The 80s and 90s gave us some of the most epic film franchises in human history. From Ace Ventura to Karate Kid and Ghostbusters, many such movies ended up as cartoon shows. How many of these cartoon shows did you watch as a kid?
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1995-2000)
You may remember the epic comedy movie series starring Jim carrey as the titular character. But did you know Ace Ventura is also a cartoon series. 90s movies were not that big on franchise branching but Ace Ventura certainly did it. Cartoon shows like Ace Ventura would never work today but back then, it ran for 5 whole season. After CBS cancelled the show, the series took a two year break. Nickelodeon picked up the show and ran the final 15 episodes in 2000. Ace Ventura was one of the most underrated cartoon shows ever made.
The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991)
The first show ran from 1986 to 1991 while a second series (more on that in a bit) ran only for a single season in 1997. The Real Ghostbusters is considered by many to a very reputable addition to the cult-classic Ghostbusters franchise. Some even go so far as to say it is the gold standard of cartoon shows adapted from live action movies. Sometimes known as Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters, it ran for seven whole seasons. The show helped the Ghostbusters franchise in making it more kid-friendly. All in all, it was one of the most successful cartoon shows ever made.
Extreme Ghostbusters (1997)
This show was a sequel series to The Real Ghostbusters. The show tried to introduce a new breed of heroes and villains. Only Egon from the original cartoon show returns in this series. The 90s were obsessed with the word ‘Extreme’. This show was not at all that. It did end up creating a niche that lives up to this day.
Back To The Future (1991-1992)
Marty McFly‘s time hopping adventures may have ended with Back to the Future III. But that never stopped the studio from milking this cash cow with cartoon shows. Taking place after the events of the third Back to the Future movie, the show follows Mart, Doc, Doc’s family, and Einstein the dog. Mary Steenburgen (Clara Clayton Brown) and Thomas F. Wilson (Biff Tannen) came back to lend their voice to their characters. Christopher Lloyd also appeared in his live action avatar at the beginning and end of every episode.
The Karate Kid (1989)
Fan of The Karate Kid franchise? Have you fell in love with Cobra Kai already or do you live under a rock?? The Karate Kid tried its hands in small screen entertainment a long time before Cobra Kai popped up. Cartoon shows based on popular movies generally tend to go a bit astray on plot elements. The animated series focused on Daniel LaRussa and Mr. Miyagi join forces with another sidekick as they travel the world in search of a magical shrine. The reason the show lasted for just a single season was because it did not resonate well with the live action franchise. It had magic for crying out loud!!
Dumb And Dumber (1995-1996)
Jim Carrey movies back in the day had a penchant for having insane potential as cartoon shows. Dumb & Dumber follows the ridiculously stupid Harry & Lloyd doing their daily shenanigans. The cartoon show brings the two back in animated avatars. They also have a purple beaver joining them as part of a trio. Warner Brothers TV really tried their best to jump the shark on the franchise with this one.
