For kids in the 70s, cartoons were as vital to life as candy, bicycles, and summer vacation. Our favorite ‘toons ruled Saturday mornings and afternoons after school, and “cast members” of individual shows became our friends. Indeed, these 70s cartoon characters were as much a part of childhood as the girl next door. And, really, which one of those worked out better for you?
Popeye the Sailor Man
One of 70s kids’ favorite cartoon characters, Popeye is a sailor who loves spinach and Olive Oil, hails from the city of Sweethaven, and generally kicks butt when it comes to any type of combat. The character originally appeared in comic strips, and then ever so briefly on the 1930s cartoon “Betty Boop” before debuting solo.
Though much of the Popeye action came in rerun form during the 1970s, he still made kids all kinds of happy during the Disco Decade. And he also did make some *new* waves in The All-New Popeye Hour.
Scooby-Doo
Everybody’s favorite Great Dane (sorry, Marmaduke fans), Scooby-Doo and his Mystery, Inc. pals solved all kinds of spooky mysteries in the 70s! The Scooby gang would often drive around in their van solving crimes decked out with a bevy of gadgets like Dick Tracy might have used: night vision goggles, cement shoes (in case they needed to make an escape), even costumes for the gang to wear in order to disguise themselves.
The Flintstones
A stone-age family with access to a surprising array of “modern” amenities, the Flintstones lived a life much like people today would find familiar: they watch TV (the show’s opening credits are even set to “Meet The Flintstones”), drive cars and fly planes. Fred works for at the local quarry, but his true passion is bowling, and, of course, his family.
Besides Fred, the show featured Barney and Betty Rubble, and Fred’s wife, Wilma.
Like Popeye, The Flintstones came to 70s kids through reruns.
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
A 70s show about a bunch of inner city kids who hang out with their friend, Fat Albert. The other main characters are Rudy, Russell, Dumb Donald, and others. They live in a Philadelphia neighborhood, and the “kids” spend a lot of their time in a north Philly junkyard. There, they play music on makeshift instruments and carry out all sorts of adventures while learning about life.
The Pink Panther
This 70s show featured a bumbling French Inspector, who was always on the verge of solving a case … while looking ridiculous. His nemesis, of course, was the star of the show, The Pink Panther. The show was a series of cartoons, with the Inspector always trying to capture or outsmart his foe. The Panther, though, always found a way to outsmart, or just elude the Inspector.
Captain Caveman
Captain Caveman was a 70s cartoon who had his own show — Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels. The show was about a caveman who somehow found himself in the 70s after a group of girls found him in a block of ice and unthawed him. They girls and “Cavey” became fast friends and set out on adventures to solve mysteries and other puzzles.
The show aired from 1977-1980 with 40 episodes total in that time
Superman
No decade is complete without the Man of Steel.
And …
Superman is one of the more popular 70s cartoon characters, appearing in “The All-New Super Friends Hour” in 1977 and 1978. Superman was a man (sorta) who grew up on Earth but he got all his powers from being born on Krypton and then kicked to the curb as that planet was about to obliviate when he was an infant.
He was the big kahuna on this 1970s cartoon show that also featured other DC heroes like Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman.
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