Favorite Classic Cartoon Theme Songs/Music

[Thad Komorowski]

What would you consider your favorite theme songs or music from classic cartoons (that are heard in the opening titles)? Here's a list of mine:

The Donald Duck Theme Song ("Who gets stuck with all the bad luck...")

The Figaro Theme Song ("Figaro is a clever little cat...")

"Skiddle Diddle Dee" (Herman & Katnip Theme Song)

"Little Audrey Says"

Any of the Andy Panda and Woody Woodpecker Opening Title Themes (all of them get stuck in my head)



What are yours?



-Thad

[Eraserhead]

The Pink Panther

[chuckamuck43]

There are so very many good ones, old & new, movie and TV.

Of the classics, I love the Woody Woodpecker, Popeye and Herman & Katnip themes.

My favorites from TV are The Flintstones, The Simpsons, Spiderman, TinyToon Adventures
Darkwing Duck and Inspector Gadget.

But the one theme that always makes me grin like a kid the minute I hear it, and the one I love the best, is The Looney Tunes theme, "Merrily We Roll Along".

Next to my kids' laughter, its the happiest sound in the world!:)

[Thad Komorowski]

Oh, the Noveltoon theme is also a catchy tune I enjoy listening to.





-Thad

[Emmanuel Cruz]

The Popeye theme song
The Tom and Jerry theme song
"The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down"
"Merrily We Roll Along"

[Tintin]

Looney Tunes mid-1950's-60's

Bonkers theme

South Park theme

The "We are Cartoons!" capsules :cool:

The Disney Afternoon clips from Talespin, Darkwing Duck, Goof Troop and Bonkers

[Howard]

My favorite theatrical cartoon themes would be "Minnie's Yoo-Hoo" and "Popeye the Sailor Man".
For TV my favorites are "The Tom and Jerry Show" theme from 1975, that Bugs Bunny show song ("Overture, Curtain, Lights...").

[Cartman]

Mine are:


"A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" from the Bosko cartoons

"Minnie's Yoo-Hoo" from the B&W Mickey Mouse cartoons

The Donald Duck theme from the late 40's/early 50's (that one is on my signature)

The Popeye Theme

[Matt Yorston]

I love the 1943-55 Noveltoon theme (the one used before the Noveltoon Tune replaced it starting with "Little Audrey Riding Hood").

I also like the "Love That Pup" Tom & Jerry opening used on virtually all Tom & Jerry cartoons from 1949 onward (Interestingly, 1943's "Sufferin' Cats!" also opens with this theme music. Is this only in the reissue title?).

And, of course, who CAN'T forget the Henry Mancini Pink Panther opening? It's instantly hummable the second your ears hear it. It sticks in your head but it's the type of music you WANT to stick in your head.

Last but not least, I also like the VERY short-lived Donald Duck opening theme, only used at the beginning of 5 of his cartoons; "Window Cleaners", "Fire Chief", "Timber", "Donald Duck and the Gorilla", and "Commando Duck". A clip of this theme is heard at the end of almost every 1941-48 Donald Duck cartoon even at the end of those that didn't use this opening theme.

[Lonestarr]

Both of the themes for the Goofy cartoons; the sort-of galloping theme from the '40s and the jazzier theme from the '50s.

The LT theme; not "Merrily We Roll Along" or "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down", but the other one.

The Lava-esque arrangement of "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down".

Thanks, J Lee.

[J Lee]

My favorites, by studio

Warners
Merrily We Roll Along (late 1937, 1945, 1955 versions)
The Merrie Go Round Broke Down (late 1937, 1941, 1945 versions)

MGM
Tom & Jerry theme (1954-56 fast variation on the 1949 version)
Avery theme (1949 version)

Paramount
Sweet Betty (1932 Betty Boop theme)
Popeye the Sailor (late 1942, 1954 versions)
Little Lulu theme (1943)
Noveltoon theme (1943, 1955 versions)
Little Audrey theme (1948)
Herman & Katnip (1955 non-lyric version)
Casper (1955 non-lyric version)

Universal
Woody Woodpecker theme (1948)

Terrytoons
Heckle & Jeckyl theme (1947)
Deputy Dawg (1960)

Disney
Donald Duck theme (1941, 1947 versions)
Goofy (1947 version)
Pluto (1943 version)

***

Note to Matt: "Sufferin Cats!" "Fine Feathered Friend" and I believe "The Lonesome Mouse" were the cartoons (along with Avery's "Dumb Hounded" and "The Early Bird Dood It!") that lost their "Tiger Rag" openings when they were re-released by MGM. Bradley's original 1948 version of the Tom & Jerry theme was substituted in its place.

[Matthew Hunter]

Of course, the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies themes. I also really like the rendition of "Come on Get Happy" from the earlyB/W Merrie Melodies. Also:

The Pink Panther
Tiny Toon Adventures
Pinky and the Brain
Inspector Gadget

-Matthew