Anyone who grew up in the late 1990s and 2000s knows very well what it was like to spend the morning watching old cartoons on free-to-air TV. Lunch watching programs like Bom Dia & cia and TV Globinho were a fundamental part of many young adults' childhoods today and, when thinking about that time, it's inevitable to feel a twinge of nostalgia.
In an effort to recapture all this nostalgia, we've put together this article with the nine old cartoons that most marked people's childhoods. Is your favorite cartoon among them? Follow us through the list and find out! It'll be a real trip back in time!
Woodpecker
Created by Walter Lantz in 1940, Woodpecker is one of the most iconic old cartoons of all. The story revolves around the antics of the main character who bears the same name as the cartoon, a mischievous and rather clueless bird who keeps getting into the biggest messes possible.
The cartoon has been shown by several broadcasters over the decades, becoming famous in Brazil for animating mornings on free-to-air TV. It's hard to find anyone today who was a child in the 1990s and 2000s who doesn't know the character with the most famous cartoon laugh!
Tom and Jerry
Despite having several more recent versions, it's the classic animations originally released in 1940 that mark Tom and Jerry out as one of the best old cartoons of all time. The plot follows Tom the cat who wants to capture Jerry the mouse and gets into a lot of trouble along the way.
It was created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, two huge names in this type of production at the time. Tom and Jerry's soundtrack is one of the most striking things about the title, consisting almost entirely of classic songs that hooked viewers of free-to-air TV here in Brazil for many, many years.
Looney Tunes
Although it doesn't follow a linear storyline or a single core character, Looney Tunes is undoubtedly one of the best old cartoons. The episodes are almost all satires of socio-cultural debates or parodies of films of the time. The soundtrack, like that of Tom and Jerry, is almost entirely made up of classical music, which gives the Warner Bros production released in 1930 a whole new shine.
There are many characters in the Looney Tunes group, but the most famous are the rabbit Bugs Bunny and the irritable duck Daffy Duck. The fights between these two were extremely memorable and kept children of all ages hooked to the TV screen when they aired.
Garfield and his friends
Garfield and his friends is one of the funniest old cartoons in existence. It was created in 1988 based on the comic strips produced by Jim Davis. The main character is a lazy, sarcastic, lasagna-loving orange cat called Garfield.
It's interesting to note that the animation doesn't just focus on the kitten and its mania for mocking its owner and the dog in the house. There are also a number of secondary characters who feature prominently in certain parts of the film. Garfield aired on free-to-air TV and won over fans all over the world while it was on, including in Brazil.
X-Men: Evolution
X-Men: Evolution was one of the most popular old cartoons, created by Marty Isenberg, Robert N. Skir and David Wise, based on the Marvel comics by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. It was released in 2000 and had the premise of presenting the X-Men characters at a younger age, at school and with a slightly different background to the original.
The story followed the mutants Rogue, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nocturne, Black Lynx and many others while they were at the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters, which is actually a home that houses people with special powers due to genetic mutation.
They live in secret, hiding their powers from "normal" humans and try to blend in, attending school and getting on with their lives. However, a lot happens and action is not lacking in the episodes of the cartoon, which also achieved popularity after being shown on free-to-air TV.
Super Shock
If you were a fan of X-Men Evolution, it's very likely that you were also a fan of Super Shock. The two old cartoons aired at close times on the free-to-air TV channel SBT and guaranteed fun for kids in the 2000s. The title was produced by Warner Bros, adapting existing comics by the hero Virgil Hawkins.
Here we meet a normal high school boy who ends up having his life turned upside down after being exposed to a toxic gas during a gang fight. This causes him to develop electromagnetic powers and, together with his best friend Richie, he begins to protect the city where he lives under the identity of Super Shock.
Scooby-Doo, where are you?
Launched in 1969, Scooby-Doo is one of the best-known old cartoons produced by Hanna-Barbera to this day. Like Woodpecker and Tom and Jerry, the adventures of the detective dog have had several versions, some more current, some older, but all equally entertaining.
Here we follow a group of teenagers made up of Daphne Blake, Fred Jones, Velma Dinkley and Shaggy Rogers who, together with their dog Scooby-Doo, travel around in a van solving mysteries. Most of the paranormal cases they get involved in always have malicious human beings behind them and they arrive at the results of their investigations with plenty of action and suspense, without losing their finger when it comes to adding comedy. The cartoon has gained popularity on free-to-air TV on several stations and continues to be a hit with audiences.
The Adventures of Jackie Chan
Created by John Rogers, Duane Capizzi and Jeff Kline, The Adventures of Jackie Chan was one of the most acclaimed old cartoons to air on TV Globinho, a children's program on Rede Globo. On free-to-air TV, the cartoon generated a large audience for the stories played out by Jackie Chan, a character based on the actor famous for his comedy and action films in Holywood.
Its first episode aired in 2000 and featured the protagonist as an amateur archaeologist and martial arts expert. The secret organization he belongs to is called Section 13 and he is tasked with recovering 12 magical talismans and fighting the evil society of the Black Hand. And, of course, he also has to look after his niece Jade and his uncle who owns an antique store.
SpongeBob
But it's SpongeBob who takes the crown among the best old cartoons of all time. It was created in 1999 and continues to steal the hearts of fans all over the world even today. It was conceived by Stephen Hillenburg, an animator who was also a marine biologist and brought much of his knowledge to the Nickelodeon cartoon.
Here in Brazil, success came when Rede Globo began broadcasting the episodes on TV Globinho. The plot of the animation follows the life of Bob, a sea sponge who has just come of age and has to work and take care of his things together with his friend Patrick, a very funny starfish, and his pet snail called Gary.
The series has many other endearing characters too, such as Bob's grouchy neighbor Lula Molusco and his greedy boss Mr. Sirigueijo.
Conclusion
Of course, the most memorable cartoons can vary according to the person, in particular many may have Woody Woodpecker as their favorite because of the time they spent watching it, or Super Shock because of all the social criticism it carries.
But what about you? Which of the old cartoons brings you the most nostalgia? Let us know in the comments! Also check out our article on the ten facts you probably didn't know about Iron Man and the video we've put together for you below!
