The opening credits of Saturday morning cartoons were often as enjoyable as the main events themselves. One of my favourites was Marine Boy, particularly the red metal spider crab he faces on the ocean floor [above]. Another great one was The Rhino smashing through a biulding wall in the opening of the original Spider-Man cartoon ["...catches theives just like flies!"... you remember!]. Puffa Puffa Rice never tasted so good!
Have you a favourite cartoon opening credit [or fave breakfast cereal]?
Marine Boy, excellent stuff. Cartoon opening credits that stick in my mind- Battle of the Planets, The Lone Ranger (with very stylized animation too), The 80s X-Men (well the great theme tune anyway), Scooby Doo (the original), Top Cat.
ReplyDeleteMarine Boy is one that sticks in the mind. Perhaps because (for me) it was so different from others I knew. But my favourite openings were Top Cat, Flintstones and Secret Squirrel, all of which had such memorable tunes. But the one which really got me was the closing titles for Flintstones. My family didn't have a car, and I don't believe we had drive-in takeaway places in the UK back then, so I was always fascinated by the bit where they stop off to order dino-ribs. Being in the world's top twenty most stupid kids, I never thought to ask what was going on, and simply accepted it as another of those weird and puzzling things adults did. It actually gave me a half-fearful, half-joyous, "Goddess! What ARE they doing?" feeling. Only years later did I get the light-bulb moment ... "Oooohhhhh, so THAT'S what they were doing!"
ReplyDeleteAnother favourite for me wasn't opening titles or closing titles, but (for want of a better expression) an "interlude scene" in Secret Squirrel. There were a small number of such scenes used between the three cartoons in the show, and the one I like was this:
SS is in the back of his limo (driven by Morocco Mole) when they are attacked by a fighter plane. SS reaches into his coat and pulls out a miniaturising ray gun with which he shrinks the airplane to fly-size. And then he hits it with a fly-swayyer! What an agent, eh?
Later I got into Hong Kong Phooey (Number One Super Guy) and also liked the opening titles for Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space. They had a nice spacecraft. Vaguely like a small version of the Discovery from 2001 ... well, maybe only VERY vaguely.
Yorkie and Toadster, I think we all share the same excellenmt taste in classic Sixties and Seventies cartoons! I love all the ones you've mentioned. I seem to remember that they called Top Cat Boss Cat in it's homeland? Ah but can I name any of his gang? Officer Dibble of course and after that my mind has gone blank - I will have to consult my long term memory aid aka You Tube/ Wikipedia! I loved Josie and P'cats and your avatar does remind me of it Toad but I've not seen the Outer Space version I don't think. Secret Squirrel is also new to me I feel but I will check You Tube before I say anymore on that. I wonder if either of you remember a strange little cartoon called King Arther and his Knights of the Square Table [which I loved and have on video!]?
ReplyDeleteAlways liked Top Cat. Years later found out the characters based largely around Sgt Bilko/Phil Silvers- which I can now appreciate.
ReplyDeleteAlso remember Secret Squirrel, but have soft spot for Captain Pugwash & Noggin the Nog!
(smiles) I remember King Arthur now you mention it. And how could I have forgotten Noggin? Thanks for mentioning that one, Andy.
ReplyDeleteAnd the mention of Pugwash brings to mind "Sir Prancealot". Ahhhh, loved that. Anyone remember it?
What about Rocket Robin Hood!
ReplyDeleteI used to love that as a kid. I believe it was made by the same company that made the Spiderman cartoon. I'm told that they re- used storylines and background art for both series. One episode does stick in my mind - 'Dementia 5' set in a nightmarish parallel universe and ruled by an insect like alien.
ah yes Mike, Rocket Robin Hood! Wow! I loved that. I remember them marching along in the intro credits. Very catchy tune as well and some cool hardware I think as well. Happy memories. On for You Tube! I'm trying to recall a cartoon with purple radioactive monsters in the opening credits - just can't pin it down!
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