would complain about how similar it is to 'Scooby Doo', as it seems like it's interconnected with it even. The 1970s had so many bizarre trends, yet I could never understand the appeal of these SD wannabees. For which is worse, the offender or the one influenced by the offender? I mean Spongebob tends to borrow traits from 'Ren and Stimpy' (even having some of the same crew members), but it still managed to make itself different from that show. It really goes how far animated comedies have come, and how far they shouldn't go. With Jonny Quest, it opened the doors for TV animation to tell more complex stories, but instead, HB chose to exploit the same cheesy formula. It would take them a decade to get out of their doldrums. There's a place for poppy, cheery, squeaky clean, non-threatening entertainment. There's just not enough to make these characters or their setting enthralling. Sure there are pop groups I still have a soft spot for, but this embodies the traits of pop that don't hold up. I still think the overall reception is still giving it too much credit. There's certainly worse stuff out there than this, but I still wouldn't recommend it. This shark and his group remain on the list for sure, sorry Jabberjaw but you still don't deserve any of my respect.

4. Captain Planet and the Planeteers

If you've never been raised in 90s culture, I'll explain briefly the way this show can. Captain Planet and the Planeteers was Ted Turner's attempt to raise awareness for eco concerns the only way he knew how. When the earth is consumed by pollution and climate change, Gaia a Mother Nature-esque Earth goddess cannot take it anymore. So she sends 5 magical rings to these 5 teens of different nationalities, with their powers combined they summon the environmentally themed super-being known as CAPTAIN PLANET! Sorry there. In the 21st Century, Captain Planet has been criticised by the likes of the Nostalgia Critic for how corny, lame and how heavily it corporates its messages. I must ask, are environmental messages in cartoons so inherently bad? Every story has some form of a lesson, but I'm a firm believer that it's the story that should take main priority. I'd much prefer if it intertwined it's message into the stories. Even stories that don't go out of their way to preach lessons, do have a sense of morality. And Captain Planet was the earliest to present such topics at the time. Each episode follows a template, in which the planeteers go around the world to protect the environment from the polluting baddies and their schemes. It illustrates the subject matter as these action-packed missions, as to make it seem appealing to impressionable young viewers. In principle, the concept of a group of youth protagonists battling against an evil tyranny or force with a specific theme could work. In fact, the idea of each member having powers to control the natural elements is a concept that has worked well in other shows. I actually don't have a problem with the idea of Ma-Ti using 'heart' as a power, I like the idea of using compassion and feeling as an asset. But the show doesn't just tackle environmental issues, it also touches upon prejudice, diseases, drug abuse and other heavy topics that were yet to be tackled back then. If there are episodes that can raise an eyebrow, it would the ones that are about overpopulation, which definitely doesn't fly by these days (if you're aware of what I mean). It does try to convey the disastrous effect pollution and deforestation can have, as well as the brevity of these situations with intense drama. I agree it can come off as heavy-handed in its approach, in your face even. But when it's not well informed, that's when its heavy handiness gets ham-fisted as well and not always universal. In terms of visuals, the character movements are a tad more natural/believable and less stilted (except when they don't). The shading on their designs is the standard of action-oriented cartoons at the time. Most of the shots can rely on close-ups that can get awkward.  

I'm all for these team members having different nationalities, so long as they have strong, memorable personalities and their own personal motivations and backstory to fight for a cause. In this case, the

planeteers' purpose is to project values through their dialogue and character growth. Wheeler is the cocky one, who doesn't think things through before acting upon them. While he can be tempted to abandon his duties to do his own thing, he does come into a crisis when the others depend on him. Kwame usually takes initiative as the serious thinker who tries to keep the team's composure calm. Linka is a smart, determined planeteer who's rational and technological even in these dangerous situations, but she can also be tempted and helpless. She also tends to reject Wheeler's attempts to woe her, she just might have her way to show affection for him. I also find it funny that her voice actress Kath Soucie would later be typecasted to play another eco-loving young activist. Ma-Ti is the youngest one with good nature and purity. Although he can get the short end of the stick, the others learn to appreciate him. With his heart powers, Ma-Ti is able to read the minds of living creatures and control them. This proves he's not as useless as he's made out to be. But when the going gets tough, they call upon Captain Planet, this character acts as a heroic symbol of when we put all our efforts together. Although he has the tendency to make cheesy lines at the expense of the villains, his ingenuity and super ability come from a good place. I could see how it could motivate any child to be passionate about protecting the earth. His weakness to forms of pollution emphasises the effect even further. People only seem to remember this show for the celebrity voices, you could tell they were having a ball playing the antagonists. They sound like they were trying to make the cliche and corny dialogue work. Especially Tim Curry as he takes on the role as MAL; he pretty much gives a typical villain performance for him. As he's normally able to embellish any antagonistic role he's in, that can make anything he's in worth it. If there's any criticism I can give them is that the show just demonises these major corporations that exploit the environment without addressing why they exploit its resources. By making the villains less human, it takes away any relatability so viewers are less likely to see what they could become. Stories that concern protecting nature usually don't have real villains, but rather they're cautionary tales. In this case, the villains take pleasure in the destruction they cause in order to obtain wealth or power. 

With all that said, I still stand by that I appreciate that it's tries to get its message across. It's important that children's media should cover similar topics and tackle them in ways the target audience can handle. The way that message is presented may not be to mine or other people's liking, but I cannot dislike it too much; just for how well-intentioned it is. This made a generation aware of these vital topics and I cannot fault it for that. Though one can't help but acknowledge the irony that many trees were cut down for the materials to make this show. If you are looking for subtlety, you won't find it in Captain Planet. But like the natural order, there should be a balance of storytelling and morals. I think that's an opinion we can all agree upon, so the planeteers have cleared their carbon footprint off the list. What more can I say but......

3. Transformers

I've stated before that I have second-hand nostalgia for media from before my time, and the radical yet revolutionary time known as the 1980s is no exception for me. As much as I admire the culture of that decade, I was never particularly a fan of the animated shows to come out of it. A majority of them were based on existing properties, mainly toylines, but I for one didn't hold onto them (with some notable exceptions). When I first discovered the 'Transformers' franchise, I was passed any interest I had in giant robot battles or motor vehicles. From a toymaker's perspective, the idea of vehicles turning into robotic soldiers might appeal to some adolescent boys; but I wouldn't put myself in that percentage. Personally, I was more into medieval armoury and weaponry. When it comes to Transformers, my knowledge of the franchise isn't deep. I was well aware of them, but I never took an interest in them. Putting aside my personal preference, could the Transformers still function as a show? 

It focuses on the Transformers, a race of cyborgs from the planet Cybertron; who have the ability to metamorphize, which they would use to camouflage to their surrounding. They're two warring factions, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons. They have been battling in a conflict that's been going on for eons, but they soon crash land on Earth. After a million years, they awake to continue their war. The Decepticons would plan on draining the earth of its energy, they would value such power sources like gold or crystal. It makes it seem like the Decepticons have the upper hand, it would always end with them being defeated in some form. That is until the next episode. In the past, I may have stated that Transformers was just as pandering to young boys as 'My Little Pony' was for young girls, was there more to it than that? Writing a story about a toy should be a lot more complex than playing with such, here its essentially used as a tale of good vs evil. From what I've seen from the original series, it rarely disrupts its status quo. It relies on spoken dialogue than letting the action or atmosphere tell the story. Every scene either has the robots discussing strategies or having light-hearted banter with one another. The very few instances that I laughed at the banter was for the wrong reason, (probably) as they're lines that are extremely corny that I couldn't help but giggle unintentionally. All the while these Transformers battle with each other, they spout lines/quips at each other; that's coated in that 80s camp. In the previous list, I stated that the franchise never gave me a reason to care about the story or the characters. I'm all for stories of good guys battling in spite of their enemies' dissension, but IMO; these stories cannot compare to other war epics. Is it really worth watching through such overstimulated and excessive action in anticipation for the Autobots to prevail against the enemy? It leaves the origins of the war vague, but sometimes it isn't always about explaining how the war began, but what the characters do to overcome it that matters. I mean a story can establish its lore over time. Like with Jonny Quest though, I can't be invested in these battle scenes if I'm not invested in the characters. What is this war good for?

As it takes skill and prowess to make a story based on a toy, it takes just as much to make good characters

out of sentient beings. The most well-known of all the Transformers, Optimus Prime the brave leader with tons to bear, as he brought them to Earth in the first place. While he does care for human life, he's willing to take a punch for them. Bumblebee is the messenger/spy who strives to be respected by the other Autobots, despite his explorative stealth he barely gets any appreciation from the others. Megatron is the ruthless leader of the Decepticons, determined to fulfil a conquest he gives a commending spectre. Starscream is the envious second in command with a devious tongue who tries to overthrow Megatron, who believes his methods of guile are much better. Spike is the human teen who aids the Autobots by helping them be accustomed to the planet. Whether he's a Shia LaBeouf or a Jason Spisak, he takes a fascination in them, even though there's not much that's interesting about him. There's not much of a focus on building character. It features a who's who cast of voice talents and they don't give a bad performance by any stretch of the imagination. Their mode of speech tries to give each one their own distinct characteristics I suppose. It would keep adding new characters or teams, often without regard for any introduction. And when they did, much of their plot doesn't leave that big an impact. Each character was modeled off their toys, in which their anatomy is based on the parts of a particular vehicle. The animation was outsourced to Japan, and they tried to make these extra-terrestrial cyborgs' movements convincing. I can't say their efforts didn't pay off, I also won't deny they did a decent job with the effects. However, they're a few scenes that might contain an animation error or two. And they can be quite noticeable like a dent. I also won't deny that the backgrounds have detailed strokes and tones. But just because the visuals are technically sound, the designs and the colour schemes aren't unique or interesting in my eyes. I must say though, the incarnation where the character design looks the least appealing for me is 'Rescue Bots'. 

So not much of my opinion has changed. I'm trying to justify why I never held onto these action shows, it's very adulterated for my taste. I've never gone out of my way to look into the story arc or the countless incarnations. I'm well aware that later seasons become less formulaic (even though it gets cluttered) and that in later variations the designs have more finesse in them. For me, it was the production history that was worth noting, it was the money these cartoons made from toy sales that would later fund creator-driven projects and adapt other properties that otherwise wouldn't have been made. So I'll give it that. However, this series can't disguise the fact that it's trying to promote the toy line. More power to you if you could see something special in it, but it remains on the list for sure. Though that theme song has always kept inside people's heads.

2. Pokemon

Pokemon doesn't need any introduction, this phenomenon started the trend of animes based on tabletop games. Whereas these aspiring young gamers would compete in these grand versions of such games using mystical creatures. I'm surprised there hasn't been one about tiddlywinks. I was there when Pokemon's popularity skyrocketed, but the extent of knowledge was only applied to the first season. Much like Transformers, my familiarity with Pokemon is very general. I remember watching a couple of episodes of the first saga and I may have had a toy of one of them. However, I was too busy getting into other things, that Pokemon never left much of an impression on my young self. Personally, I was more into Beyblades as a kid XD. When I originally included it on the list, I was not in the show's target audience anymore, so I assumed it was okay to criticise the franchise and how overly exposed it was. The show follows Ash Ketchem, a young boy who aspires to catch every Pokemon and become a famous trainer (like no one ever was!). Each episode follows a self-contained route in which Ash and a group of his companions would discover different pokemon, they learn about it's different abilities, their personality traits and duel other Pokemon against each other. The world-building here is so dedicated to studying these strange creatures that can attract a niche cult to follow. There seems to be more Pokemon exploitation than I remember. Much of the character's dialogue consists of emphasising themselves and the predicament. This type of hokey exposition was been made fun of that I can't take them seriously. The actual humour does come from the character's wild expressions (that's typical of anime) and how they play off each other  They're aspects of the English dub that you'd find either charming or cheesy (or a combination of both). The heart of it does come from the bond between these characters. 

These characters have their own calling. Ash is a very eager protagonist who shows a greater ability and is

kind to the many Pokemon, he has what I call "anime boy" syndrome. In which he tries to be brave in the face of adversity, but he can also come off as arrogantly impulsive. He can get way over his head, like any main character he has to tackle his own issues. But he does work on these traits over the course of the series (so I've heard). He's not treated as a messiah though. There's a lot for him to learn before he could become a true Pokemon trainer. Despite showing confidence, Ash is shown to be insecure, he worries about losing friends (which he does lose contact with) and putting their lives at risk. Misty is the girly character who's shown to like cute creatures, but she can also get frustrated and furious with Ash and others. Brock aspires to become a breeder of Pokemon, as he's shown to be quite nurturing, whenever he's not hitting on a group of identical women. But because Misty and Brock would be replaced, they don't get consistent development throughout. The ones who fill their roles as companions are interchangeable. BTW, is this common in Japanese television as it is in the UK? Then there's Team Rocket, the group of comedic villains bent on stealing powerful Pokemon. They give off such a dramatic and theatrical presence whenever they come in contact. The scenes with them playoff as very goofy and offbeat, it's much reminiscent of other cartoonish antagonists, as they manage to get foiled in a manner that's just as outlandish. I like how each character has their own special Pokemon, these creatures can display savage powers/abilities or act as cute comic relief. However, a majority of their designs don't particularly catch my eye or find that appealing. I mean from a design point of view; I could see how their symmetrical shape could be recognizable as a silhouette, I must say they're distinct and also strange in their own way. But they weren't enough to grab me personally. The storyboarding follows a certain class of anime, which is evident in the battle scenes. The backgrounds contain blotchy brushstrokes with their use of saturated colours, it's sure to capture a brighter, much tumultuous time. 

To re-iterate I don't have a problem with Pokemon, I choose it as I thought the saturation was insane. Because I lost track of the show, I never took the time to watch every single episode (which there is a lot of). This is why I'm not a watcher of anime, I don't have anything against it, but there are so many seasons/sagas that you just can't watch casually. So if you thought my previous opinion wasn't fair because I haven't watched the series in its entirety, I was only giving the perspective of an outsider. So I won't be going out of my way to watch them all (for lack of a better term). But I'm clearly missing something because this franchise really charmed many children back in the day, I'm aware people still look back on it fondly and it's still a worldwide phenomenon with youngsters. Even if the original series ends someday, its cultural impact will somewhat inspire many to create their own ideas for mystical creature games or a new incarnation. Pokemon may have not been my thing but I could see why people would be sentimental about it in the same way I'm sentimental about my own childhood playthings. But looking at it from an analytical perspective, I wouldn't call Ash's never-ending pursuit to be great as a whole. They're so many other shows that do a better job at balancing world-building, humour and characters. Nothing amazing, but I'd let it go from the list. 

1. Scooby-Doo
Do I even need to say anything more about these ghost-hunting teens? I've made it no mystery how I feel about this franchise. It's definitely staying on the list, without any hesitation. I've had all I could bear of Scooby-Doo in the past, I don't want to hear anyone try to convince me otherwise. I never said the original show was the worst HB cartoon, especially when compared to the live-action movies (which are only frightening for how bad they can be) It's a mystery to me how the franchise has been over-saturated for so long. Did I ever find anything good about it? Honestly, I don't care anymore, any positive memories I have with the franchise might just be based on childhood nostalgia. I'm just glad that other Hanna Barbera cartoons had their chance to get the reboot treatment throughout the last decade (for better or worse), and maybe that 'Jellystone' project might be something. You want a more in-depth overview on Scooby and the gang, then read this: https://milococoblog.blogspot.com/2019/08/scooby-doo-and-guess-who-is-gonna-be.html

Bottom line, the reason I made this list was not to insult these cartoons or the people who like them. I participated in making my own version of this meme to offer my own opinions that may go against the grain, the same goes for the 'underrated' list as well. I did this to show anyone that they're some TV shows that may not resonate with me like they do with others. And if you're in any majority that feels strongly about these, I find that perfectly fine. We all have our individual tastes, interests and other orientations, and as long as we continue to tolerate other's opinions and subjective tastes, then we can learn to find peace in accepting a different piece of mind. If you can find something special in these cartoons that I cannot, then who am I to judge. As always, tell me if you agree with me or not and feel free to say what cartoons you feel get too much praise. It was....intriguing to look back on this small endeavour of mine. I just really wanted to ask if these cartoons are overrated, or am I just over them? At this point, all I can say is.........

I Did It!