Now I believe it would be safe to assume that everyone on this site loves or at least at one time loved cartoons. If you go back as far as the classic cartoons of the Looney Toons or Mickey Mouse and friends. To the nostalgia fueled mornings of many of our childhoods with Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and G.I. Joe. The extreme 90's with great shows like Batman The Animated Series and Animaniacs. To the 2000's and beyond with great cartoons like Justice League, Samurai Jack, and the most recent Avatar The Last Airbender. Yet I ask you what about what a few cartoons that maybe don't get the recognition that they deserve and should be more rememberd amongst the great in cartoon history. Now let me predicate this editorial that these are my picks everyone probably has their own ideas for shows they believe should be here but without further ado my list.
3. Reboot 1994-2001
In the city of Mainframe Bob the Guardian with the help of his friends the straight laced and prudent Dot and her energetic younger brother Enzo defend the city from not only the User and his games and the viruses the egomaniacal Megabyte and his insane sister Hexodecimal. A first of it's kind Reboot was the first fully CGI animated series and pioneered the use of CGI for future shows like Beast Wars, Star Wars the Clone Wars, and Green Lantern the Animated Series. The series was smartly written with hilarious parodies of Evil Dead, Pokemon, X-Files and other matters. The action was top notch and the characters all likeable with the greatest being Megabyte played by the late great Tony Jay probably being one of the greatest cartoon villains of all time. The series ran 4 seasons until it was finally cancelled on an amazing cliffhanger with Megabyte in control of the CPU proclaiming to all of Mainframe "Let the hunt begin.". Man did that suck for fans of that show to end on such an awesome cliffhanger. While the animation hasn't aged the best going into the show with an open mind you will find an amazing cartoon that should be talked about more in the history of cartoons. Also the final moments of the season 3 finale is probably one of the greatest endings to a season in all of tv history. Spoilers ahead for those who haven't see the show and wish to watch it.
2. Gargoyles 1994-1997
In the year 994 AD in Scotland Goliath and his clan of Gargoyles, lizard like beastmen with wings who turn to stone in the day, protect the castle alongside the humans against any outside invaders mainly viking raids. Though betrayed by someone he trusted only Goliath and 6 of his Gargoyle bretheren survive the betrayal after the castle is sacked and the princess and all the survivors are taken away. They go off to rescue the princess and her people and to have their revenge on those who killed his family. Through a misunderstanding the castle Magus turns Goliath and his surviving family to stone until the castle rises above the clouds. In the present day billionaire David Xanatos enthralled by the legends of the Gargoyles takes the castle apart piece by piece and rebuilds it on top of his skyscrapper in New York reviving the Gargoyles in present day New York. A brilliantly written show with some amazing voice acting all around made this one of the best shows in the 90's. Not only that the show had great tie ins to British and Scottish myths and legends and even Shakespearian plays. Great heroes and great villains the show had it all and to anyone who hasn't seen the show you should definitely go and see it.
Finally my number 1 pick this one I am not sure how many people have seen it but this show is a forgotten gem in cartoon history and deserves much more respect then it gets. Also they need to release the second season on dvd seriously.
1. Exosquad 1993-1994
In the 22nd century Earth has colonized and terraformed Mars and Venus with the help of powerful Exo suits called E-Frames. Earth and it's colonies were conquered by the genetically created humans called Neo-Sapiens and their leader Phaeton. Originally created to be workers working in the harshest of conditions Neo-Sapiens had tried to rise up before and failed. Later Phaeton through deception, preparation, and waiting conquered Earth, Mars, and Venus. Now all that stands against the Neo-Sapiens is the remaining battleships of the Exofleet and Lt. J.T. Marsh and his Able Squad. This series pulled no punches as a cartoon being a very mature show with heavy content that you did not normally see on Saturday Mornings. The show covered areas such as slavery, the morality of war, death, what it means to be human, and even genocide. In single episodes you could see death tolls in the hundreds if not thousands with entire battleships and frigates being destroyed not including E-Frames and fighters. This was not a show like G.I. Joe where everyone jumped out of the jet or tank before it blew up. Death was a constant and it showed the trued brutality of war in this series and by series end Able Squad was trying to stop Phaeton from wiping out all humans in existence that is some pretty big stuff for a Saturday Morning cartoon. Though that isn't to say the Neo-Sapiens are the only ones at fault. As I said earlier they were basically tube grown slaves who entire existence was to labor away for the humans. The Neo-Sapiens only wanted to be free and to live their own lives and in many ways this war was brought on by the humans themselves. That is to say the Neo-Sapiens are in no way justified their brutality and their eventual push to genocide. This show was showing us that in real life there are no good guys in war because no matter what both sides sit in pools of blood among the bones of those who died. Like Reboot the show was cancelled as Lt. J.T. Marsh tries to desperately call to Exofleet that a new enemy is coming from beyond Pluto. This show is a must watch for anyone who loves cartoons.
So there you have it three cartoons that should be more talked about amongst the greats of cartoon history. What do you think are there other cartoons you believe should be talked about instead? Did you like these cartoons or do you have any interest to see these cartoons?