1001 Animated Series You Must See Before You Die
This happens to be a personal obsession of mine, as well as something genuinely personal to me. I grew up in the golden age of Saturday Morning cartoons and with constant fights with my brother and my folks always arguing over martial issues, most of which concerning money, I'm afraid to admit that I was part of the decade/generation of kids who grew up with the television as a babysitter.
From 1950 with the advent of television to the dawn of the 21st century in the era of streaming services, it's not a stretch to assert that the traditional 'animated series' as the concept pertains to animation chopped up and presented in an episodic serialized format, has gone through a considerable metamorphosis. My aim with this list is to document how that change has occurred. But I may need my readers' participation to help me along, as it's an ongoing process to try and get this thing filled out and the more progress I make on it the more I begin to second guess whether my choices seem universally objective.
By now most of if not all of you are familiar with the popular publication "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", as well there have been many spin-off publications such as "1001 Albums" or "1001 Places", you get the idea. Well I thought I might as well take a stab at erecting a version that pertains exclusively to animated series. The criteria for making this list is the same as the book's and I try to keep that in mind as I go along on this thing. Fair as it may be, I may need to do further research on some of these entries, I might make faux pas along the way. Feel free to leave me a comment in the below as well as if there's anything my readers feel I may be missing, please please please let me know. And let me know what choices YOU feel are fundamentally essential to a list like this, and if you can, give a brief reasoning as to what makes it so.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to stop and look at this thing. It may take me some time to gather up my thoughts and write an explanation behind my reasoning as to why the entries I chose to be on here are here. To clarify, these are my non-biased picks, meaning while I may like a considerable number of these, I'm not going so much on my personal favorites so much as I am trying to 'predict' what entries a publication like "1001" is likely to include. These are the shows with which you would say to your friends (you're trying to impress) you can't TRULY be an admirer or appreciate the exotic journey with which serialized animation has evolved, if you don't check out 'these'. Hope that makes sense?
From 1950 with the advent of television to the dawn of the 21st century in the era of streaming services, it's not a stretch to assert that the traditional 'animated series' as the concept pertains to animation chopped up and presented in an episodic serialized format, has gone through a considerable metamorphosis. My aim with this list is to document how that change has occurred. But I may need my readers' participation to help me along, as it's an ongoing process to try and get this thing filled out and the more progress I make on it the more I begin to second guess whether my choices seem universally objective.
By now most of if not all of you are familiar with the popular publication "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", as well there have been many spin-off publications such as "1001 Albums" or "1001 Places", you get the idea. Well I thought I might as well take a stab at erecting a version that pertains exclusively to animated series. The criteria for making this list is the same as the book's and I try to keep that in mind as I go along on this thing. Fair as it may be, I may need to do further research on some of these entries, I might make faux pas along the way. Feel free to leave me a comment in the below as well as if there's anything my readers feel I may be missing, please please please let me know. And let me know what choices YOU feel are fundamentally essential to a list like this, and if you can, give a brief reasoning as to what makes it so.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to stop and look at this thing. It may take me some time to gather up my thoughts and write an explanation behind my reasoning as to why the entries I chose to be on here are here. To clarify, these are my non-biased picks, meaning while I may like a considerable number of these, I'm not going so much on my personal favorites so much as I am trying to 'predict' what entries a publication like "1001" is likely to include. These are the shows with which you would say to your friends (you're trying to impress) you can't TRULY be an admirer or appreciate the exotic journey with which serialized animation has evolved, if you don't check out 'these'. Hope that makes sense?
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- CreatorAlexander AndersonJay WardStarsVern LoudenRoy WhaleyRuss CoughlanThe humorous adventures of the heroic Crusader Rabbit, and his sidekick Rags the Tiger.
- StarsArt ClokeyDal McKennonNorma MacMillanInnovative "Claymation" adventures of Gumby and his horse Pokey.
- CreatorRobert D. BuchananJack SchlehStarsNoah TylerFrom their earth headquarters on Zero Zero Island, Colonel Bleep, Squeek and Scratch battle intergalactic villains such as Doctor Destructo, the master criminal of the universe, The Black Knight, and Captain Patch, a displaced pirate.
- StarsWalter LantzGrace StaffordHomer BrightmanWalter Lantz hosts a program of theatrical cartoons, along with segments showing the workings of an animation studio and newsreel footage narrated by Woody Woodpecker.
- StarsDaws ButlerDon MessickDoug YoungThe adventures of a blue dog with a southern accent.
- CreatorBill ScottJay WardStarsBill ScottJune ForayPaul FreesRocky, a plucky flying squirrel and Bullwinkle, a bumbling but lovable moose, have a series of ongoing adventures.
- StarsJack MercerMae QuestelJackson BeckThe continuing animated adventures of Olive Oyl, Wimpy, Swee'pea and Popeye.
- CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaStarsAlan ReedMel BlancJean Vander PylThe misadventures of two modern-day Stone Age families, the Flintstones and the Rubbles.
- StarsMel BlancJune ForayDaws ButlerTV series featuring the classic Looney Tunes animated shorts.
- CreatorStephen BosustowStarsBenny RubinDaws ButlerJim BackusThe adventures of a visually impaired old man.
- CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaStarsDaws ButlerDon MessickJimmy WeldonYogi, a smooth, talkative forest bear looks to raid park goers' picnic baskets, while Park Ranger Smith tries to stop him.
- StarsHal SmithDick BealsNorma MacMillanA young boy and his talking dog learn lessons about life.
- CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaStarsArnold StangMaurice GosfieldMarvin KaplanTop Cat is the leader of a group of alley cats, always trying to cheat someone.
- StarsJim MacGeorgeIrv ShoemakerSody ClampettBoard title "Matty's Funday Funniest" from 1959.
- CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaStarsGeorge O'HanlonJanet WaldoMel BlancThe misadventures of a futuristic family.
- CreatorOsamu TezukaStarsBillie Lou WattMari ShimizuEsperanzita MartínezAs long as trouble's brewing across the universe, the small but powerful robot, Astro Boy, will have adventures, assisted by his mentor, Dr. Elefun.
- CreatorMitsuteru YokoyamaStarsBillie Lou WattRay OwensPeter FernandezWhen terrorist groups, criminals and aliens become too strong for Earth's overstretched armed forces, the virtually indestructible robot named Gigantor is built to combat them.
- CreatorDoug WildeyStarsMike RoadTim MathesonDon MessickThe Quest family and their bodyguard investigate strange phenomena and battle villains around the world.
- StarsGeorge S. IrvingWally CoxAllen SwiftThe adventures of a rhyming canine superhero.
- CreatorAl BrodaxStarsThe BeatlesPaul FreesLance PercivalThe musical adventures of the greatest of the Rock Bands.
- CreatorGerry AndersonSylvia AndersonStarsSylvia AndersonPeter DyneleyDavid GrahamIn the year 2065, the Tracy family run International Rescue - a top-secret organization whose ongoing mission is to rescue people trapped in extraordinarily dangerous situations using their advanced Thunderbirds machines.
- StarsYvonne MurrayBillie Lou WattRay OwensThe adventures of a brave and optimistic little white lion, moral leader for good animals in a jungle surrounded by dangers.
- CreatorSerge DanotStarsEric ThompsonPatricia DanotMicheline DaxCult classic children's animated series about a group of human and animal characters that gather at the roundabout / carousel in the park. Although the original series is French there are multiple dubbed versions from other countries.
- CreatorTatsuo YoshidaStarsKatsuji MoriPeter FernandezCorinne OrrTeenager Gô Mifune aspires to be the world's best race-car champion with the help of his friends, family and his father's high-tech race-car, the Mach 5.
- StarsErik SchumannZlatko CrnkovicNada AgbabaTelevision series for children about an old inventor.
- CreatorAllan BurnsStarsBill ScottJune ForayPaul FreesAn anthology of Jay Ward cartoon creations, featuring a dumb ape man and his friends.
- CreatorStan LeeSteve DitkoStarsPaul SolesPeg DixonPaul KligmanOriginal cartoon series based on the web-slinging Marvel comic book character, Peter Parker, who, after being bit by a radioactive spider, assumes extraordinary powers.
- StarsThe Krofft PuppetsFrank AletterKim KahanaA pop group consisting of four anthropomorphic animals host a variety of cartoons, songs, and skits.
- StarsPaul WinchellJohn StephensonDave WillockThe participants of an unusual car race compete around America.
- StarsHoward MorrisDal McKennonJohn ErwinThe comedic misadventures and music of Archie Andrews and his friends.
- CreatorBill ScottStarsBill ScottJune ForayHans ConriedThe adventures of Canada's dumbest member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
- CreatorAleksandr KurlyandskiyArkadiy KhaytFeliks KamovStarsAnatoliy PapanovKlara RumyanovaIgor KhristenkoA long-years odyssey of Wolf to catch Hare. Comprehensive changes in the Soviet Union pass in the background.
- CreatorBob CampChuck TatelyStarsRich LittlePaul FreesDave BarryA classy, resourceful panther has plenty of hilarious misadventures, outwitting those who annoy him with his clever tricks.
- CreatorJoe RubyKen SpearsJoseph BarberaStarsDon MessickCasey KasemNicole JaffeA group of teenage friends and their Great Dane (Scooby-Doo) travel in a bright green van solving strange and hilarious mysteries, while returning from or going to a regular teenage function.
- StarsEndre HarkányiIlona GyöriAttila NémethyThe Mézga family going a funny adventure around the world without money and ability to speaking other languages. They looking for an old friend who will pay everything.
- StarsTeruhiko AoiShunsuke ShimaAkira ShimadaJoe, a teenage orphan living in the slums of the Doya streets, meets Danpei, a homeless alcoholic and former boxing trainer. Danpei, seeing Joe's talent for boxing, decides to train him.
- StarsSherry AlberoniJerry DexterCathy DouglasAn up-and-coming pop-music group and its entourage get involved with strange mysteries while touring the world.
- CreatorMonkey PunchStarsYasuo YamadaRichard EpcarMichelle RuffThe adventures of the master thief Lupin III and his cohorts as they dive into various escapades, all the while in pursuit by the tenacious Inspector Zenigata.
- StarsCarlo BonomiOsvaldo CavandoliWhen artist draws a magic line, it takes on a life of its own, becoming a silhouette of a living hot-tempered person. This "Mr. Line" wants more things drawn so he can enjoy himself, but the artist loves having fun on Mr. Line's account.
- CreatorBill CosbyStarsBill CosbyGerald EdwardsLou ScheimerThe educational adventures of a group of Afro-American inner city kids.
- StarsTom BosleyJoan GerberJack BurnsA conservative father butts heads with his family on various social attitudes of the day.
- StarsBob DoroughJack SheldonLynn AhrensA series of shorts illustrating various songs that teach multiplication tables, grammar, science, American history, computers, economics, and environmentalism.
- StarsIchirô NagaiEiko MasuyamaKei TomiyamaBased on the books of Thornton W Burgess, the animals of the Green Forest live together and stay away from predators and humans. They have to find food, shelter, and deal with new animals that are passing through or that decide to stay.
- CreatorGardner FoxStarsDanny DarkCasey KasemOlan SouleThe greatest of the DC Comics superheroes work together to uphold the good with the help of some young proteges.
- StarsAdrian HovenManfred SeipoldMartin HalmA young Viking Boy goes with his Father and his crew on journies.
- CreatorKen IshikawaStarsAkira KamiyaKen'ichi OgataRihoko YoshidaMankind is threatened by the Megasaur Empire, an advanced civilization of dinosaurs that survived extinction by living underground. In response, Prof. Saotome develops Getta Robo, a 3-in-1 robot formed by three separate vehicles (Getta Machines Eagle, Jaguar, and Bear). Powered by cosmic/getta rays, Getta Robo battles the army of Mechasauruses unleashed by the Empire.
- StarsStanley LivingstonMicky DolenzNorman AldenThree teenage circus performers travel the country solving mysteries.
- StarsIrene TedrowPaul WinchellHenry CordenA Hanna-Barbera animated series, the show is set in fictional Elmsville of the early 1900's. The Day family consists of Grandpa Jeff, his widowed daughter Martha and her three children Ben, Kathy, and Andrew. Stories consist of everyday events plus the changes in society.
- StarsDoris JensenKurt ZipsArthur HoldenThe story of a young bee named Maya and her adventures.
- CreatorGô NagaiStarsJôji YanamiHiroya IshimaruRihoko YoshidaEscaping from Vega's evil forces, the young Prince of planet Fleed leaves his destroyed homeland aboard the UFO Robot Grendizer, a powerful war machine, and makes it to Earth. Rescued by a bright scientist and fellow earthlings, he fights the saucers and robots sent by Vega, who plans to seize the mighty Grendizer and conquer the whole universe, or destroy it either.
- CreatorMauricio de SousaStarsAngélica SantosMarli BortolettoPaulo CavalcanteMonica, the leader of the crew and 'ruler of the street,' is a little girl with a strong personality, not one to overlook any insult. She absolutely loves her stuffed bunny, Samson, and takes him with her everywhere. Jimmy Five, one of her best friends, is a smart kid, but he's always provoking her. Maggy is Monica's best friend and a super cute girl, who is always eating watermelons. To complete the show's main quartet, enter Smudge, a skillful boy who is terrified of water.
- CreatorEdward KayStarsBrian TruemanKate Murray-HendersonWhen Jamie shines his Magic Torch on the floor of his bedroom a hole appears, leading Jamie and Wordsworth the sheepdog to the psychedelic fantasy world of Cuckooland.
- StarsKôichi KitamuraMami KoyamaAkira MurayamaA compelling story in which orphaned Remi gets hired out to a traveling street entertainer Vitalis when her foster parents fall on hard times.
- StarsMakio InoueAkira KamiyaJôji YanamiIn 2977, mankind has space colonies, machines do all the work and everyone just wants to have fun. When deadly plant-based aliens that look like women attack the Earth in order to colonize it, only one rogue captain can stop them.
- StarsNoriko OharaSabrina PitreErin MathewsLong after a devastating war almost destroyed the entire world, a boy with superhuman strength fights to save his friends from those who seek to conquer what is left of civilization.
- StarsHal SmithRobert RidgelyWalker EdmistonBased on the character from the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry novella, when the little prince isn't tending to the baobab trees and volcanoes on his tiny planet, he's catching a passing shooting star, usually with his butterfly net, and traveling to other worlds. Each episode he hitches a ride some place, usually Earth, where he meets and adventures with a person (or creature) and all involved learn a lesson or two. And when the next shooting star passes overhead, the little prince flies back home alone.
- StarsAlan YoungKeye LukeRonnie SchellA five-member superhero team called G-Force fights to defend Earth and its space colonies from the threat of the planet Spectra.
- StarsMasako NozawaMasako IkedaKaneta KimotsukiThe adventure of a young boy on board a space train, as it travels to a myriad of incredible worlds.
- StarsJoe ThomasBobby ThongMari ShimizuJim Hawkins, a thirteen-year-old boy in the eighteenth century, runs the Admiral Benbow Inn with his mother since his father died. The plots starts when a drunken sailor decides to stay in the hotel.
- StarsTaichirô HirokawaEiko MasuyamaKeiichi NodaThis series documents the adventures of Curtis Newton, a brilliant scientist, who, under the name "Captain Future", chases interstellar criminals together with his crew (a robot, an android, and a human brain separated from its body).
- CreatorYoshiyuki TominoHajime YatateStarsHirotaka SuzuokiTôru FuruyaToshio FurukawaIn the war between the Earth Federation and Zeon, a young and inexperienced crew find themselves on a new spaceship. Their best hope of making it through the conflict is the Gundam, a giant humanoid robot, and its gifted teenage pilot.
- StarsEddie AllenMichael BertoliniAmy Howard WilsonIn the year 2199, a starship must make a dangerous voyage to the distant planet Iscandar and back to save Earth from an alien invasion.
- CreatorJeffrey O'KellyStarsPeter UstinovUlli PhilippLambert HamelThe fantastic adventures of a friendly doctor and his friends.
- StarsIkuo NishikawaIchirô NagaiYoshiko MatsuoTom Sawyer is a young boy growing up along the Mississippi River in the mid 1800s. Along with his best friend Huckleberry Finn, he spends his days ditching school, fishing, climbing trees and having adventures.
- CreatorYoshiyuki TominoHajime YatateStarsYoku ShioyaHideyuki TanakaYô InoueThe apocalyptic, bleak chronicles of the Solo starship as they cruise across the cosmos, and wage war with the extraterrestrial Buff Clan over a celestial robot known as the Ideon.
- StarsGyula SzabóPiroska MolnárGyörgy BánffyAnimated Hungarian folk tales.
- CreatorSteve GerberStarsHenry CordenRobert RidgelyNellie BellflowerThundarr the Barbarian and his companions Ookla the Mok and Princess Ariel wander a devastated future Earth and fight evil wherever they find it.
- StarsTôru FuruyaIchirô NagaiKeiko YokozawaThe adventures of a boy searching for his mother with his only companion being a large Pyrenean mountain dog falsely accused of being dangerous.
- CreatorPeyoStarsDon MessickDanny GoldmanLucille BlissThe Smurfs are tiny blue creatures that live in mushroom houses in a peaceful forest. They repeatedly try to outwit Gargamel, an evil sorcerer, his apprentice, Scruple, and his mangy cat, Azrael.
- CreatorBrian CosgroveMark HallStarsDavid JasonTerry ScottEdward KelseyDanger Mouse, the greatest secret agent in the world, must follow Colonel K's orders (and try not to break Professor Squawkencluck's inventions) to foil Baron Greenback's and his henchman Stiletto's plans.
- StarsEduardo JoverGloria CámaraManuel PeiróIn 17th century France, young Dogtanian travels to Paris to fulfill his ambition to become one of the King's Musketeers. He befriends Athos, Porthos and Aramis and falls in love with Juliette. A doggy version of the tale.
- StarsMayumi TanakaMatt BirmanSumi ShimamotoTo return home and restore his cursed crew, a great hero of space and his child companions must find the Kingdom of Hades against all evil opposition.
- CreatorRumiko TakahashiStarsFumi HiranoToshio FurukawaSaeko ShimazuAn unlucky, womanizing high schooler becomes the unwilling target of a vivacious alien girl's affections after winning an interplanetary game of tag against her.
- StarsJanice ChaikelsonAdrian KnightMichael RudderA trio of kids must search throughout 16th Century South America for personal answers linked to the legendary El Dorado.
- CreatorMike YoungStarsDerek GriffithsPeter HawkinsJon PertweeAn ordinary teddy bear comes to life and becomes a superhero.
- CreatorJean ChalopinAndy HeywardBruno BianchiStarsDon AdamsHolly BergerFrank WelkerA bumbling cyborg inspector outfitted with an array of bizarre gadgets pursues the criminal organization M.A.D., all while his precocious niece and dog do the real investigative work.
- StarsJohn ErwinAlan OppenheimerLinda GaryThe most powerful man in the universe, He-Man, goes against the evil forces of Skeletor to save the planet Eternia and to protect the secrets of Castle Grayskull.
- CreatorHeywood KlingStarsJimmy KeeganBettina BushAlvy MooreA 13-year-old boy named Henry Bigg, who is going on vacation, finds some mouse-like creatures called diminutives in his suitcase.
- StarsMichael BellArthur BurghardtJackson BeckThe GI Joe Special Missions force must battle to build a counterweapon to Cobra's teleportation device.
- StarsRoss Bagdasarian Jr.Janice KarmanFrank WelkerThree chipmunk brothers named Alvin, Simon, and Theodore have been adopted by and are living with Dave (human). Each episode finds them getting into trouble and new and unusual situations.
- CreatorCharles M. SchulzStarsBill MelendezJeremy SchoenbergAngela Lee SloanEvery Saturday morning The Peanuts Gang does skits, mostly taken from newspaper strips.
- CreatorMark EvanierStarsWillie AamesDon MostAdam RichA group of kids are thrown into a fantasy world where they must search for a way home, armed with magic weapons that an evil tyrant wants.
- StarsTom WynerGregory SnegoffKen'ichi OgataA furry version of Jules Verne's classic adventure story of a British gentleman's challenge to circumnavigate the world in 80 days.
- StarsPeter CullenMichael BellJack AngelThis series focuses on five lion robots and their pilots as they fight the evil forces of King Zarkon and Prince Lotor.
- CreatorJim HensonJeffrey ScottStarsGreg BergKatie LeighLaurie O'BrienThe Muppets, as babies, have adventures with their imaginations inside their nursery.
- CreatorHenry OrensteinStarsFrank WelkerPeter CullenCorey BurtonTwo opposing factions of transforming alien robots engage in a battle that has the fate of Earth in the balance.
- CreatorBritt AllcroftPhilip D. FehrleRoss HastingsStarsMichael AngelisKeith WickhamMichael BrandonThis series follows the adventures of Thomas the Tank Engine and all of his engine friends on the Island of Sodor.
- StarsAkira KamiyaShigeru ChibaTeiyû IchiryûsaiAfter a nuclear war turns Earth into a lawless wasteland, Kenshiro, a practitioner of the deadly master art "Hokuto Shinken", fights a succession of tyrannical warriors to restore order.
- StarsJacques ThébaultRobert RidgelyFred TravalenaAn animated series based on the European comic book about an American cowboy described as "The man who shoots faster than his shadow." Lucky Luke, with his horse Double Six, travels the Old West to right wrongs and bring evildoers (usually his traditional enemies the Dalton Brothers) to justice.
- CreatorCarl MacekStarsSteve KramerTom WynerRobert AxelrodAn alien spaceship crash lands on Earth and the technology and secrets she bears lead Earth into three destructive interplanetary wars.
- DirectorYasuo HasegawaNoboru IshiguroIchirô ItanoStarsMasato KubotaMaria KawamuraMîna TominagaIn 1980s Tokyo, a young motorcycle enthusiast discovers that the transforming bike/mecha entrusted to him by his murdered friend holds the key to the true nature of his world.
- CreatorKevin GillisStarsMichael MageeLen CarlsonMarvin GoldharThe adventures of a family of Raccoons and their friends.
- StarsKyôko TongûSaeko ShimazuJessica CalvelloKei and Yuri - The Dirty Pair aka 'The Lovely Angels' are two teen girls that fight crime throughout the universe and bring the bad guys to justice, but not before wrecking a planet.
- StarsMelendy BrittGeorge DiCenzoJohn ErwinPrincess Adora raises her magic sword and becomes She-Ra, the most powerful woman in the universe, to aid her friends in defeating the Evil Horde so their planet Etheria can be free.
- StarsBob McFaddenLarry KenneyEarl HammondA team of humanoid cats fight evil in their adopted home world.
- StarsJune ForayNoelle NorthLorenzo MusicA group of reclusive humanoid bears and a few trusted humans explore their lost heritage and prevent their enemies from exploiting it.
- CreatorNina WolmarkStarsJeanine ForneyChristian BénardAmandine RajauAn underground civilization named Arkadia launches an expedition for exploring the world of the surface to restore its fading sun.
- StarsAnick FarisCéline MontsarratEvelyne SélénaThe teen daughter of an air combat pilot travels around the world to find the cure for her injury, due to which she cannot walk but seeing precognitive dreams she can foretell the future only if she could deliver their meanings.
- CreatorChristy MarxStarsSamantha NewarkPatricia Alice AlbrechtCathianne BloreJerrica Benton is secretly the leader of the glamorous and exciting music group, Jem and the Holograms.