Let the Nostalgia Begin!
Who remembers the once sacred Saturday morning ritual of pyjamas, cereal, and cartoons? It was pure childhood magic. But not every cartoon we watched on those mornings reached legendary status. Some aired briefly, then disappeared without explanation.
Where did they go? Were they too weird? Too ahead of their time? Today, we’re revisiting the forgotten classics—the shows that came, went, and left behind nothing but fuzzy memories and half-sung theme songs. From mutant sports stars to talking zoo animals, these are the Saturday morning cartoons that vanished without a trace—but left a lasting mark on our hearts.
Who remembers these?
"Mighty Orbots" (1984)
Mighty Orbots was a dazzling mix of anime aesthetics and classic ‘80s robot action. The show followed a team of quirky bots battling evil to save the galaxy (complete with jazzy tunes and wild animation). But despite its quality, it only aired 13 episodes before legal issues and poor marketing shut it down.
It’s never been revived or even streamed widely—thus making it a true lost gem of Saturday mornings.
The REAL Story of MIGHTY ORBOTS & the 1984 Robot Craze, Secret Galaxy
"ProStars" (1991)
This surreal sports cartoon starred animated versions of Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson, and Wayne Gretzky fighting crime. Yes, really. ProStars mashed together PSAs, action sequences, life lessons and the power of athletics. It was undeniably goofy but deeply memorable. (at least for some of us). Only one season aired before it was benched for good.
Shaturday Morning Cartoons - ProStars with former athlete, Steve Lawrence, Found Footage Fest
"Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines" (1969–1970)
A spin-off of Wacky Races, this show focused on Dick Dastardly and his snickering dog Muttley trying to stop a carrier pigeon. Spoiler: they never did.
With slapstick humor and absurd gadgets, it had Looney Tunes vibes in an airborne setting. Despite being short-lived, it was rerun throughout the ‘70s—but has since quietly faded into history. But not that unforgettable wheezing Muttley laugh.
Stop That Pigeon! - Cute Moments Between Dastardly and Muttley from Flying Machines, pergrogly
"The Beagles" (1966–1967)
No, not The Beatles—The Beagles were two animated dogs in a pop band, clearly inspired by the British invasion. Their misadventures had a groovy vibe and solid ratings, yet after one season, the show disappeared with no explanation and no reruns. It’s nearly impossible to find now, making it one of the most obscure Saturday cartoons ever aired.
The Beagles Cartoon Show: The Man in the Moon Part 1 (1966), The Hardy Boys Cartoon Show
"Help!... It’s the Hair Bear Bunch!" (1971–1972)
Set in a zoo where three cool bears constantly tricked the zookeeper, Hair Bear Bunch was like Yogi Bear crossed with a ‘70s sitcom. The bears even had a van and invisible motorcycles. Only 16 episodes were made, but its funky flair and psychedelic visuals made it memorable (again, at least for some of us).
Help Its The Hair Bear Bunch Near Escapes, Mystery Steamboat
"Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures" (1987–1988)
A bold reboot by Ralph Bakshi and John Kricfalusi, Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures added sharp satire and surreal humor to the classic character. It was influential—paving the way for creator-driven cartoons like Ren & Stimpy—but controversy and poor scheduling led to its early cancellation. It’s beloved by animation buffs, but rarely seen today. A weird, brilliant reboot ahead of its time.
"Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog" (1993)
This zany version of Sonic had wild slapstick, goofy villains, and over-the-top antics. Dr. Robotnik was a cartoonish mess, and Sonic taught kids cheesy morals like “Don’t steal.” It aired 65 episodes but disappeared quickly after syndication. While Sonic SatAM is often remembered, this Adventures version is mostly forgotten—except by fans who still shout “Pingas!” on the internet. Chaotic fun, gone too soon.
"Groovie Ghoulies" (1970–1973)
Imagine a rock band made up of classic movie monsters—Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolfman—living in a haunted house. That’s Groovie Ghoulies. It was goofy, musical, and filled with monster puns. Though popular in its time, it got buried under the weight of newer content. Today, it's barely a blip on the spooky cartoon radar, but it was once the monster mash of Saturday mornings.
Shaturday Morning Cartoons - Groovie Goolies with Keith Garcia, Found Footage Fest
"Tales from the Cryptkeeper" (1993)
This kid-friendly offshoot of Tales from the Crypt aired on ABC and managed to deliver spooky stories with moral lessons. It had the creepy narrator and eerie vibes but was tame enough for kids. It ran only 13 episodes before vanishing into the crypt of forgotten cartoons. It’s rarely discussed today, but it gave many ‘90s kids their first taste of horror—Saturday morning style.
TALES FROM THE CRYPTKEEPER | vol. 1, Saturday Morning Cartoon MAXOUT
"Wish Kid" (1991)
Starring the voice of Macaulay Culkin, this show followed a boy with a magical baseball glove that granted one wish per week. Predictably, the wishes went hilariously wrong. It was imaginative and kid-friendly, but even with Culkin’s star power, it lasted just 13 episodes. There’s been no revival, and barely anyone remembers it now. A forgotten vehicle for one of the biggest child stars ever.
Wish Kid - Darryl's Dilemma (S01E08), Times Past
"Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventures" (1990–1991)
Spinning off from the hit movie, this cartoon had Bill and Ted traveling through time, still saying “whoa” a lot. The first season even featured Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter voicing the characters! But ratings dropped, and the second season was rebooted with new voices and worse animation. Two seasons in, it was gone. Not quite excellent, but definitely nostalgic.
The History of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures Animated Series | The Fangirl, The Fangirl
"The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie" (1972–1973)
This anthology series presented one-hour animated movies on Saturday mornings, featuring famous cartoon characters and experimental concepts. It included pilots and spin-offs that never became full series. A few specials resurfaced in reruns, but most disappeared completely. It was a fascinating, forgotten experiment in Saturday cartoon programming.
The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie Marathon with commercials | 1972, Mone Media
"The Herculoids" (1967)
Set on a distant planet, The Herculoids was a sci-fi adventure with laser dragons, rock apes, and energy blobs. It was action-packed and imaginative, but only aired one season. Though it made cameo appearances later, it never regained prominence. Today, it’s mostly remembered by name—if at all. Pulp space fantasy that deserved more love.
Preview Clip | The Herculoids | Warner Archive, Warner Bros. Classics
"Underdog" (1964–1967)
“There’s no need to fear—Underdog is here!” This caped canine saved the day while speaking in rhyme. He was everywhere in the ‘60s and ‘70s, but his popularity faded fast. Despite reruns and even a 2007 movie, the character has mostly disappeared from the pop culture spotlight. A once-iconic hero now lost to time.
UNDERDOG CARTOON - By Back To The 80s 2, Back To The 80s 2
"Muppet Babies" (1984–1991)
This Emmy-winning show featured toddler versions of the Muppets in a daycare, using imagination to explore endless adventures. Its mix of animation and live-action clips was groundbreaking. But rights issues (mostly with the film footage) have made re-releases complicated. Despite a recent reboot, the original remains largely unavailable. An imaginative classic that’s harder to find than it should be.
"The Wuzzles" (1985)
A giraffe crossed with an elephant? A lion-bee? That was The Wuzzles, a short-lived Disney cartoon about hybrid animals in a candy-colored world. It had great merch potential, but only lasted 13 episodes. Despite its charm, it was completely overshadowed by Gummi Bears, which premiered the same day. A curious casualty of cartoon scheduling.
The Wuzzles Intro, Disney Television Animation News
"Snorks" (1984–1989)
Underwater cousins of The Smurfs, the Snorks lived in a bright, bubbly sea town full of colorful characters. It ran for five seasons but never caught on the same way its land-dwelling blue counterparts did. Over time, it quietly disappeared from lineups, leaving behind only a few vague memories and action figures. A deep-sea delight that never quite made a splash.
Snorks: Seasons 3-4 - Clip Chills, Drills and Spills by Warner Bros. Rewind
"Eek! The Cat" (1992–1997)
Eek! was a purple cat with a big heart and terrible luck. His motto—“It never hurts to help!”—was endlessly tested in slapstick mayhem. The show blended absurdity and kindness with clever writing. Though it lasted several seasons, it changed formats and networks, then vanished. One of the ‘90s weirdest, sweetest cartoons that doesn’t get enough credit.
Eek! The Cat - Misreek - Ep. 1, Victor's Nelvana Show
"Detention" (1999–2000)
Detention followed a group of misfit middle schoolers stuck in Saturday detention. Each character was wonderfully strange—from the conspiracy theorist to the militant hall monitor. It had Recess-style vibes but didn’t stick around. Only 13 episodes aired, and it was quietly canceled. An underrated slice of late-’90s animated chaos.
Clip | Detention | Warner Archive, Warner Bros. Classics
"Space Ghost" (1966–1968)
Before his surreal Adult Swim comeback, Space Ghost was a straight-laced sci-fi superhero. With a monkey sidekick and battles against villains like Zorak, it had all the campy fun of early animated action. It disappeared quickly after two seasons and was mostly forgotten until his reboot. The forgotten start of a character who’d later become a cult icon.
Space Ghost Open | Space Ghost and Dino Boy | Warner Archive, Warner Bros. Classics
"Captain N: The Game Master" (1989–1991)
What if a kid with a Nintendo controller got sucked into video game worlds? Captain N answered that, pairing him with Mega Man, Kid Icarus, and Simon Belmont. It was messy, fun, and totally ‘80s. But weird character choices and licensing problems doomed it after two seasons. The ultimate gaming crossover—lost in 8-bit nostalgia.
Captain N: Game Master 101 - Kevin in Videoland, WildBrain Superheroes
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