Gamer In Space: Our Retro Cartoon Journey


Welcome to the second part of the journey into our animated pasts to see what shows helped shape our humour.  Today we look at the era that spawned a load of shows that endured and franchises that have stood the test of time.  So settle down and feel the Nostalgia wash over you like so many waves of technicolour goodness

Mr Benn

First Aired

7 January 1971

Channel

BBC

Cast

Ray Brooks – Narrator

Synopsis

A man who regularly visits a costume shop gets to live out a story and fantasy appropriate to the costume he chooses

Why we Love it

A classic show that really spoke to our imaginations, we loved to see which outfits and subsequent characters Mr Benn would become each episode and though the animation was not fantastic it stuck in our memories for years

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The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show

First Aired

September 11th, 1971

Channel

CBS

Cast

Sally Struthers – Pebbles Flintstone

Jay North – Bamm-Bamm Rubble

Alan Reed – Fred Flintstone

Jean Vander Pyl – Wilma Flintstone

Mel Blanc – Barney Rubble

Gay Hartweg – Betty Rubble

Carl Esser – Fabian

Mitzi McCall – Penny

Don Messick – Schleprock

Lennie Weinrib – Moonrock 

Synopsis

A show focusing on Fred and Wilma’s daughter Pebbles and Barney and Betty’s son Bamm-Bamm, now a couple in highschool.

Why we Love it

A look into the future for our favourite stone age family gave us a much broader look into Bedrock than the original series.

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The Wombles

First Aired


5 February 1973


Channel

BBC

Cast

Bernard Cribbins – Narrator

Synopsis

The adventures of a group of creatures who live below Wimbledon Common collecting all different sorts of rubbish

Why we Love it

A classic cartoon in a fantastic stop motion style with characters that have stood the test of time (they have their own music), seriously Great Uncle Bulgaria still sticks in the mind today.

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Star trek, The Animated Series

First Aired

8 September 1973

Channel

CBS

Cast

William Shatner – Kirk

Leonard Nimoy – Spock

Nichelle Nichols – Uhura

George Takei – Sulu

James Doohan – Scotty

DeForest Kelley – Bones

Synopsis

Kirk and the crew continue to explore the Galaxy and protect the Federation from destructive aliens.


Why We Love It
A continuation of one of my all time favorite franchises following the original Enterprise crew (most of them anyway) as the venture further into the Final Frontier in stories that the TV show couldn’t afford to broadcast in live action

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Bagpuss

qw

First Aired

12 February 1974

Channel

BBC

Cast

Oliver Postgate – Bagpuss, Mice, Narrator, Professor Yaffle

Sandra Kerr – Madeleine the Rag Doll, Mice

John Faulkner – Gabriel the Toad, Mice

Synopsis

A group of toys in a mysterious curiosity shop try to work out what new items that are brought in by the kindly owners daughter are used for.

Why we love it

Okay, Professor Yaffle the cantankerous, dismissive yet highly adorable character was a standout for us in an entirely sweet and cute show



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Hong Kong Phooey

First Aired

7 September 1974

Channel

ABC

Cast

Scatman Crothers: – Hong Kong Phooey, Penrod ‘Penry’ Pooch

Joe E. Ross – Sergeant Flint 

Don Messick – Spot

Jean Vander Pyl – Rosemary

Daws Butler – Big Duke 

Synopsis

Penrod “Penry” Pooch a mild mannered janitor at a local police station is the secret identity of martial artist Hong Kong Phooey who leaps into action using his questionable skills but is usually bailed out by his friend, a cat named Spot

Why we love it

An inept and incompetent superhero, a super smart and capable sidekick and various different ways for that super smart sidekick to save his headstrong friend, whats not to love.

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Roobarb and Custard

First Aired

21 October 1974

Channel

BBC 1

Cast

Richard Briers – Narrator

Synopsis

Roobarb is a green dog who is full of enthusiasm and energy and is constantly trying to invent new ways to have fun, while Custard a purple cat want to maintain a quite life in their garden.

Why we love it

This show truly is a classic, the rough around the edges animation just reminds me of my childhood and the fantastic title music stands out as one of the best.

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Paddington Bear

First Aired

‎5 January 1976

Channel

BBC

Cast

Michael Hordern – Narrator

Synopsis

The story of a talking bear from deepest darkest Peru who journeys to England after an earthquake destroys his home, he is found at Paddington Train Station by a kindly family who takes him in.

Why we Love it

Come on it’s Paddington, a staple of most childrens childhoods that has stood the test of time with children now being treated to two really fun movies

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Moomin


First Aired

1977

Channel

ITV

Cast

Richard Murdoch – Narrator – English (1982)

Synopsis

The adventures of Hippopotamus style creatures called the Moomins who live in Moominvalley.

Why we Love it

Another franchise that has stood the test of time spanning books, stop motion animation, regular animation and even a movie, the cute characters and sweet stories are what sticks in our heads.

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The Flumps

First Aired

14 February 1977

Channel

BBC

Cast

Gay Soper – Narrator

Synopsis

The story centres around a family of furry creatures, who every episode sing songs and read stories.

Why we Love it

Okay this one is a little strange they are after all walking, talking coconuts!!  but come on they are adorable, though the stories may be generic we thought the animation alone deserved to make the list


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Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo

First Aired

22 September 1979

Channel

BBC

Cast

Casey Kasem – Shaggy

Don Messick –  Scooby-Doo

Heather North – Daphne

Lennie Weinrib – Scrappy-Doo

Frank Welker – Fred 

Patricia Stevens – Velma

Synopsis

Scooby and the gang are back solving more cases but now they are joined by his nephew Scrappy Doo

Why we Love it

The show was everything we loved about the original but with the added bonus of Scooby’s polar opposite in personality, Scrappy Doo and yes looking back at this as an adult Puppy Power is unbelievably annoying but as a kid, quite, quite quoatable!

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So that’s the list, what cartoons from the 70’s did you used to watch?  Did we miss any?  Let us know in the comments and remember to stay tuned for the next part where we delve into the awesome era that was the 80’s

And remember…

Stay Floaty



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