Mid 80s to late 90s: the Golden Age of Animated Series?

[Syt]

Transformers, X-Men, Batman, Animaniacs, Gargoyles, early Simpsons, the Tick and countless others . . .

I ask you: were those 15 years the pinnacle of cartoon making in the U.S.?

[Eddie Teach]

Nah, you were just young enough to appreciate cartoons back then.

[Martinus]

You are kidding, right?

[Syt]

Eddie: Not necessarily. Our Saturday morning cartoons also finished a shitload of 70s series, and most of them were just crap.

[Syt]

You are kidding, right?

Who? Me or Eddie?

[Ideologue]

No.  The pinnacle is The Venture Bros.  That started in the 21st century.

[jimmy olsen]

Transformers, X-Men, Batman, Animaniacs, Gargoyles, early Simpsons, the Tick and countless others . . .

I ask you: were those 15 years the pinnacle of cartoon making in the U.S.?

I haven't seen enough cartoons from the 2000s to judge whether the cartoons of the present day are inferior. Certainly, the cartoons of the late 80s and 90s were much better than what had come before.

Those from the 2000s I have seen were good though.

[Eddie Teach]

I haven't seen enough cartoons from the 2000s to judge whether the cartoons of the present day are inferior.

Same, and when I do watch cartoons they're ones meant for adults, like Futurama, Family Guy or Archer.

[Liep]

Of those you mention only the Simpsons would be enjoyable to watch today. Also, Archer.

[Viking]

I'd say the golden age is today simply on the grounds that that old shit just insults my intelligence but today you have animation that is not only meant for adults but you have the stuff that meet Walt Disney's dream standard of being so good that people will use their kids as excuses to watch.

[Eddie Teach]

Eddie: Not necessarily. Our Saturday morning cartoons also finished a shitload of 70s series, and most of them were just crap.

Sure, but some old cartoons like Merry Melodies or The Flintstones were better than the vast majority of 80s/90s stuff. Bugs Bunny holds up well even into adulthood.

[Ideologue]

Untrue, Liep.  Batman and Animainiacs were both quality programs.  Transformers was also good; although crummy in many respects, it was fun and it spawned the finest animated film of all time.  I remember liking X-Men quite a bit as well.  I've heard good things about Gargoyles, but I never watched it.

I'll also throw in Tiny Toons.  Awesome.

[Syt]

I've heard good things about Gargoyles, but I never watched it.

SF Debris is reviewing it atm.

http://sfdebris.com/videos/animation.asp

[Eddie Teach]

but you have the stuff that meet Walt Disney's dream standard of being so good that people will use their kids as excuses to watch.

I can see that for Pixar/Dreamworks stuff, but tv series? Which ones do you have in mind?

[Liep]

Untrue, Liep.  Batman and Animainiacs were both quality programs.  Transformers was also good; although crummy in many respects, it was fun and it spawned the finest animated film of all time.  I remember liking X-Men quite a bit as well.  I've heard good things about Gargoyles, but I never watched it.

I'll also throw in Tiny Toons.  Awesome.

I enjoyed watching Batman and Transformers too, but I meant that today I wouldn't. So judging today's cartoon is difficult as we won't be able to value those made for kids.