Skip to main content

The Pondering 10 – All-Time Animated Cartoons

Every individual enjoyed cartoons as a child. While today’s youth may not have many options, or even care for cartoons, for generations in the past, cartoons provided many hours of laughter, memories, and overall entertainment. In the following Pondering 10 list, yours truly will name my all-time favorite cartoons. This list is by far the hardest list compiled hear on the DP due to the enormous amount of cartoons that were great, as well as putting together a profound and honest list based on quality and interest. In doing so, I have left out such cartoons such as Family Guy and King of The Hill, as these are more connected to the present time rather than childhood memories. Also, please keep in mind, the following cartoons have must be noted as an honorable mention: Duck Tales, Goof Troop, The Jetsons, Thundercats, Darkwing Duck, Tale Spin, Gargoyles, Batman, Pinky and the Brain, Speed Racer, Doug, Garfield, Bobby’s World, Sonic The Hedgehog, Ghostbusters, Tailspin, Captain Planet, Biker Mice From Mars, and Rockos Modern Life. With that said, I’m sure the debate, shock, and agreement will follow with the Pondering 10: All Time Animated Cartoons.


Pondering10MutantLeague 10. Mutant League – Ahh, the first wild card that I’m sure have many of you saying, “What!?” Nonetheless, Mutant League was an awesome cartoon with Mutants playing different sports, and at the time, incorporated much of what goes on today’s sports world with free agency, endorsements, owners, players and all of the drama in the form of a cartoon. The only exception? Well, the athletes were mutants, they rejuvenated in a chamber after an injury. Great stuff. However, only airing for two season greatly hurt it’s standing on this list.
DPX-Men 9. X-Men – While I never got completely into the comic books, and never had any interest in the movies, X-Men the cartoon was always interesting. The battle to remain human on the outside, while taken on those that knew they were mutants always made for wonderful Saturday morning television. And of course, the tension between Cyclops and Wolverine made for compelling television.
Pondering10Anamaniacs 8. Anamaniacs – It’s time for Annnamaniacs! A great cartoon on the WB which eventually faded out once Warner Bros. and everyone else pulled the plug on afterschool programming. A great cartoon that had funny characters, and great variety.
Pondering10DennisTheMenace 7. Dennis The Menace – Any franchise that could be a cartoon strip, then an animated cartoon, and then made into a movie, is a solid one. Dennis The Menace and his antics with neighbor Mr. Wilson always made for fun stuff.
Pondering10Flintstones 6. The Flintstone – Who didn’t like the Flintstones? Life in Bedrock always made for interesting entertainment. Especially, Fred and Barney always seeming to get in trouble. And who can forget the feet-powered cars?
Pondering10Transformers 5. Transformers – An awesome cartoon with cars transforming into fighting robots. What boy wouldn’t sign up for all of those concepts in one show?
Pondering10GIJOE 4. G.I. Joe – Got to get tough, yo Joe! Thee is something about great cartoons and catchy theme songs. Much like Transformers, G.I. Joe had guns, tanks, cars, war, and battles constantly going on. Violent? Yeah, maybe, but back then, it was simple entertaining cartoons before we started blaming every terrible reality on television. Another great cartoon for boys. Plus, how cool of a villain was Cobra Commander?
Pondering10TMNT 3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Another great animated series with a catchy tune, but I’ll spear you the lyrics as I’m sure it is running through your head as you read this. TMNT was another awesome series that eventually became so popular it was made it various movies.
Pondering10LooneyTunes 2. Looney Tunes – A lock until recently for number 1, Looney Tunes had a lineup of characters that every child knew. All of their characters were well known, and made for great moments as a child. The characters, which are pretty much branded and timeless, are those such as Wil E. Coyote, Roadrunner, Elmer Fudd, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn, Tweety, Sylvester, Yosemite Sam, Speedy Gonzales, and on, and on, and on. A truly timeless cartoon and series.
Pondering10Simpsons 1. The Simpsons – Just an amazing cartoon that, like Looney Tunes, developed an entire town of characters that are recognizable by their viewers. A cartoon that is funny and always interesting after over two decades of producing episodes. By far, my favorite cartoon of all-time.

Recently Read

Quick Ponder: Man Love

"A man is only loved under the condition that he provide something"  - Chris Rock  Feeling that these days,  with the understanding  of privilege,  and responsibility. 

Dome Pondering - 2024 Year in Review

2024 felt exhausting. It was shifty in many ways, but the word "exhausting" keeps coming back to mind as 2024 felt like a constant crisis in areas that truly aren't crises, on top of the already occurring crises.  That sentence was exhausting.  As mentioned in my Most Fascinating Things of 2024, the year felt like it was about culture and society, and we surely battled and attacked everything. Like, everything! EVERY. SINGLE. THING! And of course, we lived through an eventful political season that was the Presidential election.  Exhale...breathe...wheeeewwwww! 2024, you're even tiring in thought.  Before we get to it all, as always, I would like to thank all of you for your continued support and reading of this little site called Dome Pondering. I've somehow come full circle where I punch the keys whenever life allows, and truly from a place of freedom (since the pressure for "content" is via social media). I appreciate all of you for sticking with thoug...

AEW Full Gear 2024 Review: "the potential that resides in this company"

I attended my first AEW show in Full Gear 2024, as the event made its way to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The event was even more special as it was the very first live wrestling event for my son who has very much caught the wrestling bug. One would think being around my interests would be the spark, but I genuinely believe he understands the beauty and magic that is pro wrestling. All of it is evident in his "universe" within his wrestling action figures and his constant intrigue in searching throughout Peacock and TNA+.  All of that to say, neither of us are big AEW viewers. Yes, I have my gripes with the company which I'll share. Also, AEW isn't the most suitable for a six-year-old to watch, so there's that. As a dad, I appreciate WWE and TNA's approach to their product. It doesn't have to be PG, but feeling comfortable leaving my son in front of your product unattended is a big plus. Again, more on this... Back to AEW Full Gear, it was a...