8 Comic Strips Turned 1980s Saturday Morning Cartoons | SUNDAY FUNNIES Go Animated as 1980s Cartoons

[@rogertemple7193]

I remember all these comic strips turned into cartoon series thanks for the memories and thank you.🇺🇲📺🇺🇲

[@GENXPERIENCE]

Yeah, after some 1960s incarnations, these seemed like the few that came around in the 80s. Good times.

[@PaulTesta]

Victor, Thanks for a fun episode! Brought back lots of memories. A word about Little Orphan Annie. Before "Annie" was a movie musical, it was a smash Broadway hit and ran for nearly six years. I was lucky to see the original production with the original cast, including Andrea McArdle in the title role. Also, as for the guy from the 7-Up commercials, that's Geoffrey Holder. Played William Shakespeare X in the original "Doctor Dolittle" (1967) and Baron Samedi in "Live and Let Die" (1973). Keep this great content coming, Victor. Best, Paul.

[@GENXPERIENCE]

Thank you so much. I love to count on your comments. I absolutely am a fan of Annie on Broadway, but chose not to touch on it. I should have said Holder last name, only went for the casual, but should have given him the respect. Thank you

[@jpthompson]

I loved most of these cartoons, but didn’t miss Garfield. I also was obsessed with US Acres! So many great memories!

[@GENXPERIENCE]

I didn't mind US Acres, but was there for Garfield. Just felt right. Thanks for watching.

[@Skaramine]

It was in the 80s when I found collections of the old Segal Popeyeccomic strips at Waldenbooks. Popeye is definitely my favorite strip turned cartoon. 😊

[@GENXPERIENCE]

Popeye got me eating spinach.

[@juliagoodwin9510]

Anyone else miss Garfield and Friends? Just me?

[@ronnellsykes5648]

That was a good one...with US acres!

[@GENXPERIENCE]

That was real fun...and felt like the comic strip, for sure.

[@ernestcruz6316]

I don't think it quite fits your criteria here, but there's also the long forgotten comic strip Snuffy Smith, which was turned into a syndicated cartoon in the early '60s by King Features and Paramount jointly. The cartoon was originally part of a larger show entitled King Features Trilogy, which also featured Beetle Bailey and Krazy Kat. It was directed by Seymour Kneitel. In the cartoon show, Snuffy and his friend Barney Google were voiced by the ultra-prolific Paul Frees, and Snuffy's wife Loweezy and son Jughaid were voiced by Ge Ge Pearson. The lyrics to Snuffy's theme song went thusly: "Uh uh oh, great balls o' fire, I'm bodacious Uh uh oh, great balls o' fire, I'm a fright Uh uh oh, great balls o' fire, goodness gracious I'm chop-chop-chop-chop-choppin' with all my might Yeah!" King Features Trilogy was produced by Al Brodax, who also produced Cool McCool, as well as The Beatles' ABC Saturday morning cartoon series, and the animated feature Yellow Submarine.

[@GENXPERIENCE]

I remember the name, sure. He may not fit the Gen Xperience, but he is worthy of note like when I brought up Dick Tracy. Those 60s cartoons had a charm all their own. I loved the Beetle Bailey strip. And WHO does not love Paul Frees!

[@Garch-the-Great]

I remember watching Snuffy Smith, Krazy Kat & Beetle Bailey (as well as others like the Oz cartoon and Pink Panther show) in the early 80s. Some local station must have been rerunning oddball 60s cartoons that my young mind assumed were new.

[@VideosandMemories-qi4mq]

I never knew about The Phantom until the film, and that led me to finding out about Mandrake and the rest of the Defenders of the Earth many, many years later. Personally, I loved the Phantom...

[@GENXPERIENCE]

THat is awesome. I didn't mention the film (Zane) but I know it flopped...however, that still gives it some cred.

[@VideosandMemories-qi4mq]

@@GENXPERIENCE I still love the film. I think it's very underrated...

[@andrewweisneck1102]

The Phantom first appeared in live action in a 1943 Columbia Pictures movie serial. There weer plans for a sequel, but the actor who played The Phantom, Tom Tyler (who also played Captain Marvel aka Shazam) died, so they had to replace him with John Hart who also replaced Clayton Moore as The Lone Ranger for one season. In the meantime, Columbia had lost the rights to The Phantom and had to change the character to Captain Africa and delete all references to The Phantom, but they still used stock footage of Tom as The Phantom in some scenes. There was also a 1961TV pilot of The Phantom starring Roger Creed and Lon Chaney Jr.

[@andrewweisneck1102]

There were also some unauthorized Turkish Phantom movies called Kizilmaske made in 1968.

[@andrewweisneck1102]

You missed quite a few. Archie's TV Funnies featured Dick Tracy, Moon Mullins, Smokey Stover, Nancy (& Sluggo), Broom Hilda, Emmy Lou, The Dropouts and The Captain & The Kids (The Katzenjammer Kids) in 1971 and later included Alley Oop and Tumbleweeds (for one episode) on The Fabulous Funnies in 1978. Dennis The Menace, The Wizard Of ID and Miss Peach were animated segments on The Curiosity Shop in 1971. Fred Basset had an animated series in the UK in 1976. Morrie Turner's Wee Pals became Kid Power in 1972 on ABC. ABC's Saturday Superstar Movie featured an episode called "Popeye Meets The Man Who Hated Laughter" which featured other King Features characters (Blondie & Dagwood, Barney Google & Snuffy Smith, Beetle Bailey, Jiggs & Maggie from Bringing Up Father, Henry, Hi & Lois, The Katzenjammer Kids, Little Iodine, The Little King, Quincy, Steve Canyon, Tiger, Tim Tyler of Tim Tyler's Luck. Prince Valiant and the very first appearance of The Defenders Of The Earth with Flash Gordon, Mandrake The Magician, Lothar and The Phantom). Plus: Ripley's Believe It Or Not! (1998) King Features Trilogy with Beetle Bailey, Snuffy Smith & Krazy Kat (1963) Animal Crackers (1997) Baby Blues (2000) Dilbert (1999) For Better Or For Worse (2000) Mother Goose & Grimm / Grimmy (1991) The Legend of Prince Valiant (1991) Phantom 2040 (1994) Flash Gordon (1996) The Boondocks (2005) Other comic strip characters have had animated primetime specials like: Cathy (1987, 1988 & 1989) Beetle Bailey (1989) Blondie & Dagwood (1987 & 1989) Hagar The Horrible (1989) The Far Side (1994 & 1997) Doonesbury (1977) Marvin (1989) B.C. (1973 & 1981) The Family Circus (1978, 1979 & 1982) Ziggy (1982) Little Orphan Annie (1995) Pogo (1969) Dennis The Menace (1981) The Fantastic Funnies (1980), hosted by Loni Anderson featured animated shorts of Dennis The Menace, Barney Google, B.C., Andy Capp, Blondie & Dagwood, Doonesbury, Momma, Hagar The Horrible, Cathy, Broom Hilda, Tumbleweeds, Marmaduke (before his 1981 series with Heathcliff), a clip from the "I Go Pogo" movie and the very first Garfield animated short voiced by the late Scott Beach, who was the original voice of Garfield in 1980 before Lorenzo Music first voiced him in "Here Comes Garfield" in 1982. Fun Facts: Lil Abner appeared in a series of animated cartoons beginning in 1944 before The New Shmoo first appeared on NBC's Fred & Barney Meet The Shmoo (previously Fred & Barney Meet The Thing in 1979). Little Orphan Annie appeared in two live action movies starring Mitzi Green (1932) and Ann Gillis (1938) before Aileen Quinn played "Annie" in 1982. The Peanuts gang appeared in animated commercials for The Ford Motor Company before they got their first animated Christmas Special in 1965.

[@GENXPERIENCE]

A lot of those were Comic Books and DID NOT appear as Comic Strips in the newspaper, or were Comic Books before they were strips...so in that case they did not fit my parameters. But they are good ones for a whole other show. Also, your list is really going outside of Saturday Morning Cartoons made from Comic Strips, so maybe you got a little confused of the theme of the show. Not to mention so many of those are out of The GEN Experience and into new generations. But there is a lot of info to pack in there.

[@hanschristianbrando5588]

"The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show" was the fulfillment of a childhood dream. It just came a little late, that's all (I was 20). But it was exactly what it should have been: animated versions of the strips themselves. Saturday morning adaptations of comics weren't strictly an '80s phenomenon, however, as anyone old enough to remember "The Archies" can tell you. Not to mention "Superman" (narrated by Ted Knight) and "Spiderman."

[@GENXPERIENCE]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Snoopy. It is disheartening to hear it was cancelled too early. I am not if you watched my entire show as I did mention there were those earlier (just not during the GEN Xperience for the most part, but an overlap with Boomers). Yes, there was the Archies, but there was Dick Tracy as I mentioned, as well as Laurel & Hardy, original 3 Stooges, and Abbot and Costello. So I am was just picking a very certain time, but no doubt you are correct, I just didn't cover those. Thank you again. I do appreciate the comment for sure.

[@jason34119]

The theme for the show The Comic Strip playing in the background has it stuck in my head.

[@GENXPERIENCE]

You're welcome?

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Hey Vic🎉 #DisneyDiva ❤

[@GENXPERIENCE]

Howdy. Hope all is well!

[@LaDracul]

They still make "Peamuts" series, so it speaks a lot about its staying power.

[@GENXPERIENCE]

Especially after they cancelled this first one. Peanuts are here to stay

[@DangerDave-e7u]

How about an episode on claymation, Victor? And thanks 😄

[@GENXPERIENCE]

Great idea...I had already been pondering the California Raisins...so maybe even MORE Clay. THanks

[@backroad4167]

Remember the Garfield stuffed animal with sucking cups that folks put in the windows of there cars ?

[@billgrindler4653]

It's a little off topic, but "Annie" the movie is based on the Broadway musical version of the comic strip. which I'm sure you knew but glanced over it in your description.

[@GENXPERIENCE]

Not too far off topic, but that is why I didn't mention it...but I love ANNIE the Musical. Although that is true, it just seems that ALL Annie, no matter what media she appears in, does derive from the original strip. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@christineml1476]

I never read the Flash Gordon comic strip, but I never missed Filmation's Flash Gordon on Saturday morning. Season 1 was far better than the second. Too much cutesy dragon, not enough story.

[@GENXPERIENCE]

YOu can say that again. We don't need adorable sidekicks, MORE ACTION

[@Garch-the-Great]

I vividly remember watching Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All. It felt special that a cartoon was running at night. Which makes me feel old. Wish someone would find a decent copy without Japanese subtitles.

[@andrewweisneck1102]

There was also a 1996 Flash Gordon animated series.

[@DangerDave-e7u]

No, if I give you a hamburger today, you're gonna pay me today. ⚓

[@GENXPERIENCE]

No more freeloading, lol!

[@MissingLinx]

You forgot the other 80s Popeye series. Popeye and Son.

[@GENXPERIENCE]

I did...but kind of on purpose, lol.

[@andrewweisneck1102]

Heathcliff & Dingbat was 1980, not 1988.

[@jessewilley531]

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show's low ratings might be because at least when I lived, it was on a Six AM. Only weirdo kids like me were up that early.

[@GENXPERIENCE]

Well, then I am a weirdo, 6am (if not 530am) up. But no, we didn't have it that early in our region. That sucks!

[@jessewilley531]

@@GENXPERIENCE The DC area stations had a lot of things moved around from the 'recommended' time slots of other markets. I think it was because for whatever reason, while most major cities (New York, LA, Chicago, etc.) gave up on having locally produced kids shows by the mid to late 1960s, our local ABC, CBS, and NBC stations held on to them until the mid 80s. I remember the NBC affiliate dropped one of their two local shows in the middle of the year I was in kindergarten (so 1985 or early 86), then moved It's Academic to Sundays. CBS and ABC dropped their locally produced shows in 1988- as their writers were all union and were prohibited from writing anything during the strike. They found audiences didn't miss their two shows and instead of rerunning old episodes they filled the slots with international cartoons like Danger Mouse. I thought It's Academic was cancelled when the guy who had been hosting it for decades retired in 2011. It turns out it hung on at the NBC station for a year or two afterward before migrating to early mornings on one of the PBS stations.

[@andrewweisneck1102]

I think that might have been when the Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show went into syndication on either Nickelodeon or maybe The Disney Channel. I remember The Charlie Brown And Snoopy Show being on much later on CBS.

[@jessewilley531]

@@andrewweisneck1102 No, this was first run. My family didn't have cable and the DC market was weird. Up until the mid to late 80s, they still had a lot of locally produced children's programming. They would often move timeslots around for things to accommodate these shows. This meant once my family got a TV antennae, which allowed up get Baltimore stations as well there were shows we had two opportunities to see. Three of the local shows kept going into the 90s, and one of them EVENTUALLY moved over to the PBS station where it is technically still around.

[@Garch-the-Great]

Even though they dated women, Lyman seemed like Jon's boyfriend. I always assumed thats why he was dropped from the Garfield strips -- coinciding with AIDS becoming well known and homophobia running rampant.

[@GENXPERIENCE]

I like your way of thinking. JOn was inept with woman, but that might have been a ruse.