Long before streaming services and on-demand entertainment, Saturday mornings held a special place for children. We would wake up early, grab our favorite cereal, and settle in front of our televisions for a weekly ritual of animated entertainment.
During this Golden Age of television animation, the “Big Three” networks—NBC, CBS, and ABC competed to create memorable shows that would captivate young audiences. These weren’t just cartoons — they were cultural touchstones that defined childhood for multiple generations.
From groundbreaking prime-time pioneers like The Flintstones (1960-1966) to educational gems like Schoolhouse Rock! (1973-1985), these shows combined entertainment with innovation, often pushing the boundaries of what animation could achieve. To that effect, we’ve gathered the best of the best Saturday morning cartoons that made our childhoods!
Rocky and Bullwinkle (1959-1964)
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends gained fame for its quality writing and wry humor, appealing to both children and adults with its clever puns, cultural satire, and self-referential jokes.
The show is centered around the antics of Rocky the Flying Squirrel and Bullwinkle the Moose as they navigate a series of comedic adventures while thwarting the schemes of their arch-nemeses, Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale, who work for the sinister Fearless Leader.
Despite its choppy, some would say ‘unpolished’ animation style, the series received widespread acclaim, with critics describing it as a “well-written radio program with pictures.” Famous for catchphrases like “Rocky, watch me!” and “Bullwinkle, you did it again!”, Rocky and Bullwinkle made a significant cultural impact on animated television.
The Flintstones (1960-1966)
Before The Simpsons (1989-Present) became the longest-running American animated television series, The Flintstones, which achieved many firsts, held that distinction. Airing for six seasons, the sitcom paved the way for adult animation and significantly influenced both cartoons as a genre and popular culture for decades to come. The Flintstones was also the first animated series to air in a prime-time slot, and they enjoyed the most financial success until The Simpsons arrived.
Set in the prehistoric town of Bedrock, the show centers around the Flintstones family—Fred, Wilma, and their daughter Pebbles—as well as their neighbors, the Rubbles, Barney, and Betty, navigating everyday challenges with a humorous twist on modern life.
No animated series cleverly integrates familiar modern conveniences, such as foot-powered cars and dinosaur appliances, like The Flintstones, making every aspect of it a true classic masterpiece that remains unforgettable.
The Bugs Bunny Show (1960-2000)
The Bugs Bunny Show stars Bugs Bunny as the host of a weekly animated anthology series featuring classic characters from Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. Each episode typically presents three theatrical cartoons, bridged by humorous commentary and engaging antics, showcasing Bugs’ witty interactions with popular characters like Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd as they explore themes of cleverness, friendship, and rivalry.
Originally a prime-time half-hour program, the show later transitioned to Saturday mornings and aired in various formats for nearly four decades. The Bugs Bunny Show brought Warner Bros. characters to immense popularity during the golden age of American animation, establishing Bugs Bunny as both a cultural icon and the official mascot of Warner Bros.
The show ended its run when the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies libraries became the exclusive property of Cartoon Network. Despite this, many viewers fondly remember the show’s enduring appeal, particularly its iconic catchphrase “What’s up, Doc?” which continues to evoke fond memories of simpler times.
Jonny Quest (1964-1965)
Jonny Quest is considered one of Hanna-Barbera’s most beloved shows from its morning cartoon lineup. Despite only running for a single season on ABC (and later CBS), its critical acclaim and strong ratings led to the production of the made-for-TV animated film Jonny’s Golden Quest in 1993.
The comedy-adventure-themed series centered around the thrilling escapades of eleven-year-old Jonny Quest, his father, Dr. Benton Quest, and their bodyguard, Race Bannon, as they travel the globe investigating bizarre phenomena and facing various adversaries, including monsters and criminal masterminds.
Unlike Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969-1970, 1978), which featured more whimsical elements, Jonny Quest engaged its young viewers with real monsters and a blend of science fiction and action. Unfortunately, the show was canceled due to high production costs, primarily because of its realistic character designs, created by comic book artist Doug Wildey, detailed backgrounds, and a full orchestral score. However, its legacy endures as a beloved classic.
The Archie Show (1968-1969)
The Archie Show transformed morning television by shifting from action-oriented programming to music-driven comedy. The series follows 17-year-old Archie Andrews and his everyday adventures with his friends Jughead, Betty, Veronica, and Reggie, while they perform as a bubblegum pop band at Riverdale High.
While Archie was already popular as a long-running comic book character, the TV show elevated him to iconic status. The Archie Show is praised for its wholesome storytelling and use of 1960s music and dance, especially the chart-topping hit Sugar, Sugar and the memorable segment Dance of the Week.
While the original series ran for just one season on CBS, its success extended beyond television, reinforcing the popularity of the Archie Comics (1939) franchise and establishing a template for future music-oriented animated shows. This enduring influence has spawned various adaptations, from The CW’s darker series Riverdale (2017-2023) to Netflix’s The Archies, a live-action musical set in 1960s India that premiered in December 2023. The creative approach of blending music with storytelling continues to inspire modern series, proving that The Archie Show was truly ahead of its time.
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969-1970, 1978)
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969-1970, 1978) may have only aired for three seasons, but it left a lasting impact on American and horror culture. Produced by Hanna-Barbera and CBS, the series was created in response to parents’ demands for non-violent Saturday morning programming following protests against superhero cartoons in the mid-1960s.
The mystery series follows the adventures of a group of teenagers—Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and their talking Great Dane, Scoobert—as they travel in their legendary Mystery Machine to solve various puzzling cases involving supposedly supernatural creatures that are ultimately revealed to be human villains in disguise.
The show’s immense success laid the foundation for a long-running media franchise that continues to thrive today. In fact, despite being released over 50 years ago, the series is still one of the best-animated television shows for many, and iconic catchphrases, like “Scooby-Dooby-Doo!” and “Ruh-roh!” uttered by Scooby, remain deeply embedded in popular culture.
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972-1985)
Originating from Bill Cosby’s 1967 stand-up comedy routine Buck Buck, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids was an eight-season animated series that followed the adventures of Albert and his friends in a North Philadelphia neighborhood. The characters dealt with everyday challenges while learning valuable life lessons about friendship, cooperation, and social issues.
The show had a significant impact on popular culture and society by positively portraying the African American community at a time when Black cartoon characters were often depicted as racist caricatures. Fat Albert helped transform the landscape of children’s television by addressing social issues such as bullying and self-acceptance in a relatable manner that other animated series of that era often overlooked.
Pamela Thomas, curator of the Museum of UnCut Funk, which houses a collection of 1970s Black animation art, emphasizes the historical significance of the series. She notes that Fat Albert and other animated shows featuring positive Black characters are considered a “national treasure” for changing how Black children viewed themselves and how white children perceived them. The series remains beloved for fostering important discussions about diversity and acceptance during its run.
Schoolhouse Rock! (1973-1985)
Schoolhouse Rock! wasn’t just another educational cartoon — it was a Saturday morning ritual that made learning into an adventure. The series ingeniously wove together musical shorts and colorful animations to teach everything from grammar and science to economics and civics, most famously breaking down the legislative process in the unforgettable I’m Just a Bill.
For kids in the 1970s, nothing beats rushing to the TV with a bowl of cereal, ready to sing along with gems like Conjunction Junction and Three Is a Magic Number. The voice talents, particularly in episodes like the adjective-focused songs, brought a warmth and authenticity that connected with young viewers.
Schoolhouse Rock! has left a legacy that is difficult to match or surpass; its catchy tunes ensured that the lessons it taught stayed with viewers for a lifetime. Today’s children might have endless streaming options, but these musical short films remain unmatched in their ability to combine instruction with pure entertainment.
Super Friends (1973-1985)
Interest in creating a new superhero series emerged in the 1970s after 1960s superhero cartoons achieved good ratings. Despite protests against their alleged violent content, Hanna-Barbera took the reins and produced Super Friends, based on DC Comics’ Justice League of America.
The series presents iconic heroes like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman as they work together to combat evil and protect the world, often with the help of young sidekicks like the Wonder Twins. Hanna-Barbera created a diverse team of new heroes for the show — Black Vulcan, Samurai, Apache Chief, and El Dorado — characters that were unique to the television series and had never appeared in the Super Friends comic books at the time.
Although the show featured simple animation and over-the-top dialogue, it undeniably sparked the imaginations of young viewers and was the closest thing television audiences had to an animated Justice League of America series during that era. While not universally loved, its 12-year run demonstrated its success and enduring appeal.
The Jetsons (1963-1964, 1985-1987)
The Jetsons stands as one of television’s most beloved animated series. Originally airing in primetime on ABC, the show found true success when it moved to Saturday mornings. As Hanna-Barbera’s Space Age counterpart to The Flintstones (1960-1966), this masterpiece transported viewers to the whimsical world that is Orbit City in 2062, where the Jetson family—George and Jane Jetson, teenage daughter Judy, and son Elroy, along with their charismatic dog Astro—navigated life among flying cars, robot assistants, aliens, holograms and imaginative inventions.
The series perfectly captured the technological optimism of the time, making every element iconic. The sitcom gained such popularity in syndication that new episodes were produced in the 1980s, introducing a whole new generation to the Jetsons’ charm.
Today, The Jetsons remains a cultural touchstone, remembered not just for its entertainment value but for its remarkably prescient predictions about future technology. While we may still await our flying cars, the show’s depiction of video calls, smartwatches, and robot helpers has proven surprisingly accurate. Its blend of family-friendly humor and retro-futuristic appeal continues to captivate audiences, earning it a well-deserved place among the greatest Saturday morning cartoons of all time.