Sometimes life can get rough and stressful, and there’s nothing better than seeking comfort in something they once loved. Especially lately, with all the adult responsibilities every 80s and 90s kid must tackle in their daily lives, it’s easier to feel nostalgic for a simpler time when one could sit in front of the TV on Saturday morning and enjoy a bunch of cartoons.
Saturday mornings were an iconic timeback in the 80sto 2000s. It was a time before the internet was as big of a deal as it is today, and kids found their source of entertainment on TV, especially in ABC’s cartoons. Some might say it was the golden age of television, and it was a tradition for kids to wake up early, grab a bowl of cereal and run to the living room to catch the latest episode of their favorite cartoon. Saturday morning cartoons are still around today, even if these shows' heydays have passed. These were some of the most-watched cartoons that aired on ABC.
10Sabrina: The Animated Series
Sabrina The Teenage Witchwas a popular show in the late 90s toandearly 2000s among teens and young adults. Based on the Archie Comics, the story of Sabrina Spellman even got adapted into an animated series for kids to enjoy on early Saturday mornings beforeNetflix released its own version of the series,The Chilling Adventure of Sabrina,in 2018.
Sabrina: The Animated Seriesis about the titular Sabrina, a half-witch, half-human mortal who receives her magical powers at the age of sixteen. She must learn to control them while surviving the struggles of high school.
9Hercules: The Animated Series
The Disney movieHerculescame out in 1997 and won the hearts of many kids and their parents with its retelling of Greek mythology. The story follows the son of Zeus, Hercules, who gets kidnapped by Hades' minions and brought to Earth. After being adopted by a mortal family, Hercules must tackle a series of obstacles if he wishes to return home to Mount Olympus with his family and other gods.
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Hercules: The Animated Seriesfocuses on Hercules, but on his early years as a teenager, training to become the hero he was in the movie. On this journey, new friends are introduced, such as Icarus and the prophet Cassandra.
8101 Dalmatians: The Series
101 Dalmatians,released by Disney in 1961, was one of the most beloved animated movies of its time. Its popularity was so grand that the story of Pongo, Perdita, and their 101 puppies even got a live-action released in 1996 with Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil, and a sequel in 2000 called102 Dalmatians.The iconic villain returned in 2021as the protagonist of her own movie,Cruella.
101 Dalmatians: The Seriesaired for two seasons from 1997 to 1998 on ABC for kids to enjoy. The story is set on a farm and focuses on theadventure of three puppies, Lucky, Rolly, and Cadpig. Joining them on their journey is their friend Spot, a chicken who wants to be just like them.
7The Legend Of Tarzan
The classic story of the boy named Tarzan, raised in the jungle by apes, came out in theaters in 1999. His story about how he came to learn more about humans and find love touched the hearts of many.
The Legend of Tarzan,the animated series based on the film, ran for three seasons from 2001 to 2005. It is the only Disney animated series to focus on the events after the ones that happened in its respective movie. The story follows Tarzan and his new girlfriend Jane as they adjust to their life together in the jungle and embark on many adventures.
6Doug
Dougaired on Nickelodeon and ABC for seven seasons from 1991 to 1994. The story of the main show’s protagonist, Doug, is about his coming of age and his life as he meets friends, finds love, and keeps a journal of his journey through the sixth grade.
For a cartoon aimed at kids and young teenagers, many fans were surprised it tackled serious and relatable issues with humor.Dougquickly became a fan favorite and had its first movie released in 1999,Doug’s 1st Movie.
5Lloyd In Space
Lloyd in Spacewas a cartoon aboutan alien named Lloyd Nebulon,a 13-year-old who lives in space with his friends and family as he tries to live an ordinary life but to no avail. The story takes place in the future, precisely after World War Nine.
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The cartoon first aired on Disney Channel and ABC in 2001 and ran for four seasons.Lloyd in Spacewas written by Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere, the same creators behindRecess, another classic of Saturday morning television.
4Recess
Recessaired on ABC for six seasons from 1997 to 2001. It was a comedy aimed at kids about six friends, four boys and two girls, in the fourth grade. Every day, they attempt to survive recess without getting bullied by King Bob and his minions or getting caught doing pranks by Miss Finster, the villain of the show.
The cartoon was diverse in terms of characters, which made them even more relatable to their fans. One of the most iconic characters of the show was Ashley Spinelli, whom viewers admired forher rebellious and tomboyish attitude. Many young girls aspired to be just as cool as her.
3The Weekenders
The Weekenderswas a comedic cartoon that aired in the early 2000s for four seasons on ABC. The story focused on four friends, Lor, Carvo, Tino, and Tish, who tried to make every weekend the most memorable one yet. The show’s main character, Tino, narrated the events of their weekend by breaking the fourth wall, which was something audiences rarely witnessed on TV back then.
The Weekenders also captured the interest of young fans as it was one of the first cartoons to have characters change their clothes regularly.
2DuckTales
Ducktaleswas one of the most beloved and classic cartoons that fans remember waking up early to watch on Saturdays. The cartoon aired from 1987 to 1990 andfocused on Disney’s Donald Duck’s Billionaire uncle, Scrooge McDuck. Scrooge spent the whole series embarking on adventures with his nephews, Louis, Dewey, and Huey, in search of gold and treasures.
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DuckTales’opening credits remain one of the best openings a cartoon can have. Hearing it will definitely make people nostalgic for a simpler and carefree time.
1Darkwing Duck
Darkwing Duckwas the most loved cartoon that played on ABC from 1991 to 1993. Fans couldn’t wait until Saturday morning to sit back and watch both this show andDuckTales.Darkwing Duckwas a superhero comedy packed with actionand kept its fans easily entertained with its protagonist, Drake Mallard, and his life of fighting crimes.
This cartoon’s premise reminded fans a lot of the Batman animated series. Although it is a bit dark in terms of themes, it teaches kids many lessons that will follow them throughout their lives.
