List of children's animated television series of the 1980s facts for kids

This is a list of animated TV shows made for kids aged 12 and under. These shows were created to entertain younger audiences.

We won't be including shows from Japan, China, or Korea in this list, as children's animation is very common in those countries.

Awesome Cartoons of the 1980s

The 1980s was a super exciting time for animated TV shows! Many classic cartoons that you might still know today first appeared during this decade. Let's take a look at some of the cool shows from the United States, the United Kingdom, and some international co-productions.

United States Animated Shows

The United States produced many popular cartoons in the 1980s. These shows often featured action, adventure, comedy, and even superheroes!

• Classic Characters Return:

* The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show (1980) brought back the famous cat and mouse duo for more funny chases. * Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1980) continued the mystery-solving adventures of Scooby-Doo and his friends, adding his little nephew, Scrappy. * The Flintstone Comedy Show (1980) gave us more laughs with the Stone Age family, the Flintstones. * The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988) brought the beloved bear and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood to TV, teaching lessons about friendship. * Garfield and Friends (1988) featured the lazy, lasagna-loving cat Garfield and his pals in funny cartoon shorts.

• Superhero and Action Adventures:

* Super Friends (1980) gathered many DC Comics superheroes like Superman and Wonder Woman to fight evil. * Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981) showed Spider-Man teaming up with Iceman and Firestar for exciting superhero missions. * He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983) followed Prince Adam, who transformed into the powerful He-Man to protect Eternia. * The Transformers (1984) introduced us to the Autobots and Decepticons, robots that could change into vehicles, battling for control of Earth. * ThunderCats (1985) was an action-packed show about a group of cat-like humanoids who escaped their dying planet and fought villains on a new world. * The Real Ghostbusters (1986) was an animated spin-off of the popular movie, where a team of scientists hunted ghosts. * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) became a huge hit, featuring four mutant turtles who were martial arts experts and loved pizza, fighting crime in New York City.

• Fantasy and Fun:

* Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983) followed the musical adventures of three chipmunk brothers and their human guardian. * Dungeons & Dragons (1983) took a group of kids into a magical world where they had to use their special powers to find a way home. * Muppet Babies (1984) showed younger versions of the famous Muppets using their imaginations for amazing adventures in their nursery. * Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985) was Disney's first major animated TV series, about a secret clan of magical bears who loved Gummiberry Juice. * DuckTales (1987) followed Scrooge McDuck and his grandnephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie on treasure hunts and exciting global adventures.

United Kingdom Animated Shows

The UK also created some memorable animated series, often using stop-motion animation, which gives characters a unique, charming look.

• Postman Pat (1981) is a beloved stop-motion series about a friendly postman and his black and white cat, Jess, delivering mail in a quiet village.
• Thomas & Friends (1984) started as a stop-motion series about a group of talking trains on the Island of Sodor, teaching lessons about friendship and hard work. It later switched to computer animation.

Co-productions: International Teamwork

Sometimes, studios from different countries work together to create shows. These "co-productions" often bring unique styles and stories to the screen.

• The Smurfs (1981) was a very popular co-production between Hanna-Barbera (USA) and SEPP International (Belgium). It followed the adventures of tiny blue creatures living in mushroom houses.
• Inspector Gadget (1983) was a fun show about a clumsy cyborg detective with many gadgets, created by studios from France, Canada, and the USA.
• Care Bears (1985) featured a group of colorful bears who used their special powers to spread caring and happiness. This show was a co-production involving studios from Canada and the USA.
• Beetlejuice (1989) was an animated version of the popular movie, following the ghostly antics of Beetlejuice and his human friend Lydia. It was a co-production between Canadian and US studios.

These are just some of the many amazing animated shows that entertained kids throughout the 1980s!