Better toy line cartoons: 1980's (North America) or 1997 - 08 (Japan)?

[zoombie]

Not to long I started a thread asking the question about the best cartoon era for kids, now I am getting more speceific and to the point.

I think most of the kid shows out of Japan since Pokemon in 1997 are mostly based on toy lines, video games, card trading games, etc., I think this trend remind me of cartoons from North America from the 1980's in which the majority of cartoons were based on toys.

Examples are GI Joe, Transformers, Care Bears, My Little Pony, etc.

Which era was better, the cartoons from the west in the 1980's, or the cartoons from the east since 1997?

Looking at these example, in the 80's the shows were set towards one demographic, the kid anime shows of recent years are aimed at a more general audiance. I don't know if that is important, just a difference I noticed.

[Bubblegum Girl]

I think the 80s in America was the best era for toys considering that 80s had all of this new ideas back then which became pop culture icons and also popular toys. Considering how many people grew up during the 80s give, a lot of them would remember these toys as they come out once again on the toy market.

[zoombie]

I think the 80s in America was the best era for toys considering that 80s had all of this new ideas back then which became pop culture icons and also popular toys. Considering how many people grew up during the 80s give, a lot of them would remember these toys as they come out once again on the toy market.



That is all well and good, but this discussion is just about the cartoon series, not the toys themselfs.

[Gokou Ruri]

They're both not my cup of tea. The best toy based series was made in 1996 and was called Beast Wars.. mainly because the writers actually focused on making a great show rather than a 30 minute long commercial like the other shows do.

[D Dubbs]

My opinion is biased, since I wasn't around in the 80's, but I love, love, love the toyetic shows from Japan. Shows like Pokémon, Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dinosaur King are some of my all-time favorites. However, it severely weakens the show if they focus too much on selling the toys/cards/video games (shows like Beyblade and Bakugan come to mind).

[John Pannozzi]

Gotta go with 1997-present Japan. They had freaking Digimon, man!

[Zorak Masaki]

The 80s. As good as some of the Japanese ones are, they cant hold a candle to eps like theres no place like springfield, dark awakening, code of hero, or the price.

[Kazuya Prower]

Definately the action figures of the 80's and early 90's. When I was little, I would always collect action figures of the Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers (Mighty Morphin' era) and Marvel superheroes.

[Tay the Cat]

My opinion is biased, since I wasn't around in the 80's, but I love, love, love the toyetic shows from Japan. Shows like Pokémon, Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dinosaur King are some of my all-time favorites. However, it severely weakens the show if they focus too much on selling the toys/cards/video games (shows like Beyblade and Bakugan come to mind).

I agree with this post, with the exception being that I greatly enjoy Beyblade and Bakugan and have no problem being in the minority in that department.


I've seen clips of a few 80's cartoons, and... ew. Not my thing, but if you enjoy those, more power to ya.

[zoombie]

I agree with this post, with the exception being that I greatly enjoy Beyblade and Bakugan and have no problem being in the minority in that department.


I seen those shows as well, and while they may over sell their product, I like the storylines, and they actully go somewhere them, unlike some other show cough Pokemon cough.

[Bratbat]

I wonder where do Danish trading card games fit in this discussion.

[Wolf Boy2]

Except for Digimon, there was nothing in the 1997-2008 that really stood out to me. I like the original Power Rangers as a little kid, but Batman, Gargoyles and Beast Wars made me forget all about Power Rangers fast.

I'm gonna have to go with the 80s, even though I wasn't there. But the fact that I even know about the 80s shows is proof of their longevity. I doubt 20 years from now anyone will be posting Pokemon episodes on YouTube or scouring Ebay for rare Pokemon cards. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

Transformers, GI Joe, Thundercats, He-Man, Voltron, Jem, M.A.S.K. and many others are animation classics from a golden era of TV. While they're nothing of Bruce Timm or Hiayo Miyazaki quality, they never fail to excite and amuse. I don't think that Pokemon or Yu-gi-oh has that same kind of charm.

[D Dubbs]

Transformers, GI Joe, Thundercats, He-Man, Voltron, Jem, M.A.S.K. and many others are animation classics from a golden era of TV. While they're nothing of Bruce Timm or Hiayo Miyazaki quality, they never fail to excite and amuse. I don't think that Pokemon or Yu-gi-oh has that same kind of charm.

I don't know, it's been ten years since Pokémon first hit the states, and it's presence is still a strong one. In my generation (high school/college) Pokémon is already seen as a retro thing...and it's generally viewed in a positive light. Everybody still knows who Pikachu is. Season one box sets are selling well, and fans are still enjoying the episodes that they enjoyed a decade ago. And then there's also the new generations that continue to join the fandom.

I'm not sure if other anime series can live up to that, but I'm sure Pokémon will be remembered for a long, long time.

[Light Lucario]

I'm gonna have to go with the 80s, even though I wasn't there. But the fact that I even know about the 80s shows is proof of their longevity. I doubt 20 years from now anyone will be posting Pokemon episodes on YouTube or scouring Ebay for rare Pokemon cards. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

Transformers, GI Joe, Thundercats, He-Man, Voltron, Jem, M.A.S.K. and many others are animation classics from a golden era of TV. While they're nothing of Bruce Timm or Hiayo Miyazaki quality, they never fail to excite and amuse. I don't think that Pokemon or Yu-gi-oh has that same kind of charm.

I disagree with you with what you said about Pokemon. Pokemon is a franchise that is over ten years old and it is still going strong. I don't know how people in my college feel about Pokemon, but I'm going to take a shot in the dark and guess that they feel that it is retro. I know that there were some kids in my own classes playing Diamond and Pearl when they came out. I'm sure that most people have heard of Pokemon or at least Pikachu. D Dubbs has a good point with how fans are still enjoying episodes that they enjoyed ten years ago, as well as with how new kids continue to join the fandom. Honestly, I think that Pokemon will be remembered for quite a long time.

As for the topic of this thread, I'm going to have to go with Japan's shows from 1997-2008. I am also biased because I was born in 1989 and thus I don't remember much of any shows from the 1980s, but I have really enjoyed a lot of the toy line cartoons from Japan. My personal favorites include Pokemon, Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dinosaur King. Those are some of my top favorite shows to watch. While they are basically commericals for the toy products, at least I think that they're great and enjoyable to watch. I watch Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! every weekday on DVDs just because I can relax to them so well.

[Uncle_Lina]

Hard to decide.

80s toy cartoons like He-man and Care Bears are only really popular for nostalgia reasons, but most of them are simply animated and basic and were only really made for the toys.

Japanese toy cartoons like Pokemon and Digimon have better animation and backgrounds, but are sometimes poorly dubbed into English, Some of them don't even make it to the west.

[fanboy]

I prefer the american 80's, with GI Joe, Care Bears, Transformers, among others.

[Undrave]

Story wise the 80s shows REALLY suck compared to the Japanese Toyetic shows. Even Beyblade has better story construction that He-Man or She-Ra or Transformers (TF and She-Ra have that uber-kitsch charm but they don't have actual merits, unless you look on the grand scale). Off course you have to accept that whatever toy the show is made about is 'serious buisness' but otherwise there's an actual progression going on.

Let's not even mention the animation quality, that wouldn't be fair.

Even the worse toyetic anime feel better than the top 80s toy shows. Let's not even mention the klunkers (Chuck Norris Karate Kommando anyone?).

[Wolf Boy2]

Story wise the 80s shows REALLY suck compared to the Japanese Toyetic shows. Even Beyblade has better story construction that He-Man or She-Ra or Transformers (TF and She-Ra have that uber-kitsch charm but they don't have actual merits, unless you look on the grand scale).
I really dissagree about Transformers. It had some of the best character development of any cartoon and a continuing storyline that was solid as a rock, especially in the seasons after the movie.

[D Dubbs]

Oh, I guess I have seen Voltron. Does that count as an 80's toy line cartoon? I guess it came from Japan, but if that's what the rest of the cartoons from the 80's were like, my God, they must have sucked.

[jph139]

When I think of Pokemon, Digimon, and Yu-Gi-Oh!, warm fuzzy memories of my childhood (well, my somewhat recent past decade) flood back. When I think of G.I. Joe, Transformers, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, memories of the hand-me-down toys that are in a box somewhere filter in.

Though I did love the cow with a lasso that I recently learned was from TMNT, I'll put my vote in for the shows I poured money and hours into.

[Undrave]

I really dissagree about Transformers. It had some of the best character development of any cartoon and a continuing storyline that was solid as a rock, especially in the seasons after the movie.

G1 is overrated in my opinion. I got Season 1 and Season 2 part 1 and its really nothing to write home about. I didn't bother getting season 2 part 2.

'More than Meets the Eyes' was a great start...but after that it got kinda silly.

[Wolf Boy2]

G1 is overrated in my opinion. I got Season 1 and Season 2 part 1 and its really nothing to write home about. I didn't bother getting season 2 part 2.

'More than Meets the Eyes' was a great start...but after that it got kinda silly.
I got into Transformers with the movie and the season that followed. Season 1 and 2 were okay, but not as good in my opinion. Though most hardcore fans feel season 1 was best (go figure).

[Undrave]

I got into Transformers with the movie and the season that followed. Season 1 and 2 were okay, but not as good in my opinion. Though most hardcore fans feel season 1 was best (go figure).

I didn't watch any G1 after the movie :sweat: after season 1 and 2 I didn't feel like spending on those sets you know?

[Zorak Masaki]

I didn't watch any G1 after the movie :sweat: after season 1 and 2 I didn't feel like spending on those sets you know?

You should at least check out "Starscreams Brigade" (as well as its sequel revenge of bruticus) and "Dark Awakening". Those are considered to be the finest eps of the series.

[John Pannozzi]

You should at least check out "Starscreams Brigade" (as well as its sequel revenge of bruticus) and "Dark Awakening". Those are considered to be the finest eps of the series.
And then there's the Return of Optimus Prime, which I thought was pretty good.

[Beat]

I'd say a lot of concepts are revolution vs. evolution.

1980's for instance- Let's have robots than transform into vehicles?

1990's- Let's have robots, transform into vehicles, combine with other robots, and shout out attacks so loud that people's ears will ring! Oh yeah, a mere gun isn't going to be epic enough, let's give him a giant hammer of death!

1980's- Cute animals! Just one kind though.

1990's- A ton of cute animals! Two of every species! And we have tough looking ones too!