Cartoons have always been a big part of my life. As a kid it was Darkwing Duck after school, in high school it was Aeon Flux and in college it was Sifel and Olly with a Coors Light. Kids today don’t have the rich tapestry of intros and theme-songs. I’ve shown each and every one of these to my daughter and I can guarantee that they got big belly laughs from a four year old.

Share these with your kids — they’ll thank you for it.

1) Gummi Bears —

Medieval anthropomorphic gummy bears that get special powers when they drink a mysterious “gummiberry juice”? Disney (and creative genius Michael Eisner) ticked off all the boxes with this classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97QkO7nAn68

2) Talespin -

A cartoon in the 1990’s featuring characters from The Jungle Book (the 1967 animated version) that fly planes and surf on clouds? Instead of just silently releasing a show on Saturday afternoon like normal show Disney decided to kick things off with a two hour episode in 1990. The episode (Plunder & Lightning) was incredible (I had some of my younger cousins over for a viewing party) and as far as I know the tactic never repeated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GND73sy9zHo

3) Danger Mouse -

So many explosions for a cartoon with an eyepatch wearing mouse secret agent that drives what appears to be a Lotus Esprit. Oh, and he’s British. Thanks ITV and Nickelodeon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv43hKSzBws

4) ThunderCats -

If you need me to explain how awesome ThunderCats was I don’t know what to say. Of course I’m from a family where my Uncle named his cat Snarf so maybe I should just let the video speak for itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwGgwZSgZAI

5) Top Cat -

Smoking, drinking, rampant classism and casual racism this is one of Hanna Barbera’s best. Maybe don’t watch the show with the kids — but the intro is hilarious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NToYkBYezZA