Best cartoon themes ever?

[ChaosBurnFlame]

Which izzit?

Ya know, the new TMNT themesong really grew on me.

[Stretch Dude]

Which izzit?

Ya know, the new TMNT themesong really grew on me.

But it still pales in comparison to the original.

[ChaosBurnFlame]

But it still pales in comparison to the original.

I hvent' heard the original in years. Prove it.

[saintjon]

The Hong Kong Phooey song.

[Knightmare10880]

How many can we mention? Becuase their have been alot that I' loved over the years but the one that I still get the biggest kick out of it the Transformers Theme by Lion done for Transformers The Movie.

[Magneto_X]

Samurai Pizza Cats, Thundercats, (the original) TMNT cartoon, Kim Possible, Cowboy Bebop, Gunsmith Cats, Eek the Cat, Rocko's Modern Life, X-men (90's), Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League: Unlimited, Teen Titans, Superman: The Animated Series.

[StoneGold]

"They'll have a gay old time! WILMA!!!"

[saintjon]

That epic sounding military Robotech theme always did it for me too.

[GUYANATHUGG]

ThunderCats, G.I. JOE The Movie Theme, C.O.P.S, TMNT, Gummy Bears ( so sue me!),Inspector Gadget. That's all I can think of for now...

[Jared]

Anyway, the most kickass of cartoon themes was Conan the Adventurer.

http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Taping/7814/theme.htm

Conan - The adventurer
Conan - warrior without fear
he's more powerful than any man his legend spreads across the land and sea.

Conan, the mightiest warrior ever
his quest, to undo the spell of living stone cast upon his family
by driving the evil serpent men back into another dimension
and vanquishing their leader - the cruel wizard Wrath-Amon.

Conan The adventurer
Conan man of bravery
with his magic sword protecting the mightiest of warriors is he

(feel the power....)

CONAN!

Best instrumentals, for me, is a tossup between Exosquad and the Adventures of Batman and Robin, or whatever it was they were calling BTAS when it was on saturday mornings for a while. The new intro footage, which was just clips from the series, was nowhere near as cool as the original opening, but the music was more hummable. X-Men's was cool too. I still hear it in my head during the movies. Especially the first one, which I thought had a crappy score.

I don't even want to think about how many times I must've sang the original Ninja Turtles song. It was like musical crack.

[DLFerguson]

Speed Racer
Johnny Quest
G.I. JOE: The Movie
The Flintstones
The World of Commander McBragg
Hong Kong Phooey
The Catanooga Cats
Kim Possible
The 60's Spider-Man
Space Ghost

[Scorpion13]

I hvent' heard the original in years. Prove it.


Bam. (http://www.thetechnodrome.com/sounds/)


My favorite cartoon action show theme ever. Could listen to it all day.

[sgt.candy]

transformers season 3
bots master
ren and stimpy
doug

[Huzzah!]

Voltron.

There is no question

[Basara]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Garpoyles main theme yet.

[Devon C.]

You have pilfered my idea, Chaos. I was thinking about this before I logged on.

Roll Call:

60's Spider-Man

Original Rocko's Modern Life

This is all that I can think of for now.

[Stretch Dude]

Bam. (http://www.thetechnodrome.com/sounds/)


My favorite cartoon action show theme ever. Could listen to it all day.

Aww, yeah. That's the stuff. :D

[kid cthulhu]

Sealab 2021. Love that song.

[Devon C.]

Sealab 2021. Love that song.
Honestly, I cannot stand the song. It is the only thing that actually prevents me from watching the show.

[Phoney Bone]

(all first season unless otherwise noted)

Scooby Doo, Where are You?
Hong Kong Phooey
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
Johnny Quest
Speed Buggy
Clue Club
Superfriends (second season)
Josie and the Pussycats
Inspector Gadget
G.I. Joe


But, the absolute BEST was FAT ALBERT... both opening and closing themes.

If Saturday morning live action shows count,

Land of the Lost
Pee Wee's Playhouse

[kid cthulhu]

Honestly, I cannot stand the song. It is the only thing that actually prevents me from watching the show.

Sorry to hear that. It's only like 20 seconds long, though.

Not a fan of indie rock can I assume?

[JerrBear81]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Garpoyles main theme yet.

Damn, beat me to it! Yep, Gargoyles.

I'm almost tempted to say Megas XLR, but not enough. It grates on the nerves after a while.

So I will nominate the Japanese Version of Rorouni Kenshin's Opening Theme.

[sehthan]

So I will nominate the Japanese Version of Rorouni Kenshin's Opening Theme.


That's on catchy tune, but if you can't take J-Pop it might drive you nuts.

Some of my favorites have already been mentioned, but how 'bout the animated TICK? Catchy and off-beat, perfect for that show.

[ChaosBurnFlame]

Well, Just listened tot he old TMNT song.

It sounds like a Weird Al song

[Gaz]

If anime counts, Cowboy Bebop. I have a friend I introduced to the show, and he was humming "Tank" for a week.
To be fair, I hum "Real Folk Blues" once a week myself.

[StoneGold]

Well, Just listened tot he old TMNT song.

It sounds like a Weird Al song
It's a lot better if you can find the version without the creepy voice overs. "He's a radical rat!" etc. Although, I don't think a version of that exists online. But I remember distinctly that it didn't always have the lines on the cartoon show. Probably on the first season.

[ChaosBurnFlame]

Actually, the way it started, and how they sung it reminded me of "Dare to be Stupid".

[Vaders shoeshine boy]

DuckTales
Gummi Bears
Rescue Rangers
TaleSpin
Disneys Aladdin

[StoneGold]

Actually, the way it started, and how they sung it reminded me of "Dare to be Stupid".
OK, for a second I was wondering what you were talking about, but I guess the initial "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" has a bit of a Devo flair to it. Because the opening guitar riff didn't. But yeah, I guess the vocals do.



Cuz DTBS was Al out-Devoing Devo.

[ChaosBurnFlame]

Well, the first three "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"

Especially the third one...

[StoneGold]

Here's one I think I remember was good. The problem is, I haven't heard it in probably 20 years. Man, it scares me to be able to say that. Anyways, I seem to remember the Karate Kid cartoon show being pretty awesome. But I can't confirm that.

[Gaz]

Bravestarr (http://www.retrojunk.com/media/104/) was good and pretty unique.

[StoneGold]

Bravestarr (http://www.retrojunk.com/media/104/) was good and pretty unique.
I think that was Haim Saban. Most of his cartoon themes are pretty awesome. He-Man (you can find a long, instrumental version online), Inspector Gadget, etc. And then he went on to produce MMPR and X-Men, before selling to Disney to become a multi-gazillionaire and major contributor to the Democratic party.

[KameTen]

The Justice League theme before it became Unlimited, both the English and Japanese versions of Cyborg 009's theme, Outlaw Star's theme, the original and newest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme, 90's Fantastic Four theme, Reboot's theme, Cowboy Bebop's "Tank!", Wolf's Rain's "Stray", Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law's theme, and Samurai Champloo, and Trigon's from time to time.

That's a lot of themes.

And here.
http://www.toonamiarsenal.com/
Contains the themes from Toonami lineup.

Edit: Almost forgot about Paranoia Agent. Strange and catchy at the same time.

[ChaosBurnFlame]

Anyone have a video clip of the acutal video opening? Of the old TMNT

[Gaz]

Anyone have a video clip of the acutal video opening? Of the old TMNT
Linkage for fun (http://www.retrojunk.com/media/40/)

[ChaosBurnFlame]

Yup, new one is alot better :)

[Copper]

People are gonna laugh at this one:

Theme for Ulysees 31

[Gaz]

People are gonna laugh at this one:

Theme for Ulysees 31
It was very 80's but it's pretty cool.

[ChaosBurnFlame]

http://www.toonamiarsenal.com/php/tdadownload.php?fid=001020 copy and paste

[Valmore]

"Pole Position"

"Galaxy High"

"M.A.S.K."

[Gaz]

Disney (http://www.retrojunk.com/media/93/) had this gem. :D

[MarvelKnight]

Transformers

Winnie The Pooh

Count Duckula

[Tien Long]

Whenever cruising down the hallways of my elementary school, I always hummed the "Mighty Max" theme. That guitar riff, in the words of the great maestro of the School of Rock, Jack Black "was a toast to all that which ROCKS!"

Gargoyles, great openning, especially with Keith David providing the narration. Also, that series had some really cool tracks within the show. The fights would always have that blend of Celtic war drums and epic majesty in the background. The quieter, subtle scenes had the tribal flutes going while whenever there was the use of magic, there would be this etheral, light, mystic stuff in the background.

I'm a child of the 90s, so X-Men, Spider-Man, and Batman: TAS all have my vote. Heck, sometimes at pep rallies at my college, they breakout into the openning X-Men song.

[Jared]

Cowboy Bebop was mentioned, but I always liked Gundam Wing's theme too. Or at least, the end credits theme, I don't think Cartoon Network ever used the original intro, so I have no idea how that went.

I thought Gargoyles' music was too Batmany. Not that it was bad, it just wasn't all that original.

[LtMarvel]

Clue Club had me and my friends singing that song...when I was small.

[Grant]

Hey Hey Hey! (http://66.98.238.14/~retro/media/11dqojw/fat-albert-theme.mp3)

[MushMouth]

Danger Mouse.

[Devon C.]

DuckTales
Gummi Bears
Rescue Rangers
TaleSpin
Disneys Aladdin
You forgot.....DarkWing, DarkWing, Duck!

[Michael P]

You forgot.....DarkWing, DarkWing, Duck!
With the notable exception of Bonkers and Goof Troop (what were they thinking?), the Disney Afternoon put out some great themes.

[Tien Long]

The 90s Warner Brother cartoons, Tiny Toons and Animaniacs, had some nice opennings, very carnival-esque.

[KenK]

I always liked Gundam Wing's theme too. Or at least, the end credits theme, I don't think Cartoon Network ever used the original intro, so I have no idea how that went.

The opening theme is pretty much the same as the end theme, just with a female vocalist singing in Japanese.

I thought Gargoyles' music was too Batmany. Not that it was bad, it just wasn't all that original.

I liked The Goliath Chronicles theme as well as the original one.

[kid cthulhu]

Hard to wrong with the Transformers and that vocoded voice.

[Dr.Fate]

Danger Mouse.I have to agree, Danger Mouse deserves to be right at the top.

[Dennis K]

There used to be a Saturday Morning Show that was a collection of the classic Warner Brothers cartoons called the Bugs Bunny - Road Runner Hour (I think). The opening theme music for that was great. I can remember it had the lines

This is it, we'll hit the heights
And oh what heights will hit
On with the show
This is it!

I wish I could convey the melody, but they had all the characthers in a chorus line. Great stuff.

[Grant]

Duck Dodgers had a theme song by Tom Jones and the Flaming Lips. I kind of dug it.

[pauwoo]

The Hair Bear Bunch

[Devon C.]

There used to be a Saturday Morning Show that was a collection of the classic Warner Brothers cartoons called the Bugs Bunny - Road Runner Hour (I think). The opening theme music for that was great. I can remember it had the lines

This is it, we'll hit the heights
And oh what heights will hit
On with the show
This is it!

I wish I could convey the melody, but they had all the characthers in a chorus line. Great stuff.
The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show.
Overture, curtain lights
This is it, the night of nights
No more rehearsing, nursing a part
We know every part by heart
Overture, curtain lights
This is it, we'll hit the heights
And oh, what heights we'll hit
On with the show, this is it!
*Da da da, da da da, da da daaa, da-da-da-da!*
Tonight what heights we'll hit!
On with the show, this is it!

[HomerJay]

(all first season unless otherwise noted)

But, the absolute BEST was FAT ALBERT... both opening and closing themes.


AMEN, BROTHER. (sorry, I turned into Hulk Hogan for a moment)
Maybe the best TV theme, PERIOD. Does anyone know who actually performed it? It was very "Sly & The Family Stone". Tenacious D actually opened with a cover of it when I saw them live at Milwaukee's Eagle's Ballroom in 2002.

[Huzzah!]

I totally forgot


Freakzoid!

[Devon C.]

I totally forgot


Freakzoid!
On that note, Earthworm Jim!

[The Fury]

Let's see:

Bravestarr
Thundercats
Dexter's Lab
MEGAS XLR
90's Hulk (the show might not have been great but the opening theme tune was brilliant)

[Tien Long]

90's Hulk

Oh yeah, the theme song took you to despair, to sadness, to rage all in a matter of what, 30 seconds?

The REAL Ghostbusters theme song. Excellent, what else can be said? Too bad they screwed it up in with the "Extreme Ghostbusters" cartoon.

Really liked Yu Yu Hakusho's theme songs, openning and closing.

[StrawNilla]

-60's Spider-Man

-X-Men

-Monster Rancher

-Speed Racer

-90's Spider-Man

-Batman Beyond

[Stretch Dude]

Yup, new one is alot better :)

Ah, now I understand everything. You're from Bizarroworld!

[KenK]

It's not the best theme ever, but I always loved the theme for the Men In Black Animated Series.

[SAMAS]

Just about all G1 Transformers

Autobots wage their battle to
Destroy the Evil Forces of
The Decepticons!

GI Joe: The Movie

Joes will risk it all
To end the evil call of

Cooobraaaa(CoBRAAA)
Cooobraaaa(CoBRAAA)

They never give up
They never say die

Walking tall with ba-nners hiiiigh
They sound the battle cry (Yo Joe!! {Yo Joe!})

And of course, the Transformers Movie:

Something evil's watching over you
Coming from the sky above
And there's nothing you can do

Prepare to strike, there'll be no place to run
When the world is in the grip
Of the evil Unicron!

Gargoyles

Stone by day
Warriors by night

We were betrayed by the humans we had sworn to protect
Frozen in stone by a magic spell for a thousand years

Now, here in Manhattan,
The spell is broken!
And we live again!

Samurai Champloo(Battlecry)

sharp like an edge of a samurai sword
the mental blade cut through flesh and bone
though my mind's at peace, the world out of order
missing the inner heat, life gets colder

Naruto 3rd Ending(Viva*Rock: Japanese Side)


ONE!!!
JANPU ichiban SURAMU DANKU kamasu TAISON
TWO!!
are mo kore mo dosoku de HAGU-KISSU-I LOVE YOU
THREE!!
YOGA wo kiwamemasu KAREE kirai MASERA-san
FOUR!!
hetare tougyuushi SANCHESU OOREI!

sekaijuu hora
waratteru sora
miagete saa tachiagatte
Oh Yeah!
Oh Yeah!
Oh Yeah!

sekaijuu hora
kawatteku
min'na ganbatte So tachiagatte
Oh Yeah!
Oh Yeah!
Oh Yeah!

[tangentman]

I liked the theme for The Adventures of The Galaxy Rangers--a VERY underrated cartoon!

The theme for Thundarr The Barbarian didn't have lyrics, just a voice-over, but I liked the way it set the ominous mood for that cartoon's world.

Dungeons & Dragons also accomplished that feat.

[Daniel Hopkins]

It's not exactly a cartoon but i liked the theme from Team America. Funny Stuff

[Polar Bear]

Jonny Quest
Spidey (60's)
Land of the Lost (both the opening and closing themes)


And I can't believe nobody has said . . .

Thundarr, the Barbarian!!

[J Dog]

"The Dilbert Zone"!!!

You know, the opening song in Dilbert (the show).